The Indiana Pacers finished the worst season in franchise history with a 52.1% chance of retaining their 2026 first-round pick after trading part of it to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Croatian center Ivica Zubac.

There was significant risk involved in making the Zubac deal, and this time around, that gamble did not pay off. The Pacers officially fell out of the top four during the NBA Draft Lottery, meaning their 2026 first-round pick will now convey to Los Angeles.

With the Clippers acquiring Indiana’s 2026 first-round selection, the Pacers will no longer owe Los Angeles their unprotected 2031 first-round pick.…