Pacers Fans Disappointed After NBA Draft Lottery Results
Following a rough season in Indiana, hopes were high among Pacers fans for a better outcome in the 2026 NBA Draft. With the team finishing with the second-worst record, they were expected to secure a top pick.
However, during the NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday, the Pacers were called with the No. 5 pick, which—frankly—came as a letdown. This was compounded by the fact that the team had traded that pick to the Clippers for Ivica Zubac, protecting it only if it landed in the top four.
The immediate backlash was evident as many felt the Pacers (19-63) had squandered a season in a bid for a higher draft pick. It’s worth noting they had begun the day with a 52.1 percent chance of landing a top-four choice.
Kevin Pritchard, the Pacers’ president of basketball operations, took to social media to express his regret after the lottery announcement. “I am truly sorry to all the fans,” he wrote. “This was a risk I chose to take. I thought we might have been lucky finishing in fifth place. But this team really needs a solid starting center to compete effectively next year. Resilience has always been our hallmark.”
Though some fans appreciated Pritchard owning the team’s current predicament following a dismal 19-win season, others were quite critical. One fan pointedly remarked, “We lose Myles Turner and gain Zubac. That’s a loss. How do we trade away the fifth pick and get nothing meaningful?” Such comments highlight a growing frustration with management decisions.
Another fan echoed this sentiment, questioning the wisdom of trading a top draft pick for Zubac, stating, “The Pacers actually traded a top pick for Ivica Zubac.” This has stirred up discussions, and rightfully so.
One user candidly mentioned, “If I were a Pacers fan and the team traded a top-five pick for Zubac during such a challenging season, I’d feel absolutely devastated.”
Looking ahead, it seems unlikely that the Pacers will encounter a repeat of last season’s struggles. There’s also some optimism on the horizon as star player Tyrese Haliburton, who previously led the team to the NBA Finals, is expected to return from a torn Achilles tendon.
