Pritchard apologizes to Pacers fans after losing protected 2026 draft pick

Indiana’s 2026 first-round pick was lost to the Clippers after finishing with the second-worst record in the NBA.

Pacers lose lottery protection Following a disappointing season, the Indiana Pacers saw their 2026 first-round draft pick move to the Los Angeles Clippers after the NBA lottery in Chicago. President of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard acknowledged the frustration among fans who believed a poor campaign would secure a higher draft position. "I'm really sorry to all our fans," Pritchard wrote on social media platform X after the outcome was revealed. He added, "I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck. But please remember - this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year. We have always been resilient." ## Worst record fails to secure top pick The Pacers ended the season with a 19-63 record, the second-worst in the league, trailing only the Washington Wizards at 18-64. Washington’s lottery win meant Indiana landed fifth, which triggered the loss of their protected pick to the Clippers. Indiana, Washington, and Brooklyn all began the night with equal odds—14% for the top pick and 52% for a top-four finish—to keep their selections. ## Trade details and Zubac’s role The Pacers had traded the protected 2026 pick to the Clippers in February in exchange for center Ivica Zubac. The deal included Indiana’s 2029 first-round pick and a conditional 2031 first-rounder if the 2026 pick fell outside the top four. Zubac was acquired to fill a void at center left by Myles Turner’s departure to Milwaukee as a free agent. His contract includes $20.3 million in 2026-27 and $21.7 million in 2027-28 before unrestricted free agency. ## Pacers aim for playoff return Indiana is focused on rebounding next season with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton, who missed the entire year after suffering a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The team hopes to overcome the loss of the draft pick and compete deep in the playoffs. Zubac’s presence and the team’s resilience were highlighted as key factors moving forward.