The Single Most Important Fact
The Indiana Pacers' 2026 offseason has been summed up in one word by NBA analyst Zach Buckley: pre-agency. The Pacers added Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr. in free agency, but their big move happened last season with the acquisition of Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers.
What Happened?
The Pacers' offseason was relatively quiet, with the addition of Oubre and Nance. However, the big move happened last season when they acquired Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers. The Zubac trade came at a high cost, as the Pacers lost their first-round pick in the 2026 draft because of the deal.
Why It Matters for Indiana Pacers
The Zubac trade was a significant move for the Pacers, as they clearly think he can be a key puzzle piece. However, the trade also sapped the Pacers of their offseason flexibility, costing them the No. 5 pick in this draft. The Pacers needed to land in the top four to keep their pick after trading it to the Clippers with protections for Zubac.
What Comes Next?
The Pacers will look to integrate Zubac into their lineup, alongside Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton had an incredible 2024-25 campaign for the Pacers, averaging 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. He made the All-NBA Third Team and led the Pacers to the 2025 NBA Finals, where they ultimately lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games.
The Pacers' recent form has been 1 win, 0 draws, and 3 losses (LWLL) in their last four games, including a 94-105 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on April 10, 2026. With Haliburton back in the fold, the Pacers should be a playoff team next season. However, they will need Zubac to play like an All-Star if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.
The Pacers' offseason was relatively quiet, but the addition of Oubre and Nance could prove to be sneaky-good pickups. However, it's the plans put into action long before the offseason that will ultimately determine the Pacers' success next season. Getting Tyrese Haliburton healthy after his Achilles tear in the 2025 NBA Finals and fully incorporating Ivica Zubac into the lineup will be key to the Pacers' success next season.
Conclusion
The Indiana Pacers' 2026 offseason has been summed up in one word by NBA analyst Zach Buckley: pre-agency. The Pacers added Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr. in free agency, but their big move happened last season with the acquisition of Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers. The Pacers will look to integrate Zubac into their lineup, alongside Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton, and make a deep run in the playoffs next season.
