[Scotto] The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers have expressed interest in acquiring Ivica Zubac.
January 6, 2026
[Scotto] The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers have expressed interest in acquiring Ivica Zubac.
18 comments
Zubac is likely the best Center that the Pacers could acquire without having to give up a haul. Obviously someone like Bam Adebayo would be a dream but would cost too much realistically. Stinks that this draft is so weak at the C position.
I imagine we’ve begged the Clippers to take Mathurin.
The Clippers probably want additional draft capital, which the Pacers are obviously hesitant to include. Apparently we’re always going to be one Haliburton injury away from complete disaster.
I doubt that the Clippers get rid of him
Zu can’t shoot from 3. Can he fit in the system?
Yeah, imma say it’s either just poking around or not a real report. There’s been little trade traction and they’re just pushing stories through right now
Comparing to Huff and Turner, he offers absolutely no 3-point threat. One of our bread and butter plays last year was a pick set by Turner and then Hali dishing it back to the top of the arc for a three, there’ll be none of that with Zubac. Also, he’s a middle of the road shot blocker compared to Huff and Turner’s frequent league-leading blocks.
I think Zubac would likely add some much needed size and stability. He is a much more traditional paint presence and good rebounder so it’d be interesting to see how Carlisle and Haliburton adapt from the 3-and-d version of center to a more traditional one.
Really just don’t see it to be honest. He’s a solid player but he’s not moving the needle a ton
I know everyone is down on him but Deandre Ayton is probably declining his $8 million player option this year. Cheap 20/10 guy.
It might be worth taking a risk on, Haliburton and Siakam seem like the type of teammates who would make him look good + keep him happy.
Seems like the type of play KP would make to me.
Would rather go after Kessler if at all feasible.
I don’t want to do anything that will decrease our chances of getting the #1 pick.
I’m sure we have, he is a really good screener, has a high IQ, solid rebounder, and a year removed from legit All-Defensive votes. He can’t shoot, but that’s okay he does other stuff well. Make sure you’ve got guys like Toppin, Huff, and maybe Potter behind him to stretch the floor when it is needed.
Interest has to be reciprocated, but if he *is* available, trading for a center before this draft would be malpractice unless they’re certain the center will no longer be available after the draft. Would you rather have Zubac and the 7th pick or Claxton and the 2nd pick? I want the upside of a potential franchise player.
May be regrettable, but if I could send the ’26 #1 for Zubac, I’d do it. Proven commodity at a position we must shore up and at the right contract.
The match with Haliburton is good. The question is the match with Siakam. Siakam came here because we had Turner to give him room to operate in the midrange. Siakam has already been paired with Poeltl who has a similar game to Zubac, and my recollection was that it wasn’t great. Maybe Zu is such a good screener you use Siakam as the ball handler on a PnR with Zu, but that would be my concern.
Cool, wait until the offseason.
If the Clippers give the Thunder a top 3 pick I’m gonna lose it
Figure out center after the draft FFS. This draft is too good to screw it up by going on a streak
Bam is a better fit schematically. See if you can trade a high pick and a piece for him.
![[Scotto] The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers have expressed interest in acquiring Ivica Zubac.](https://www.rawchili.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1767800045_52_u_n3il0-XMsWJ42eSifFz_qruDAvZOqYvgMOsZ-6BQ8-1919x1024.jpeg)
18 comments
Zubac is likely the best Center that the Pacers could acquire without having to give up a haul. Obviously someone like Bam Adebayo would be a dream but would cost too much realistically. Stinks that this draft is so weak at the C position.
I imagine we’ve begged the Clippers to take Mathurin.
The Clippers probably want additional draft capital, which the Pacers are obviously hesitant to include. Apparently we’re always going to be one Haliburton injury away from complete disaster.
I doubt that the Clippers get rid of him
Zu can’t shoot from 3. Can he fit in the system?
Yeah, imma say it’s either just poking around or not a real report. There’s been little trade traction and they’re just pushing stories through right now
Comparing to Huff and Turner, he offers absolutely no 3-point threat. One of our bread and butter plays last year was a pick set by Turner and then Hali dishing it back to the top of the arc for a three, there’ll be none of that with Zubac. Also, he’s a middle of the road shot blocker compared to Huff and Turner’s frequent league-leading blocks.
I think Zubac would likely add some much needed size and stability. He is a much more traditional paint presence and good rebounder so it’d be interesting to see how Carlisle and Haliburton adapt from the 3-and-d version of center to a more traditional one.
Really just don’t see it to be honest. He’s a solid player but he’s not moving the needle a ton
I know everyone is down on him but Deandre Ayton is probably declining his $8 million player option this year. Cheap 20/10 guy.
It might be worth taking a risk on, Haliburton and Siakam seem like the type of teammates who would make him look good + keep him happy.
Seems like the type of play KP would make to me.
Would rather go after Kessler if at all feasible.
I don’t want to do anything that will decrease our chances of getting the #1 pick.
I’m sure we have, he is a really good screener, has a high IQ, solid rebounder, and a year removed from legit All-Defensive votes. He can’t shoot, but that’s okay he does other stuff well. Make sure you’ve got guys like Toppin, Huff, and maybe Potter behind him to stretch the floor when it is needed.
Interest has to be reciprocated, but if he *is* available, trading for a center before this draft would be malpractice unless they’re certain the center will no longer be available after the draft. Would you rather have Zubac and the 7th pick or Claxton and the 2nd pick? I want the upside of a potential franchise player.
May be regrettable, but if I could send the ’26 #1 for Zubac, I’d do it. Proven commodity at a position we must shore up and at the right contract.
The match with Haliburton is good. The question is the match with Siakam. Siakam came here because we had Turner to give him room to operate in the midrange. Siakam has already been paired with Poeltl who has a similar game to Zubac, and my recollection was that it wasn’t great. Maybe Zu is such a good screener you use Siakam as the ball handler on a PnR with Zu, but that would be my concern.
Cool, wait until the offseason.
If the Clippers give the Thunder a top 3 pick I’m gonna lose it
Figure out center after the draft FFS. This draft is too good to screw it up by going on a streak
Bam is a better fit schematically. See if you can trade a high pick and a piece for him.
Zubac would be a great fit here