It’s not the blockbuster deal on the level of a Giannis Antetokounmpo changing teams, but the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers just swung a massive deal with big long-term implications.
L.A. is sending center Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to the Pacers for guard Bennedict Mathurin, center Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and one second-round pick, according to ESPN.
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One of the first-round picks is a 2026 selection that’s reportedly protected from pick Nos. 1-4 and Nos. 10-30, which means that if the pick falls between Nos. 5-9, it will go to the Clippers, which would be a significant development, considering this is a draft loaded with talent. If the pick falls within the protected range, it becomes a 2031 unprotected selection. The other first-round pick is a 2029 selection that’s unprotected.
Here are grades for the Ivica Zubac-Bennedict Mathurin trade between the Clippers and the Pacers.
1 / 7
See which NBA players are on the move at trade deadline
In the latest acknowledgement of a mistake made in the February 2025 Luka Dončić trade, the Dallas Mavericks have shipped the centerpiece of their haul in that deal, big man Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. The Wizards will also get Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum. In return, Dallas will receive Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders, as reported first by ESPN on Wednesday.
1 / 7
See which NBA players are on the move at trade deadline
In the latest acknowledgement of a mistake made in the February 2025 Luka Dončić trade, the Dallas Mavericks have shipped the centerpiece of their haul in that deal, big man Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. The Wizards will also get Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum. In return, Dallas will receive Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders, as reported first by ESPN on Wednesday.
2 / 7
See which NBA players are on the move at trade deadline
The Los Angeles Clippers and the Cleveland Cavaliers agree to a trade that would send former MVP James Harden to Cleveland, while Darius Garland heads to Southern California. The trade on Tuesday was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. Cleveland becomes the sixth team in Harden’s 17-year career. Harden, who averages 25.4 points, 8.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds, gives Cleveland another scoring option for the remainder of the regular-season. After all, he is No. 9 all-time in NBA scoring history with 28,805 points. For what it’s worth, he’s No. 12 all-time in assists. The Cavaliers acquire a combo guard in Harden who can play shooting guard and run a team as a point guard. He’s played with superstars his entire career and has had success, especially in the regular season.
3 / 7
See which NBA players are on the move at trade deadline
After the Clippers and Chris Paul parted ways in December, it was announced Wednesday that he would be part of a three-player deal involving the Toronto Raptors. He intends to retire at the end of the season.
4 / 7
See which NBA players are on the move at trade deadline
On Feb. 4, 2026, the Chicago Bulls traded Coby WhiteÑalong with Mike Conley Jr.Ñto the Charlotte Hornets in a multi-team deal involving the Bulls, Hornets, and Thunder.
5 / 7
See which NBA players are on the move at trade deadline
Multiple outlets confirm that on Feb. 4, 2026, the Philadelphia 76ers traded guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The deal sends McCain to OKC in exchange for four draft picks.
6 / 7
See which NBA players are on the move at trade deadline
The Atlanta Hawks traded guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Young was in his eighth season with the Hawks, but the signs that his tenure was coming to a close had become apparent in recent months. He leaves as the franchise’s all-time leader in assists (4,837) and 3-pointers (1,295).
Young has only played in 10 games this season and did not play on Wednesday due to a quad injury. Reports of the trade emerged during the team’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans and Young was seen being embraced by members of the organization.
7 / 7
See which NBA players are on the move at trade deadline
The Memphis Grizzlies continued to dismantle their once-promising roster with another major move involving the team’s core. But it doesn’t involve the star the NBA thought might be traded this week. The Utah Jazz have acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. as part of a significant trade in which the Memphis Grizzlies will receive three future first-round draft picks and several players, according to a report from ESPN on Tuesday, Feb. 3. The deal comes two days before the NBA’s trade deadline and represents a significant swerve after weeks of rumors surrounding Ja Morant’s future with the Grizzlies. The trade, once finalized, would send Jackson, center Jock Landale and forward Vince Williams, Jr. to the Jazz, according to multiple reports. Utah rookie Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round draft picks are going back to the Grizzlies in the transaction.
Los Angeles Clippers
This kind of depends on what happens with that 2026 first-round pick. If the lottery is kind to Los Angeles, and it ends up within that 5-9 range, the Clippers could come away with a huge asset; a No. 5 selection in the draft, for example, could yield a blue-chip prospect. A 2031 unprotected pick could still be valuable, but the Clippers — after trading James Harden and Zubac — are clearly retooling.
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Don’t sleep on Mathurin, either. He’s a 23-year-old guard who has flashed immense potential, though consistency has been something of an issue. Off the bench, Mathurin is averaging 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game — all of which are career highs. He should become a starter, but he’s on an expiring club option, so Los Angeles would need to consider if it wants to pay Mathurin in the long term. The Clippers have missed the bench scoring of Norman Powell, who made his first career All-Star team with the Heat.
Zubac’s defensive presence and rebounding will be missed, but the Clippers clearly understood, despite their recent improved play, that they needed to build for the future.
If the lottery favors Los Angeles, and if the Clippers can extend Mathurin to an affordable deal, this is a home run return. But, either way, a pair of first-round picks in the next several seasons is really solid.
Grade: A
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Indiana Pacers
Let’s remember that this was a team that, arguably, was on the path to an NBA championship before star guard Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles tendon snapped in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Pacers feel excellent about the core they have built and are treating this year as a gap season.
Adding Zubac is essentially a bet that he’s the missing piece that can get Indiana back to the precipice of a championship. Though their skill set is different, Zubac is a nice way to make up for the loss of center Myles Turner, who signed with the Bucks over the offseason. Turner is a stretch center who can space the floor, while Zubac is more of a low-post force.
It makes sense that the Pacers moved off Mathurin since they likely were going to lose him in free agency, but the pair of first-round picks is a steep cost — especially if the 2026 selection falls within the 5-9 range.
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The Pacers have been an excellent and efficiently run organization, so they do deserve some benefit of the doubt. And there’s a chance that the lottery ends up favoring Indiana, which will allow it to keep a Top 4 pick.
That’s a lot of risk, however, and leaves a lot to chance.
Grade: C+
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ivica Zubac trade grades: Who won Pacers-Clippers deal?
