The Boston Celtics pursued Ivica Zubac from the LA Clippers earlier this season, but ultimately missed out on the 7-foot center in a late-breaking deadline deal that sent him to the Indiana Pacers instead.
According to HoopsHype reporting last week, the Celtics made an exploratory offer built around Anfernee Simons, a first-round pick, and a future first-round pick swap for Zubac plus salary filler. The Clippers were struggling at 6-21 at the time and were listening, but the talks never gained real traction.
Once the Clippers improved and James Harden requested a trade, Zubac’s value and market heated up again. Indiana ultimately won the bidding with a package that included:
- Bennedict Mathurin (averaging nearly 18 PPG and 37% from three this season)
- Isaiah Jackson
- A 2026 first-round pick (uniquely protected 1-4 / 10-30; converts to unprotected 2031 if it doesn’t convey)
- An unprotected 2029 first-round pick
Why Indiana’s Offer Was Superior
Boston could likely match Mathurin + Jackson in terms of player value (Simons + another piece), but the draft capital was the deal-breaker:
- The 2026 pick’s protection structure (1-4 and 10-30) creates a real lottery-ticket upside for the Clippers if Indiana stays bad.
- An unprotected 2029 first adds long-term value.
Miami or Boston would almost certainly have offered picks in the 20–30 range (or worse if they stay good), with far less chance of conveying high. Indiana’s willingness to risk a potentially high 2026 pick (and include an unprotected 2029) was the difference.
What This Means for the Celtics
- Disappointing but understandable — Zubac (on a very team-friendly $20.5M deal through 2026-27) would have been a perfect fit: reliable starter-level center, excellent rebounder/rim protector, solid screener/roller, and cheaper than most alternatives.
- Eastern Conference sting — Indiana now pairs Zubac with Myles Turner (when Haliburton returns from Achilles injury), creating a twin-towers frontcourt that will be a nightmare matchup for Boston in potential playoff series.
- No regrets on not overpaying — Boston refused to include Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, or significant unprotected picks for Ja Morant earlier, and they likely weren’t going to gut their future assets for Zubac either. The front office prioritized preserving flexibility.
Zubac’s Fit in Indiana
Zubac (28, averaging ~12 PPG, 9 RPG, strong efficiency) gives Indiana a dependable starting center who can anchor the paint, set hard screens for Haliburton, and finish lobs. He’s a clear upgrade over their current depth at the 5 and complements Turner’s shooting/rim protection perfectly.
Celtics Still in Good Shape
Boston just acquired Nikola Vučević (expiring $21.5M) from Chicago for Simons + a second-rounder, adding a reliable veteran big who can start or back up Al Horford (or whoever else is at center). They also have Neemias Queta emerging and Luka Garza as depth.
Missing Zubac hurts, but the Celtics didn’t lose him because they were outbid on talent — they lost him because Indiana was willing to risk premium future picks in a way Boston (rightly) wasn’t.
The good news? The Celtics still have one of the deepest, most versatile rosters in the East. They just have to hope Vučević (or internal options) can hold up against the twin-tower looks they’ll see from Indiana.
Celtics fans: Does seeing Zubac go to Indiana sting more knowing the Celtics were in on him earlier? Or are you fine with Vučević + depth and preserving assets? Let me know your thoughts below — the East just got tougher.