Pacers' deadline trade has hidden benefit for the Pistons

The Indiana Pacers needed a center and got one at the trade deadline in Ivica Zubac, which should leave the Detroit Pistons with one less thing to worry about next summer. 

Zubac still hasn’t played for Indiana and may not much this season, as they are near the league’s worst record and have no motivation to win. The Zubac trade was a move for next season, when Tyrese Haliburton will return, and the Pacers will get back to chasing the playoffs instead of lottery position. 

Zubac is a good player, who averaged 16.8 points and 12.7 rebounds per game last season while making the All-Defensive team. HIs numbers are a bit down this season, but he's a tough rebounder, screen setter and defender who will make the Pacers better.

He’s a nice add for Indiana, but it’s one that has some benefits for the Pistons. 

The Pacers paid star money for Zubac and won’t be chasing Jalen Duren 

Indiana got their center, but it wasn’t cheap, as they had to give up wing Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and two first-round picks to get him. 

The 2026 pick is heavily protected but will go to the Clippers if it falls in the 5-9 range, which is not a wild scenario. Ask the Pistons, finishing with the worst record in the league is the fast track to the 5th pick. This was a huge roll of the dice for Indiana here, as they could possibly lose a top five pick, but even if they don’t, it will convert to an unprotected pick in 2031, and they also gave up an unprotected pick in 2029. 

This could blow up in the Pacers’ faces, and the Pistons should hope it does, as it would keep another top talent out of the Division. The Pacers depleted their draft assets for a non-All-Star.  

And that’s before you get to the players, as Bennedict Mathurin is more than just a throw-in. He’s set to be a restricted free agent, and the Pacers clearly didn’t want to deal with that, but they basically just swapped starters at different positions, so will have to find ways to make up for his scoring. 

But the big thing for the Pistons is that Indiana will no longer be seeking a center this summer, which means they won’t be putting an offer sheet in for Jalen Duren. 

Duren is about to get a huge pay raise, and John Hollinger named the Pacers as one of the teams that might try to steal him from the Pistons with a monster offer.

That seemed like a long shot anyway, but now you can cross Indiana off the list of teams that might pursue Duren. 

It’s not great to have another very good center in the Central Division, but the Pacers had to pay dearly to get him and are no longer a threat to the Pistons when it comes to Jalen Duren. 

Just a note: Duren has averaged 10 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in five games against Zubac.