Pacers' Pritchard Apologizes for Lottery Pick Trade Fallout

Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard apologized to fans on social media after the team's top-four protected first-round pick conveyed to the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10. The Pacers landed the No. 5 selection, forfeiting the pick acquired in a trade for center Ivica Zubac. Pritchard took responsibility for the risk in a post on X.

The Pacers entered the lottery with a 52.1% chance of a top-four pick and 14% odds for the No. 1 overall selection following a 19-63 season, one year after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals. The protection clause allowed Indiana to retain the pick only if drawn in the top four; falling to fifth triggered the transfer to the Clippers for next month's draft.

Without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, sidelined all season by an Achilles injury from the prior NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers return key players including Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith. The 2026 draft class features prospects such as BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson and Duke forward Cam Boozer.

Pritchard wrote on X: "I’m really sorry to all our fans. I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck. But please remember - this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year. We have always been resilient." Fans responded with criticism over trading away future assets including the pick and references to Benedict Mathurin for Zubac.