The 2026 NBA Draft lottery results were revealed on Sunday and it was a nightmare for the Indiana Pacers. They finished this season with the league’s second-worst record at 18-64, but came out without a single first-round pick.
Normally, this would almost guarantee them a top five pick, but they traded away their first-rounder with protections to the Los Angeles Clippers midseason in exchange for center Ivica Zubac.
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They needed to land in the top four on Sunday to protect the pick, but it went to the Clippers after falling to fifth. Understandably so, Pacers fans online were devastated.
After the results were revealed, Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard apologized on social media for the way things played out.
“I’m really sorry to all our fans,” Pritchard wrote. “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.”
Even Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton seemed defeated on social media after receiving the news.
To be fair, the move made a lot of sense for the Pacers, who were in need of a true center at the time after the departure of longtime starter Myles Turner.
Unfortunately, the Wizards moved up in the lottery, meaning Indiana’s pick cannot be protected and automatically goes to the Clippers.
It’s a stroke of very bad luck, but the mid-season trade was an admirable move and one that still makes sense.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
