The Clippers are acquiring Bennedict Mathurin from the Pacers in a trade that’s sending Ivica Zubac to the Pacers, a source confirmed to the California Post.
The full trade details, which were first reported by ESPN, include the Clippers acquiring Mathurin, big man Isaiah Jackson and three draft picks for Zubac and Kobe Brown.
Mathurin, the 23-year-old wing who was the No. 6 pick out of Arizona in the 2022 draft, is averaging career highs of 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in his fourth season.
He’s on the final year of his rookie contract and will become extension eligible during the summer.
Indiana now has its starting center to pair alongside All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburtion when he returns to the floor next season after tearing his Achilies during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
The draft picks the Clippers are acquiring are the Pacers’ 2026 first-round pick (protected 1-4 and 10-30), the Pacers’ unprotected 2029 first-round pick and a 2028 Mavericks second-round pick the Pacers acquired from the Kings when they traded Chris Duarte to Sacremento.
If the Pacers keep their 2026 first-round pick (the Clippers only get it if it falls 5-9), then the Clippers will receive the Pacers’ 2031 unprotected first-round pick.
Zubac averaged 14.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 41 games this season with the Clippers, who are re-tooling their roster after trading James Harden to Cleveland for Darius Garland earlier in the week.