The Pacers put a lot of faith in the play of big man Ivica Zubac when they traded Bennedict Mathurin and what eventually became the 5th overall pick in the 2026 draft to acquire him.

Zubac only played five total games for Indiana after being acquired, several of which came with a minutes restriction. His lack of experience with the team means that he’s got a big challenge awaiting him next season, Tony East writes for Circle City Spin, as Indiana will hope to hit the ground running with the return of Tyrese Haliburton.

Not only will Zubac have to bounce back from an injury-riddled season, but he will also have to learn a new system, as the Haliburton Pacers have played a style that’s very different from the one he spent over six seasons playing with the Clippers. However, he thinks that the 118 minutes he was able to play for head coach Rick Carlisle this year gave him a head start in understanding what’s expected.

“Definitely helped with [getting] a feel for how this team wants to play, about the pace, about defensive coverages, the defensive rotations,” Zubac said of what he learned. “Offensively, where they want me to be, what they want me to do. So it definitely helped. I wish [there] were more games to get a better feel for it. But I kind of understood what they want from me, and (I’ve) got the whole summer to get in the best shape of my life and get ready for the next year.”

We have more from around the Central Division:

• The Bucks have the 10th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and have reportedly been operating like a team that expects to make more than one selection. Given the franchise’s uncertain state following the anticipated trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo, starting out with a strong draft pick will be crucial. With that in mind, Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel breaks down a multitude of potential candidates, including Nate Ament, whose floor is considered by some to be the Bucks.
• The Bulls are widely expected to take Caleb Wilson with pick No. 4, barring an unexpected decision in the top three, but what about the 15th pick? Cameron Carr is one of the true two-way wing prospects in the class, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times in his annual mock draft. Carr also fulfills the SLAP (Size, Length, Athleticism, Physicality) requirements of the new vice president of basketball operations, Bryson Graham, according to Cowley.
• After winning their highest number of games since the 2005/06 season, the Pistons are in the market to address two key areas this summer: shooting and ball-handling, according to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. Sankofa looks at three potential blockbuster trades to fill those holes, including the rumored three-team Giannis Antetokounmpo deal that would land Tyler Herro in Detroit, which carries with it risks due to some durability and defensive concerns, and his upcoming expiring contract. He also examines frameworks for deals that would land Trey Murphy III and Kyrie Irving.