In order for Ivica Zubac to maximize his potential with the Indiana Pacers, he needs to adjust his game to be the best fit with the team he can be. It shouldn't be up to the Pacers to adjust their system to adhere to Zubac's strengths, regardless of how important he is going to be to their success moving forward.
When Indiana acquired Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers ahead of this year's trade deadline, there was a lot of excitement for it. And it's easy to see why. The 28-year-old is a fantastic rebounder and an elite paint presence on both sides of the ball. He is a phenomenal interior defender who can anchor any team's defense, and he is also an incredibly efficient scorer in the paint (he shot 62.7% during his eight seasons with the Clippers).
As the Pacers look to re-enter the title picture next season, a lot will be asked of Zubac. But there are still some concerns about his offensive fit with the team, and it's important that they find the right answer.
Ivica Zubac may need to change some things
The most obvious concern is that Zubac is not a floor-spacer. At all. He is a career 1-for-12 from beyond the arc. And considering that spacing is a crucial part of Indiana's offense (hence why Myles Turner's departure was such a big deal last summer), to say this isn't ideal would be a bit of an understatement.
However, it's going to be easier and more effective for Zubac to figure out his role in the offense rather than the Pacers choosing to slow things down or change their style. That would remove a bit too much of their identity, and they would lose sight of what got them to the NBA Finals last year in the first place.
Earlier this month, the former Clippers big man said he may be tasked with stretching out to the corner a bit more and shooting some more threes. This experiment may not work, but it should excite Pacers fans knowing that he's looking to mesh well in the team's system. And if it does work, it will open up a completely new dynamic of his game.
Zubac is going to be a fantastic player for the Pacers, and he's going to completely change how they look with his defense and presence on the boards. But there are still some important questions he and the team need to answer, and it is up to him to figure it out.