The Indiana Pacers acquired Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers ahead of this year's trade deadline to address their biggest need.
Zubac is going to be a game-changer for the Pacers, who are looking to re-enter the title picture next season after being one win away from winning it all last year. But is this enough? Was trading for Zubac Indiana's final change they needed to make to really move the needle?
In a recent episode of the "Locked On Pacers" podcast, Tony East raised this question and mentioned that the past few NBA champions all made that one final move before their championship run. And the Pacers may be hoping to replicate that same magic.
"Something I thought about after this trade happened is recent precedent of champions and the idea of the final piece or final move teams make to bring in someone to complete their team. ... You get a final piece when you're really close, and if it's the right guy, good things happen. ... Is that Ivica Zubac [for the Pacers]?" East said.
Ivica Zubac needs to prove he's the final piece for the Pacers
In the podcast, East mentioned the last three NBA champions and the big move they made that may have defined their run.
Before last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls for Josh Giddey. Caruso's defense (and Isaiah Hartenstein's, who they signed that same offseason) was an instrumental part of Oklahoma City's success. They had a historic defense, and it's one of the biggest reasons they are the reigning NBA Champions.
The year before, the Boston Celtics, who were fresh off an Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Miami Heat, acquired Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Both players (more specifically Holiday, given that Porzingis played just seven postseason games for Boston in 2024) played a big role in their success that season, and it helped them finally get over the hump.
And before the 2022-23 season, the Denver Nuggets traded for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from the Washington Wizards. He was incredibly important to Denver's title team due to his 3-and-D style and his defense in the backcourt, and they maybe don't win it all without him on the team.
There's clearly a trend here, and the Pacers are looking to continue it. They will be able to re-establish themselves as title contenders next season. Tyrese Haliburton will be back. Obi Toppin will be back. And almost everybody from last year's NBA Finals roster will still be in the mix.
Ultimately, how Zubac fits in with the Pacers will likely determine their ceiling. On paper, he is a great fit because of his elite interior defense and rebounding. His offensive fit is a bit more questionable because of his inability to space the floor, but with Rick Carlisle leading the way, fans have reasons to believe it will all work out.
Zubac's arrival in Indiana is an exciting one, and he should greatly impact the team's championship odds for the better. But is it going to be enough to win it all? Only he can truly answer that.