Pacers finally found their Myles Turner replacement after blockbuster deadline trade

The Indiana Pacers needed it. And less than an hour before the trade deadline, they got it.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Pacers have acquired Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers, and they now have their Myles Turner replacement after he joined the Milwaukee Bucks in the offseason.

In exchange, the Pacers are sending Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two-first round picks, and one second-round pick. They are also acquiring forward Kobe Brown as part of the deal.

The Pacers finally find their new starting center

This is going to be a bittersweet move for most Pacers fans.

On one hand, Zubac is going to thrive with the Pacers. He's not a floor-spacer at all, but he is going to provide immense value, and the sky is the limit for what he can do with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton next season.

In 43 games this season, the 28-year-old has averaged 14.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 61.3% from the field. And last year, he finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Zubac is an elite paint presence on both sides of the ball, and he is an incredibly mobile big who should work out well in Indiana's fast-paced system.

Zubac was not only the best center available on the trade market, but he is also an upgrade over Turner anyway. He is going to revamp Indiana's defense in a big way as its new anchor, and he's going to be a monster on the boards.

However, to get something, you have to give something. And that's exactly what the Pacers did.

The jury was still out on what Mathurin's future with the Pacers was going to look like. They chose not to sign him to a rookie-scale contract extension last summer, and there are valid concerns about his long-term role and fit with the team. This led to many believing they could trade him ahead of the deadline, which is ultimately what happened.

Mathurin stepped up numerous times throughout his Pacers career, and he showed that he's borderline unstoppable when he's hot. But now, he will look to run wild in Los Angeles, where he will have an opportunity to fully showcase his talents.

Additionally, the Pacers moved on from Jackson, who many had high hopes for heading into this season. He had been with the team since 2021, and he became a fan favorite because of his incredible athleticism and energy. Unfortunately for him, he has mostly been a big disappointment this season, and it led to the team cutting ties with him.

Regardless, Zubac is an incredibly exciting acquisition for the Pacers, and they are in a fantastic position to re-enter the title picture once Haliburton comes back.