The Indiana Pacers are a team that prioritizes spacing the floor... and Ivica Zubac doesn't help much with that.
In his 10 seasons in the NBA, the former second-round pick has attempted just 12 three-point field goals (and made one of them). He hasn't shot from beyond the arc since Jan. 6, 2023. For some reference, Ben Simmons attempted a three-pointer more recently than Zubac has (Feb. 9, 2023).
After getting traded to the Pacers, Zubac made it clear that adding a three-point shot to his game is on the table, which would pay huge dividends for the team moving forward. It will allow them to keep a lot of their offensive identity, which has been the biggest part of their recent success, and it will help with their versatility and overall dynamic.
But until we actually start seeing it, we have reasons to believe Zubac will have his concerns in Indiana's offense. And that's something they will need to figure out sooner rather than later.
Ivica Zubac's lack of three-point shooting could be a problem for Indiana
Myles Turner has averaged four or more three-point field goal attempts per game every year since the 2019-20 season. In their first (and maybe only) season in Indiana, Jay Huff averaged 4.5, and Micah Potter averaged 3.6.
Having a stretch big is an important part of the Pacers' system. And if Zubac isn't going to become that, then they're going to have to make some changes.
The 29-year-old is very talented and provides some real offensive value, even if he's not much of a shooter. He is an elite screen-setter, and it's fair to assume Indiana will run a lot of pick-and-rolls with him alongside Tyrese Haliburton. Additionally, he is a very efficient scorer (he is a career 61.4 FG% shooter), is a good passer for his size, and excels in the post.
If Zubac doesn't become a reliable and consistent shooter, then the Pacers may have no choice but to adhere to his strengths a little bit, even if it means slowing things down and running a more traditional offense at times.
This isn't ideal given that their run-and-gun offense is what makes them so unique, but if it comes down to it, then they may have no other choice.
Trading for Zubac was a good decision that should greatly help the Pacers succeed in every area of the game. But there are some concerns about his fit with the team, and only time will tell what will prevail in the end.
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