Shams: Zubac to IND

[obnoxiousmime]

What really sucks is, the Pacers aren't able to complete this deal if they didn't tank this year. If the Cs had tanked, they could have been in a similar position to trade for a valuable piece.

Not arguing for or against it, but we were both in similar situations at the start of the year and both targeted Zubac to fill a need at a reasonable deal going forward. They got him and we didn't.

I think that I would rather have Vucevic + two #1s + #2 + a winning season as opposed to a season of misery with Zubac being the prize at the end of that tunnel.

Absolutely.

Sure, I understand there is a cost to tanking a season. And I'm not sure Zubac is worth what they paid. However, it's clear the Cs front office has coveted him for a while now and it stinks that another Eastern Conference rival was able to get it done just because they decided they wouldn't try this year. I would also point out that yes, we supposedly "tried" this year but clearly we aren't REALLY trying to be a contender since they just dumped a bunch of players to get under the tax.

The draft lottery system is just really flawed that way. Watch the Pacers shut Zubac down and try to increase the chances they keep their pick and draft one of the young studs this year. I'm fine with the truly bad teams getting the best picks, but I don't like teams like the Mavericks being rewarded for insane luck or teams like the Pacers taking "gap years" and getting a great pick even though they already have talent on the roster. It's subverting how the system is supposed to work.

What would you have done to tank?

What further should we have done to contend this season?

I wasn't trying to make this about tanking vs non-tanking in my original post, because god knows that debate has been done to death. It's really more just lamenting the fact that both teams coveted Zubac and one team was able to do it because they tanked and had a more valuable first to dangle.

Now, it's possible it doesn't convey and it's just future unprotected picks, making it closer to what they were asking of the Cs (or what the C's realistically had to give given their future assets). And the C's seemed to not be willing to go to that price earlier this season, so it might be a moot point.

I just think that teams shouldn't be able to tank one season and have the same odds as teams that have been on the lottery multiple years and struck out due to the ping pong balls not falling their way. It's really ridiculous this season in particular with teams trading for guys they won't even play, because they want to protect their draft position. The Jazz have Markannen, George, and now JJJ. Why should they deserve another top pick? The Wizards are just going to sit Trae and AD the rest of the year, with them in cahoots because of promised future extensions. It's just laughable at this point.

[Phantom255x]

I would have loved Zubac, but idk if we could have beaten that price. The C's also tried based on rumors but the Clippers probably just didn't love Simons. Mathurin is just 23 and projects to have a higher ceiling, along with Indiana's first round picks which project to be better than ours.

[Vermont Green]

Mathurin is a good player, at least comparable to Pritchard or Hauser, probably better than either, and only 23.  Isaiah Jackson is a serviceable forward.  Plus (2) firsts and (1) second.  Even with the protections on the 2026 first, this is still a big haul.  More than I would have wanted to give up for Zubac.

Sometimes you gotta know when to fold 'em.

[Who]

The Clippers have a whole new backcourt.

G: Darius Garland
G: Ben Mathurin

They needed a starting SG. I don't think it was worth the cost of their starting C but I guess the draft picks are the real prize here - not Mathurin. A backcourt for the future. Garland only 26yo. Mathurin 23yo.

G: Darius Garland, Kris Dunn
G: Ben Mathurin, Kobe Sanders
F: Derrick Jones Jr, Nic Batum
F: Kawhi Leonard, John Collins
C: Brook Lopez, YK Niederhauser

Others: Cam Christie (PG), Bogdanovic (SF), Jordan Miller (SF), Bradley Beal (to return next season), Kobe Brown (PF/C), Isaiah Jackson (C).

I like Niederhauser. Good body. Big and mobile. Active young big man. Good effort player. He will rebound, defend, rim run.

B Beal & Old Heads

Bradley Beal has a player option for $5.6mil. I wonder if he opts out. Depending on what level Beal is able to return at, he could still be a better player than Mathurin. Start Beal and use Mathurin as a 6th man like Indy did. Mathurin and John Collins as offensive subs. Niederhauser, K Dunn and Kobe Sanders as defensive subs. Interesting mix.

I wonder if Batum will retire or stay. LAC has a team option on him at $5.8mil. Batum is 37yo. They have enough depth to do without him. Switch to those younger more athletic wings. Maybe it will depend on whether John Collins returns. He will be a FA next summer.

I wonder if LAC let all the old guys go in the summer. B Lopez, B Beal, Nic Batum, Bogdanovic. Reset. Kawhi would be the only old player on the roster. And maybe Kris Dunn (soon to be 32yo).

Passing

The passing on that team stands out - for negative reasons. Mathurin's limitations as a ball-handler and passer reduce his offensive impact despite his impressive scoring ability. He is a one-on-one guy. Kawhi is a one-on-one guy. J Collins is a non-passer. B Lopez is a non-passer. Kobe Sanders is a non-passer. Niederhauser is a non-passer. Kris Dunn is a limited passer. Darius Garland is the only high level passer on the team and Batum is the only plus passer off the bench.

That team is going to be the worst passing team in the league while Darius Garland is out injured. And even with Garland healthy, you are surrounding him with a bunch of ball-stoppers. Team ball movement isn't going to be good.

Rebounding

The rebounding looks dodgy without Zubac. B Lopez is a weak rebounder. Kawhi is a weak rebounding PF. Garland is a bad rebounding guard. Mathurin and Derrick Jones Jr can rebound their position.

I wonder if John Collins ends up being put in the starting lineup instead of Derrick Jones Jr to shore up the rebounding. Slide Kawhi back to SF.

[Who]

What will Indiana look like next year?

G: Tyrese Haliburton, TJ McConnell
G: A Nembhard, Ben Sheppard
F: A Nesmith, J Furphy
F: P Siakam, Obi Toppin
C: I Zubac, Jay Huff

Yeah, that team is back in the title mix. Good recovery from losing Myles Turner.

It would be nice to see IND get a high pick this summer and keep their selection. One more piece for that roster would do wonders for them.