Ivica Zubac is beginning the next chapter of his NBA career after the Los Angeles Clippers traded him to the Indiana Pacers in a major trade that caught plenty of fans by surprise.
Zubac will also be bringing a big contract and salary with him to the retooling Pacers squad. How much will he be earning in the remaining years of his ongoing contract as the latest member of the Indiana franchise?
Ivica Zubac’s Current Contract and Salary
Zubac is making roughly $18 million for the 2025-26 NBA season under his current contract, per Spotrac. It marks the first year of a three‑year, $59 million contract extension he signed with the Clippers in September 2024. There are no team or player options in the deal, meaning he will be an unrestricted free agent in the 2028 offseason unless he signs another contract with Indiana.
After eight seasons with the Clippers, the franchise traded him to the Pacers. He developed into becoming one of the best big men in the league, impressing with his inside scoring, rebounding, and inside defense. He was also a double-double threat, allowing Los Angeles to turn to him as a reliable option.
However, the Clippers are preparing for a new era after trading him and James Harden this week. After years of early playoff exits and one Western Conference Finals appearance in 2021, the franchise decides it’s best to move in a different direction as it begins to transition away from the Kawhi Leonard era.
Indiana took note and sent key young players who will play significant roles in the Clippers’ rotation. Los Angeles will also obtain draft compensation in the major move, per ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania.
“The Pacers are sending Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and one second-round pick to the Clippers for Zubac and Kobe Brown, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote. “Clippers are receiving a 2026 first-round pick from the Pacers, protected 1-4 and 10-30 — plus a 2029 Pacers unprotected first-rounder.”
“If the Pacers first-rounder this year falls outside of that 1-4/10-30 range, it converts to the Pacers 2031 unprotected first.”
What Lies Ahead for Zubac and Pacers?
Zubac stands out as the de facto replacement for Myles Turner, who left the Pacers in the 2025 offseason for the Milwaukee Bucks. This solves the team’s issue at the center position, giving them a chance to return to playoff contention for next season and beyond when star guard Tyrese Haliburton completes his Achilles rehab.
Zubac will undoubtedly provide quality production on both sides of the ball, having landed on the NBA’s All-Defensive second team last year. This season, he is averaging 14.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game throughout 43 appearances. He is shooting 61.3% from the field and 70.5% from the free-throw line so far.
Indiana has a 13-38 record at the moment, sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. They are behind the Washington Wizards and the Brooklyn Nets by one game.
After hosting the last four games, the Pacers will be on the road for six consecutive contests. They face the Milwaukee Bucks, with tip-off on Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. ET.
