Lottery Luck Or Not, Indiana Pacers Have Roster Needs To Address
Key takeaways
- Sports Money Lottery Luck Or Not, Indiana Pacers Have Roster Needs To Address By Tony East,
- If the lottery places the Pacers top selection inside the first four slots, Indiana will keep that draft pick.
- “We were trying to protect our upside at the top of the draft mostly,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said of the trade and draft pick protections in February.
Sports Money Lottery Luck Or Not, Indiana Pacers Have Roster Needs To Address By Tony East,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tony East is an Indiana-based writer who covers the Pacers and Fever.Follow Author May 08, 2026, 05:53pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Jarace Walker #5 of the Indiana Pacers fouls De Mar De Rozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings on a shot with Jay Huff #32 of the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on March 10, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Kelley L Cox/Getty Images)Getty ImagesINDIANAPOLIS – Just two days stand between the Indiana Pacers and their offseason-defining date. May 10 is the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, and the Pacers have a 52.1% chance of keeping their first-round draft pick.
If the lottery places the Pacers top selection inside the first four slots, Indiana will keep that draft pick. If it falls to fifth or sixth, the only other possible outcomes, it will be sent to the Los Angeles Clippers as a part of the trade that netted the Pacers center Ivica Zubac.