Per Jake Fischer, Indy pursued Jarrett Allen and Onyeka Okongkwu before finally landing a deal with the LA Clippers around Ivica Zubac.
The Indiana Pacers have secured their primary goalof identifying the new center of their future by adding Ivica Zubac.
Indiana Pacers / Schedule
Hours before last Thursday's NBA trade deadline, the Pacers came out bringing the Croatian big man as they struck a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Ben Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and several draft assets.
But before securing the service of Zubac, the Pacers also made significant attempts to acquire two prolific big men, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
"Sources say Indiana called about 28-year-old Jarrett Allen, who is in the midst of a three-year, $90 million agreement in Cleveland. They also really valued Atlanta’s Onyeka Okongwu, sources say, with the 24-year-old enticing them both because of his ability as well as his annual $15.5 million salary via his four-year pact with the Hawks," Fischer wrote in his latest report.
"Zubac, of course, is in Year 1 of a three-year deal that pays an average annual salary of $19.6 million."
In the end, the Pacers still can only be happy about landing Zubac, as the veteran is set to anchor their interior and help them run it back with Tyrese Haliburton returning next season from his Achilles recovery.
Zubac, who is yet to make his Indiana debut, is averaging 14.4 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 43 games played. He's been with the Clippers since the 2018-19 season.
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