Pacers trade Mathurin and Jackson to Clippers for Ivica Zubac, draft picks, AP source says

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers finally got the center they needed. The Los Angeles Clippers got the draft picks they wanted — and two additional players to boot.

On Thursday, the Pacers dealt high-scoring swingman Bennedict Mathurin, center Isaiah Jackson and up to three draft picks to the Clippers for center Ivica Zubac, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade deadline deal had not yet been announced officially.

Indiana gets one of the league's top defensive centers — and the post presence they've been seeking since longtime center Myles Turner surprised the Pacers by leaving for Central Division rival Milwaukee last summer in free agency.

One advantage is that Zubac, who turns 29 next month, is signed through the 2027-28 season, meaning he'll be around when two-time All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton returns from his torn Achilles tendon next season. Mathurin can become a restricted free agent this summer and it was unclear whether the Pacers could afford to re-sign their first-round draft pick from 2022.

Plus, Zubac was a second team all-defensive team selection last year and the Pacers now have nearly half of this season to see how he fits on a roster that won last season's Eastern Conference title and has most of its key players signed for multiple years.

Zubac also is averaging 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds — numbers lower than last season's career highs — while shooting 61.3% from the field, making him an offensive upgrade over Jackson and Jay Huff, who struggled to replace Turner's productivity both offensively and defensively.

Zubac was the longest tenured active player on the Clippers. He missed Wednesday night's loss to Cleveland after his wife gave birth to the couple's first child.

In some ways, this deal is reminiscent of the move president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard made two years ago to get All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, which helped set up Indiana's successful postseason runs in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

But without Haliburton — and a series of debilitating injuries — the Pacers have struggled to the third worst record in the league, 13-38.

The Clippers, meanwhile, continue to stockpile draft picks as they overhaul their roster following the earlier deal that sent James Harden to Cleveland.

Mathurin recently returned from toe and thumb injuries that kept him out most of January, and he's been increasingly rounding into form. He's still averaging 17.8 points and 5.4 rebounds, mostly off the bench, this season and has improved significantly as a defender, too.

Jackson has started 14 times in 38 games played this season and is averaging 6.4 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 58.2% from the field. Like Mathurin, Jackson also was a first-round draft pick in 2021, No. 8 overall. And though Jackson had shown flashes of the player Indiana thought he could become, he lacked the consistency to win the starting job even after the loss of Turner.

But both could find more playing time in Los Angeles now, and that could help speed up the Clippers' overhaul.

AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.

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Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) and Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac battle for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) and Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith (25) reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin, left, looses the ball in front of Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Myles Garrett was a unanimous choice for the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award after setting a season record for sacks with 23.

Garrett received all 50 first-place votes to become the ninth player to win DPOY multiple times. Cleveland’s edge rusher also was a unanimous All-Pro selection. Garrett previously won the award in 2023.

“It doesn’t just start with me,” he said. “It starts with great teammates, a great organization, great coaches being able to put us in position. I’m thankful for every single one of teammates to help get me up here. It’s not possible without them.”

Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. finished second with 77 points, Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons came in third (63) followed by Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto (52) and Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (42).

Garrett surpassed both Michael Strahan (22.5) and T.J. Watt (22.5) when he sacked Joe Burrow in the final game of the regular season.

The award was one of eight scheduled to be announced at NFL Honors on Thursday night, including The Associated Press 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player award.

Christian McCaffrey, Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford are in the running for MVP.

Maye, who will lead the New England Patriots into the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks, and McCaffrey are also finalists for Offensive Player of the Year. McCaffrey and Lawrence are among the finalists for Comeback Player of the Year.

A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began. Votes were tabulated by the accounting firm Lutz and Carr.

Voters selected a top 5 for the eight AP NFL awards. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.

The other awards being presented Thursday in San Francisco include Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels won the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award in the first season of his third stint with the team.

McDaniels received 17 of 50 first-place votes and finished with 249 points. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph placed second with 10 first-place votes and 176 points.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, left, signals after a field goal while standing with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels during an NFL football availability, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford warms up before the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looks to pass during practice ahead of the Super Bowl 60 NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen speaks at a NFL news conference in Orchard Park, N.Y., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)