The latest on Ivica Zubac and the Pacers as the Pacers fall in Milwaukee
The trade and basketball latest.
MILWAUKEE – The Pacers, minus Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson after Thursday's trade, took on the Bucks on Friday to begin their temporary post trade deadline reality.
I say temporary because they didn't have the players they sent away or the ones they acquired. Mathurin and Jackson have arrived in LA, and the Clippers posted a video of the two walking through their new locker room. Zubac and Brown, meanwhile, aren't with the Pacers yet.
Tony East
When might Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown join the Indiana Pacers?
Head coach Rick Carlisle spoke to reporters pregame, and this was the big question. Here's the answer.
"Well, all four players involved in the trade have to pass physicals to be cleared. Assuming that happens, the earliest [Brown and Zubac] would join us would be in New York Monday evening," he said.
Zubac and his wife just welcomed a child, and he missed his final game with the Clippers as a result. That may end up being a factor in his eventual timing joining, and playing for, the Pacers. But there is more to it.
"It's more likely that [Zubac's] debut with us, assuming everything goes through, will probably be just delayed because he had an ankle thing that happened in December. And he came back, then it's kind of yo-yoed a little bit. And so [my] understanding from talking to him is that there's still something there that is not quite right. And we're not going to put him out there until he's really ready," Carlisle said. "He's a guy that's played 94 or 95% of his games over his career. I'm assuming one of the reasons is that he's always raring to go through things. But that's not going to be an option here."
The Clippers have indicated that they expect Mathurin and Jackson to be available on Tuesday, so keep an eye on that timeline for the Pacers, too.
What happened in the game without the traded pieces?
Ironically, as the Pacers lost to the Bucks, they could have used both Jackson and Mathurin. Jackson's best game of the season was against Milwaukee when he posted 21 points and 10 rebounds – his mobility would have been helpful against Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr, two ball handlers who combined for 25 two-point shot attempts and were living in the lane. Mathurin, meanwhile, can get into the paint and near the rim. The Pacers struggled with this, scoring just 38 points in the paint Friday night.
Of course, the players who were available needed to be better. Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard, the Pacers two highest rostered scorers this season, combined to shoot 13/36 (36.1%). Nembhard didn't get going until he received advice about his shooting technique in the fourth quarter.
The Pacers bench was largely effective, and their constantly-improving small-ball lineup surged late to make the game close. But a poor offensive outing from the Pacers, highlighted by off nights from their best players, was too much to overcome in a 105-99 loss.
"Indecisiveness was a problem. We turned down some shots that we should have taken in the rhythm and flow of the offense and the game during those two quarters," Carlisle said postgame. The two quarters he was referring to were the second and third periods, in which the Pacers scored just 18 points both times.
Players pointed to ball movement and tempo as concerns in the loss. They corrected it during a 15-0 Pacers run in the fourth quarter, but it was too late. The Pacers are now 13-39.
Kam Jones opportunity, present and future
This felt like the most underrated storyline from this game. Kam Jones, playing in the same arena where he played his college basketball at Marquette, received rotation minutes. That's not totally new, he's been playing some for the Pacers of late.
His role may have been different for this particular outing due to the Marquette ties. But Jones was the Pacers sixth man, meaning he played alongside the team's top talents often. That is something new. The rookie guard logged 5:19 of play alongside Pascal Siakam, for example. For the season, Jones had only played 19 minutes with the All-Star forward entering Friday night.
Those are significant reps. Jones' impact wasn't felt much in the game – he had two points and one steal on 1/2 shooting in about 13 minutes – but his responsibilities were of more importance given who he was sharing the court with.
After the final buzzer, Carlisle shared that he spoke with Jones during a stoppage in the game and asked him if he was always a threat with the ball when at Marquette. Jones, of course, said yes. "That's how you've gotta play here," Carlisle replied.
The opportunity felt significant. The Pacers need to get more looks at their rookie guard down the stretch of this season, and they did so in their first game after the trade deadline. I followed up with Carlisle to ask about Jones playing with some of the starters against the Bucks. "This is a period where he's gonna get some opportunities to play," Carlisle said. "He's a smart, resourceful player. He will adjust and he'll get better. And we need him right now, we're down on numbers," he said later.
I later asked Jones about playing with Siakam and his best teammates. "I wouldn't say I change anything. Whoever I'm out there on the floor with, my mindset is the same," he said. "Just do what I can to contribute to winning and helping my teammates feel good and playing as hard as I can every play."
Trade reactions
Players were asked about the Zubac addition on Friday night.
Aaron Nesmith: "I'm excited, man. I'm excited for his rebounding. Defensively, don't have to double as much in the post. I think he brings a different dynamic that we haven't had. I'm just excited to play with him."
Andrew Nembhard: "First time we played him, he gave us like 30 and 30. Big body, can really rebound. He's going to be a force rolling in two man actions with me and [Tyrese Haliburton]. Excited about having him. Heard he's a great teammate, so he'll fit in really well with us."
T.J. McConnell: "I just think rebounding, for one. He's a monster on the glass. And he could just help us in so many ways. Post defense, helping us on the glass, screen setting. You've just got to think about all the positives that he can bring, especially once [Haliburton] comes back. (Those) two playing together could really be special. Him playing alongside all of us, it's going to be really fun. We're very happy to have him."
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