The Clippers emerged from their most significant NBA draft lottery in eight years on Sunday with their highest pick in 17 years when they landed the No. 5 overall selection via their trade with the Indiana Pacers.
The Clippers took a chance at a high draft choice when they sent center Ivica Zubac to the Pacers at this year’s trade deadline in a deal tied to Indiana’s lottery finish. That gamble paid off as the Pacers, who had a 52.1% of landing a top four pick, fell out of the 5-9 protected range, giving the Clippers their highest pick since 2009 when they selected Blake Griffin at No. 1.
In 2018, the Clippers had two first-round picks, selecting Miles Bridges of Michigan State and Jerome Robinson of Boston College at Nos. 12 and 13.
This year’s draft opportunity was created when Pacers traded Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, the protected 2026 pick, a 2029 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick to the Clippers in exchange for Zubac and forward Kobe Brown. The 2026 pick was protected 1–4 and 10–30, meaning the Clippers would only receive it if it landed between 5th and 9th.
The Pacers finished 19-63, second-worst in the NBA, and had a 14.0% chance to win the No. 1 pick overall. It also gave them a 52.1% chance to finish among the Top 4 in the draft.
For the Clippers, a high pick allows them to land a potential franchise-changing prospect that they would add to a young corps they leaned on last winter when they traded Zubac and James Harden (to the Cleveland Cavaliers).
This year’s draft classes is the deepest in 30 years, led by AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Darrius Acuff Jr. and Calen Wilson.
The Washington Wizards own the No. 1 pick in the draft, followed by the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, the Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, and Charlotte Hornets.