Pacers president apologizes to fans after team's 'risk' backfires in NBA Draft Lottery

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The Indiana Pacers’ risky move backfired after the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery saw them lose their top pick altogether in a disastrous turn of events on Sunday afternoon.

Heading into the lottery, the Pacers, who went 19-63 just one season after reaching the NBA Finals out of the Eastern Conference, had a 52.1% chance of having a top-four pick.

However, when they didn’t see their team chosen in the first four picks – Indiana also had a 14% chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick – it was time to panic.

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Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard speaks during a press conference to announce center Miles Turner's contract extension at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on Jan. 30, 2023. (Marc Lebryk/USA TODAY Sports)

The reason? The Pacers included their first-round pick in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac, but they only made it a top-four protected pick. That means, if the Pacers were chosen in the lottery as a top-four selection, they would be able to keep it.

But the Pacers were chosen as the No. 5 pick, and the Clippers now own the selection in next month’s draft.

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As a result, Pacers team president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard took full responsibility for the move, apologizing on social media.

"I’m really sorry to all our fans," he wrote on X. "I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck. But please remember – this