With the NCAA National Championship concluded, Christopher Kline of FanSided.com released yet another exciting NBA Mock Draft. This time around, Kline has the Indiana Pacers’ pick falling fourth overall, where they select the North Carolina phenom, Caleb Wilson.
This outcome would sting, if it transpired, as fans would ultimately wish the LA Clippers could go back in time, and hold off on trading Ivica Zubac until the Pacers agreed to give up their 2026 first-round pick entirely, without protections.
There is an argument the Pacers would deny, but dating back to reports, they were beyond desperate to acquire Zubac. It seemed like they would give up an arm and a leg, as they wanted Tyrese Haliburton to be surrounded with a top-ten caliber center.
The Clippers have maintained a high asking price of draft capital for Ivica Zubac, sources say. I've been told that Zubac and Daniel Gafford in Dallas remain the Pacers' leading targets to find a starting center for Tyrese Haliburton next season.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) February 5, 2026
This means, if the Clippers were persistent enough, they could’ve gotten Indiana to cave.
Clippers fans would cry out a river if the Pacers draft Caleb Wilson
If the Indiana Pacers secure the fourth overall pick and select Caleb Wilson off the draft board, agony, pain, and sadness would be the primary emotions every fan of the LA Clippers would be feeling.
Why? Because not only would it mean the Clippers lost the deadline trade involving Ivica Zubac, but Wilson is a player fans have been dreaming of for months.
He is widely regarded as having the brightest future among the entire class, which is mind-boggling as there are generational names all around, and the reasoning lies in the box scores and the eye test.
Statistically, Wilson averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks for North Carolina in 24 games.
This is beyond impressive, and on top of that, Wilson is a freak athlete with absurd shot-making abilities, defensive IQ, and a mentality of fearing nobody that only superstars possess.
In fact, Wilson had such a dominant one-and-done season for the Tar Heels that his jersey has already been confirmed for retirement to the rafters.
No one will ever be able to wear the number eight again, and it’s even crazier when you consider that Wilson did not even play the full year due to injuries. That’s how great he was, which briefly explains why Clippers fans prefer him specifically.
So, if Wilson ends up on the Pacers, it’s safe to say Clipper Nation will be in tears. They have every reason to feel hurt, as the Zubac trade would have confirmed to be a bust.