The end is the beginning is the end

The urgency of the trade deadline results largely in teams setting up for ... next year?

Good morning. It's finally Friday. Let's basketball.

Despite the difficulties created by the NBA's parity-focused strict salary cap system, the trade deadline was still quite active. Few recent All-Stars changed teams, but large contracts did get moved around. And championship equity changed for multiple teams.

In an interesting twist, with apologies to James Harden and the Cavaliers, the biggest championship equity shift that occurred at this trade deadline doesn't affect the 2026 season. The biggest title shift? Ivica Zubac to the Pacers for Bennedict Mathurin and picks. Indiana expected to be back in conversation for the best team in the Eastern Conference once Tyrese Haliburton returned from injury next fall. But there was a wrinkle: they'd moved on from Myles Turner and didn't have a starter-quality replacement yet. Zubac is more than that. He'll compete for All-Star nods in the East, and he's on a team-friendly contract. The price was heavy: the Pacers gave up their 2026 pick if it lands between Nos. 5 and 9 (otherwise it's a 2031 unprotected pick) plus their 2029 unprotected pick. Assuming the Pacers stay on their current path this season, there's a 50/50 shot the pick conveys. But Indiana must feel as though it's a worthy risk in the event the pick slips out of the top four, either due to talent drop-off in the draft or perceived value of adding a non-superstar rookie to this mix.