In Part 1 of this special 2-part crossover episode, Brad and Ryan are joined by Alex Golden from Setting the Pace! We kick off the 2026 All-Star Break with a quick recap of the Pacers gritty win over the Nets, share our collective thoughts on the blockbuster Ivica Zubac (and Kobe Brown) trade from the Clippers, and discuss Johnny Furphy’s season-ending ACL tear opening up minutes for newly acquired Kobe Brown. Then we dive into the buzzing NBA expansion talks—two new teams potentially coming, with existing franchises protecting just 8 players—who would the Pacers lock in? We wrap with the biggest remaining holes on this roster after the deadline. Be sure to catch Part 2 over on Setting the Pace!

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In this emergency injury update episode of The Pacers Post Up, Brad and Ryan break down the heartbreaking news rocking the Indiana Pacers: second-year forward Johnny Furphy has suffered a torn right ACL. Per Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, Furphy underwent an MRI in New York today after awkwardly landing following a dunk in Sunday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors. The results confirmed the tear, sidelining the promising Aussie swingman for the remainder of this already injury-ravaged season. This is yet another devastating blow for a Pacers team that’s been decimated by injuries. We discuss what Furphy’s absence means for the lineup, his breakout flashes this year, the mounting frustration in Indy, and whether this cursed season can find any silver lining.

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The Pacers first-round pick is officially on the line — and the stakes couldn’t be higher. In this episode, we take a full deep dive into the NBA Draft Lottery and what it means for Indiana’s future. With a top-4 protected pick, spots 5–9 heading to the Clippers, and 10–30 staying in Indy, every loss (and win) down the stretch matters. Miss the protection window this year, and the cost jumps to an unprotected 2031 first-round pick. We break down:how the NBA Draft Lottery actually works, The Pacers current lottery position and exact odds from every slot, what finish gives Indiana the best chance to land in the top 4, and just how tantalizing a shot at a loaded draft class could be — featuring names like Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, and Caleb Wilson. This is the math, strategy, and reality check behind one of the most important Pacers picks in years that all the sudden just got WAY more interesting.

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We take a deeper dive on the Ivica Zubac trade and close the book on the Bennedict Mathurin era in Indiana. In this episode, we make our last, clearest case for why this deal had to happen — why moving Benn was necessary, and why the Pacers ultimately nailed the timing and the return. We break down Zubac’s fit on both ends of the floor, how his physicality, rebounding, and defensive presence immediately change the identity of this team, and why having a bona fide starting center unlocks everything the Pacers want to be. With a legitimate defensive anchor in place and a potential top-4 pick looming, we zoom out and talk about where this franchise is headed next season — and why this move signals the Pacers are not just flirting with the future, but are ready to push their chips in and win now. This one is about clarity, conviction, and the start of the Pacers next real window.

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The Pacers just pushed every chip to the center of the table. Indiana lands Ivica Zubac in what can only be described as a home-run, win-now trade by Kevin Pritchard. Giving up Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first, the 2029 first, and a Dallas 2028 second isn’t cheap — but this is the exact type of swing championship teams have to make. Zubac brings elite size, physicality, rebounding, and defensive presence — everything this roster has been missing in the postseason. An All-NBA caliber defender last season, he instantly stabilizes the paint, changes matchups, and unlocks Indiana’s ceiling over the next few years. Big risk. Bigger belief. Kudos to Kevin Pritchard for getting his guy and officially putting the Pacers in championship mode.

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It was a busy and telling stretch at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the Pacers navigated back-to-back home games — and watched the trade landscape begin to shift around the league. The week starts with Pascal Siakam earning his spot as an NBA All-Star, a deserved recognition for being the steady anchor through a season filled with change. On the floor, Indiana runs into a physical Houston Rockets squad whose size proved overwhelming — dominating the Pacers on the glass and at the free-throw line in a close loss on Monday night. The follow-up against the Utah Jazz told a very different story. With Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, and Bennedict Mathurin all resting, the Pacers leaned heavily on their young core. Despite the loss, the young guys showed real flashes — energy, shot-making, and defensive activity — offering optimism in a night focused more on development than results. Brad and Ryan also zoom out to discuss the first trade dominoes beginning to fall around the league, what it could mean for Indiana as the deadline approaches, and how the Pacers fit into an increasingly active market.

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What started as an AI autocorrect gaff has turned into a running joke — and now, maybe something more. Brad and Ryan lean into the accidental nickname Jarace “Karate” Walker while breaking down the very real rise of Jarace Walker after an incredibly rough start to the season. Once written off by much of Pacers Nation, Jarace has quietly emerged from the ashes with a stretch of play that’s changing the conversation. Over the last month, the numbers — and the film — are finally lining up. The three-point shooting looks real, the turnovers are down, and his defensive impact is starting to pop, highlighted by his ninja-like hands (hence “Karate”) and a five-steal performance against Atlanta. Is this a real breakthrough? A sign of long-term growth? Maybe it’s just the beginning of what the Pacers hoped they were getting all along.

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With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, Brad and Ryan zoom out to survey the league — and then zoom back in on where the Indiana Pacers fit into the chaos. The conversation starts with the biggest potential domino of them all: Giannis Antetokounmpo — and what ripple effects a shift at the top could create across the association. From there, we work our way through other notable names and situations to monitor, separating real possibilities from noise. For Indiana, the focus sharpens around two key questions: Which centers might realistically be available — and at what cost? And does Bennedict Mathurin ultimately get moved before next Thursday’s deadline as the Pacers weigh value, fit, and timing? Big-picture league movement, Pacers-specific angles, and how everything could connect once the first domino falls.

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