The Bucks outsmarted everyone again, Zubac was sold at a high price, and the Lakers strengthened their shooting roster.

Who could have expected that the biggest fish on trade deadline day would be Clippers' Zubac?

After Giannis and the Bucks outplayed all the teams, the Bucks announced that Giannis would remain. On trade deadline day, it's uncommon to see a star of this level traded since the offseason allows teams ample time to strategize. Naturally, any trade involving Doncic would be shocking.

From start to finish, Giannis never gave any hint that he wanted to leave Milwaukee, and the Bucks never seriously considered trading him. They only put this big fish on the market to listen to offers and assess Giannis's market value. If a trade were to happen, the offseason would serve as a reference point.

However, the Bucks were fair enough to announce Giannis would stay three hours before the deadline, giving other teams three hours to make moves. During this time, the most significant trade was Zubac moving to the Pacers.

The Clippers sent out Zubac and Kobe Brown and received from the Pacers Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2026 first-round pick, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, and a second-round pick.

The Pacers' 2026 first-round pick has two protections: 1-4 and 10-30. In other words, if the Pacers land a 5-9 pick this year, that pick goes to the Clippers. If not, the pick rolls over to 2031 as an unprotected first-rounder. Either way, the Clippers don't lose out.

The Pacers are clearly tanking this season, likely finishing in the bottom three. Still, the chance of landing a 5-9 pick remains high. If that pick goes to the Clippers, they can use this high pick to strengthen their team; if it rolls over to 2031, they effectively control the Pacers' 2029 and 2031 draft rights.

I didn't expect the Pacers to pay such a steep price for Zubac; it can only mean they desperately needed a center. After Turner left, the Pacers quickly became one of the league's weakest interior teams and naturally shifted to tanking.

But it's clear the Pacers are only tanking this year. When Haliburton returns next season, they'll transform from a rebuilding team into a contender. At that time, Zubac's role will be crucial—he remains a top-tier center and a rare asset inside. Plus, Zubac still has two affordable years left on his contract, worth $19.5 million and $21 million respectively.

Still, handing over the fate of the 2029 and 2031 picks to the Clippers is a big risk, as you can never rule out becoming a team like this season’s Pelicans—unable to win games while inadvertently helping the Hawks chase the top pick.

For the Clippers, trading Zubac doesn't mean rebuilding; it might be a move to strengthen both now and in the future. Mathurin brings solid immediate impact, and along with Garland, they are very young. The Clippers are quietly undergoing a youth movement. Isaiah Jackson is a usable big man with shooting ability.

With Harden gone, Zubac’s effectiveness will surely decline. He and Leonard never had much chemistry, often playing awkwardly together. Moving Zubac, who takes up a lot of space, might even ease some offensive pressure on Leonard, as the Clippers’ offense now relies heavily on him.

Even if Harden had stayed, the offer from the Pacers would have been too tempting for the Clippers' front office to refuse. Two potential unprotected first-round picks are extremely attractive—arguably the biggest asset in this trade deadline.

It’s somewhat bittersweet that after Harden left, Leonard said he wanted to try again with his brothers, but it wasn’t meant to be: “It’s over. Everyone’s gone.” Now with Zubac gone as well, the core of that former Clippers team is almost just Leonard alone. Life rarely goes as planned.

The Lakers perfectly embody the truth that low expectations prevent disappointment. Even Lakers fans were ready for Pelinka to do nothing, but unexpectedly, Pelinka made a small move, acquiring sharpshooter Kennard from the Hawks in exchange for Vincent and a second-round pick.

Vincent has declined so much this season that he hardly looks like a rotation player anymore, with poor defense and shooting. Kennard, however, is an elite shooter; this season, he averages 1.7 three-pointers per game with a 49.7% three-point shooting percentage, the highest in the league currently.

Kennard’s effective field goal percentage on catch-and-shoot attempts this season is an impressive 79%, making him an extremely accurate pure shooter. Lakers fans should be used to players’ shooting dropping after joining the team, but Kennard’s career three-point shooting is 44%, so even with some decline, it shouldn’t be too drastic.

Kennard’s main issue is defense, but considering Vincent’s similar shortcomings, the Lakers can accept that. Another minor flaw is Kennard’s slow release and his reluctance to shoot without a clean look, as he values shot efficiency highly. But with the Lakers, he won’t lack open looks.

Pelinka didn’t make a game-changing trade, but at least he delivered a decent result on trade deadline day. After all, Lakers fans expected him to do nothing and focus on the buyout market.

When the offseason arrives and contracts for James ($52.6 million), Hachimura ($18 million), and Kleber ($11 million) expire, the Lakers will finally be able to sit at the negotiation table with Giannis and make their big moves.