Ivica Zubac was the best center avalaible on the market. With the elite playmaking of Harden. Zubac shined. He averaged 17/12/3 on all defensive 2nd team while also being on a deal that makes him less than 20 million annually. You don't get that center for cheap.

The draft after the top 4 was guard heavy, the main guys available were Flemmings, Acuff, Philon, Wagler. Adding one of these guys gives the Pacers a logjam. they wouldn't even see the floor a ton in Indiana despite their talent.

Moving Mathurin was a must, he was an inefficient ball stopper that could had to get payed up till 30 million annually this off-season. Replacing him with a better impact player in Brown was a great move. he's a much better defender and much willing passer. He played Great since getting to Indiana.

They already had a great young core with guys like Jarace Walker, Benn Sheppard, Kameron Jones, Johnny Furphy, Taelon Peter. And adding a top 4 pick would block these guys out of the rotation.

Indiana currently has 199 million tied up to their roster right now, adding a top 4 guy puts them right up against the 1st apron, which limits them from having flexibility from adding impact players for winning now. This off-season they have the MLE and BAE to add an impact Veteran. (I like Tim Hardaway Jr for this squad a ton).

Indiana cannot rely on a teenager to be a key contributor to their deep postseason run next year. With them in win now, a teenager from the top 4 could make a ton of mistakes (as they should) or get exposed for their weaknesses in the playoffs.

Indiana also retained their 2031 first round draft pick from today. This means they have extra ammo for a trade post Siakam. Even if they didn't get a star now they could use their stockpile of draft picks to get one down the line. Ovbiously missing out on genarational prospects isn’t ideal, but the Pacers are a top 5 offensive team and defensive team in the NBA currently. And that’s without their MLE this offseasn