Former Missouri player Kobe Brown was traded to the Indiana Pacers at the NBA deadline. The Pacers also acquired center Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a conditional 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick.
Brown was mostly buried on the bench in Los Angeles, and a new opporunity in the midwest might actually benefit him a lot. Pacer fans are already excited to see him on the court, but maybe not for the reasons you'd expect.
As the Pacers inch closer to a top lottery pick, many fans are cheering for a full-on tank, paving the way for younger, unproven players to get some run. At just 13-39 and dead last in the Eastern Conference, Indiana is actually a great place for Brown to start showcasing some of his skills.
Former Tiger Kobe Brown may have landed in a perfect situation
Brown was averaging just 2.9 points per game in limited minutes with the Clippers, but a change of scenery might be just what he needs to get some more playing time. Besides Indiana's on-court struggles, they've also been dealing with some injuries, including with newcomer Zubac. It's a good chance for Brown to put some tape out there even if he doesn't end up with the Pacers long term.
Coach Rick Carlisle has said that Tuesday is the earliest the Pacers might see Brown, as he still needs to pass physicals and get up to speed. So next week should be the first real look at how the Pacers might try to utilze the former Tiger.
At Missouri, Brown was a four-year starter, and averaged 10.8 points, six rebounds and 1.7 assists over his career in Columbia. He was 30th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.