The Golden State Warriors are in a strange place right now. The experience is there. The star power is there. And the young core keeps showing moments that look like something real.
Stephen Curry remains electric. The supporting cast has stretches that feel promising. But every game seems to reveal the same issues: turnovers, rebounding problems and a lack of size at the rim.
As the losses pile up, the question becomes harder to ignore.
Is it time to go get a real center?
According to an idea from FanSided’s Joey Akeley, one name stands out as a possible solution: Ivica Zubac of the LA Clippers.
It isn’t the flashiest fit. But it might be the most practical one.
Warriors Rumors: Why Zubac Makes Sense for Golden State
GettyIvica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers defends against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets.
Zubac doesn’t stretch the floor. He doesn’t solve the turnovers. And he won’t suddenly make Golden State a modern five-out offense.
But he does everything the Warriors are currently lacking.
He rebounds. Protects the rim. Anchors a defense. And right now, those are exactly the weaknesses costing Golden State games.
Zubac is averaging 15.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and shooting over 60 percent from the field for the Clippers. He gives teams a dependable interior presence, and his physicality would be the most impactful Golden State has had down low since Andrew Bogut.
After Friday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, Warrior Jimmy Butler summed up the problems in simple terms:
“We’re just not guarding nobody.” — via Anthony Slater
Golden State doesn’t need subtle clues. The issues are right in front of them.
Golden State Need Size, Strength and Stability Inside
The numbers show exactly how far the defense has slipped:
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Defensive rating dropped from No. 1 last year (109.0) to No. 10 this season (112.2).
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Rebound percentage fell from 51.2 percent to 48.2 percent.
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Turnover percentage climbed from 14.2 percent to 16.6 percent.
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Portland outrebounded the Warriors 52–32, with a 28–10 edge in second-chance points.
The roster hasn’t changed dramatically. The production has.
Al Horford is posting a career-low 10.3 percent rebound rate. Buddy Hield lineups continue to struggle on the glass. And Golden State still doesn’t have a true point-of-attack stopper to keep guards out of the paint.
Zubac doesn’t fix all of that, but he gives the Warriors something they simply don’t have: a dominant, physical, reliable presence at the rim.
He blocks shots, alters shots, finishes inside and clears the glass at a high level. Right now, that combination is exactly what Golden State is missing.
Warriors Trade Idea: What It Would Take to Land Zubac
This part gets complicated.
To pry Zubac away, the Warriors likely need to offer:
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Multiple first-round picks (high-value in a post-Steph era)
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Possibly another salary piece
The Clippers are sliding, and a rebuild is possible, but Zubac still holds real value. Kuminga, meanwhile, is one of the best young trade chips in the league.
It’s not a painless cost. But it’s the type of move that resets a team defensively.
Looking Ahead: Should the Warriors Make This Move?
It won’t solve everything. The spacing would change. The rotation would shift. And giving up Kuminga is a major decision.
But if Golden State wants to fix its rebounding, stabilize its interior defense and stop giving up easy points in the paint, then Zubac is one of the clearest pathways to doing it.
He solves problems the Warriors can’t ignore anymore.
If the Clippers decide it’s time to retool, Golden State has to at least explore whether this is the move that gives them back their defensive identity.
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