The Los Angeles Clippers are barely a month removed from a 50-win season and a hard-fought playoff push, yet the franchise suddenly feels unstable. Chris Paulâs abrupt removal from the team sent shockwaves across the league, and his exit has sparked a larger question: Is more roster upheaval coming?
Most fans immediately pointed to Kawhi Leonard and James Harden as the next potential dominoes. But league executives appear to be looking elsewhere. According to credentialed NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Ivica Zubac, not Leonard or Harden, is generating the most trade interest on the Clippersâ roster.
âZubac has received the most interest out of any player on the Clippers entering December, as multiple Eastern and Western Conference teams in playoff position have called Frank and Los Angeles to get info on their starting center,â Siegel wrote.
Why Zubac Is the Clippersâ Most Valuable Trade Asset
On paper, it makes complete sense. Zubac is 29, entering the heart of his prime, and coming off the best season of his career. In 2024-25, he posted career-highs in:
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Win Shares: 11.7
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Value Over Replacement Player: 3.4
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Scoring: 16.8 points per game
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Rebounding: 12.6 rebounds per game
Across the league, centers with size, touch, and durability are coveted, especially those producing elite efficiency in a system that often leaves them underutilized. Zubac checks every box.
His trade value only increases when compared to the state of the Clippersâ roster. Leonard has already missed 10 games. Hardenâs market is more limited than his name suggests. And the teamâs performance reflects deeper structural problems.
The Clippers rank:
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20th in offensive rating
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27th in defensive rating
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24th in net rating
All sign their 5-16 start isnât just bad luck, itâs who they are right now.
Even with Leonard available, Los Angeles is only 3-8. Without him, theyâre 2-8. And Harden and Zubac have combined to miss just one game. The math doesnât lie: the Clippersâ ceiling with this core appears low, and Zubac may be their clearest pathway to recouping meaningful assets.
A Center Carrying an Unbalanced Load
Zubacâs recent play only underscores his importance. He dominated Wednesdayâs 115-92 win over Atlanta, finishing with 14 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and a block on 6-for-8 shooting. He secured a double-double by halftime and now sits top-three in the NBA with 14 double-doubles. But his production comes with a cost.
The Clippers have offered Zubac no functional support in the center rotation. He is averaging 32.4 minutes per game, far higher than ideal for a traditional big and the bench has given him nothing resembling relief.
Brook Lopez, once considered a potential floor-spacing safety valve, has not checked into a game in five straight outings. His 1.9 rebounds per game highlight how little he has provided even when available. Without any secondary rim protection or rebounding, Zubac is being asked to anchor every possession on both ends. For a team already struggling to score and defend, that workload is unsustainable.
What Comes Next for a Clippers Team at a Crossroads
The Clippers are 26th in the league in rebounds per game. They lack athleticism at the wing, physicality in the paint, and consistent availability from their stars. Trading Zubac would strip them of their most reliable interior presence, but it may also be the boldest move they have left.
Paulâs exit suggests the organization is willing to make uncomfortable decisions. Zubacâs value around the league makes him an obvious leverage point. And with Leonard and Hardenâs futures murky, Los Angeles appears headed toward a defining stretch that could reshape the franchise.
If more moves are coming, Zubac may be the first major piece to go, not because heâs the problem, but because heâs the one piece other teams actually want.
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