If you ask Boston Celtics fans which rumored trade target they’re most interested in, many would answer Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac. Zubac has consistently been linked to Boston by insiders around the association over the past few months.
The big man’s team-friendly contract, combined with the Clippers’ tumultuous start to the season, made him a reasonable candidate for a trade. Plus, the Celtics’ lack of frontcourt depth painted them as a team in the market for a center. Regardless if it’s been speculation or informed reporting, the shoe definitely fits.
Any hope of a potential trade landing Zubac in Boston has taken a major hit recently. According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, the Clippers don’t sound eager at all to part ways with the All-Defensive-level center.
“I can likewise tell you, based on conversations with numerous teams, that any hopes that the Clippers would part with Zubac or James Harden have faded significantly,” he wrote in Thursday’s Steinline newsletter. “Remember that, to the Clippers' credit, they adopted the stance early that they would not be trade deadline sellers and believed this group could bounce back from a 6-21 start. And they might really be proven correct.”
Zubac had become a dream trade target for many Celtics fans
Again, many in the Celtics community had fallen in love with the idea of landing Zubac before the Feb. 5 NBA Trade Deadline.
It makes sense.
Zubac recently inked a three-year, $58.6 million extension with Los Angeles. In other words, he’s under team control for a couple of seasons on a cap-friendly contract. In addition, he’s coming off of an All-Defensive second team selection last year, where he averaged career-highs in both points and rebounds.
This season, Zubac’s numbers have dipped a bit. He’s down nearly two points and two rebounds per game, while his efficiency has also taken a hit.
Regardless, the potential for his fit in Boston gave fans plenty to be excited about, especially with the early concerns with the Celtics’ center position. Since these rumors surfaced, circulated, and died down, the Cs have learned a lot about who they have manning their frontcourt.
Both Neemias Queta and Luka Garza have exceeded expectations, with both men giving Boston strong production in their respective minutes. Granted, landing Zubac would’ve shifted both players into a rotation role that they were overqualified for, which is typically a great problem to have, as long as everyone is cool with sacrificing for the betterment of the team.
Even with Zubac seemingly off the table, there’s still plenty of avenues for the Cs to explore over the next month or so. Jaren Jackson Jr., Robert Williams III, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Daniel Gafford have all been linked to Boston over the past few weeks.
Fans will just have to sit back and see what Brad Stevens is cooking for them.