Landing Ivica Zubac would be a home run for the Boston Celtics. There are reasons to believe that prospect isn't just a pipe dream. In a recent report from Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, he conveyed the following about a potential pursuit of the Los Angeles Clippers' center.
"Another key piece of information making the Celtics an interesting trade partner for the Clippers is that they have Anfernee Simons, a young guard Los Angeles has expressed interest in previously while he was with the Portland Trail Blazers, sources said," shared Siegel. "Simons is in the final year of his contract, and if the Clippers can get a few draft picks from the Celtics for Zubac, that could be an intriguing scenario for them to discuss."
Unfortunately for Boston, there may be a fly in the ointment. For starters, the Clippers may not decide that trading the former All-Defensive team selection is in their best interest. Even if they do, whether that's in-season or over the summer, will the Celtics have the best offer on the table?
What could Celtics trade for Ivica Zubac?
Los Angeles's past interest in Simons is a boost to those hopes. However, due to the Stepien Rule, Boston cannot trade draft picks in consecutive campaigns. If the Celtics offer their 2026 first-round selection, the second pick they'd package with it could not be until 2031.
The Clippers determining it is in their best interest to trade Zubac, and that they should do so for Simons and two picks from Boston that are six drafts apart as opposed to the packages assembled by rival franchises, could prove to be a conclusion they never reach.
Just as offering the San Antonio Spurs a top-1 protected future first-round selection helped the Celtics land Derrick White, a willingness to put minimal protections on the draft capital going to Los Angeles may be what it takes to bring Zubac to Boston.
The Celtics should make that offer for Zubac
Still, it can't hurt to slide that proposal across the desk.
Such a deal would accomplish two goals for Boston. To reiterate, Zubac is a former All-Defensive selection. He's an outstanding pick-and-roll partner, and he's shooting a tick below 60 percent on 11.8 shots per game. He's even dishing out 2.6 assists per contest. Plus, he could help the Celtics on the glass. The seven-foot center is grabbing 11.6 rebounds per tilt, including 3.5 at the offensive end.
Neemias Queta has blossomed into a force patrolling the pivot and protecting the cylinder. Opponents are shooting 9.7 percent worse around the rim when Queta is there to protect the basket, per databallr.com.
Offensively, his screens consistently create quality shots and pave paths downhill for his teammates. As an athletic seven-footer, he's also a lob threat. Queta's vertical spacing forces opponents to decide between rotating to tag him as he rolls to the rim or leaving a shooter open from behind the arc.
Queta is maximizing his opportunity as the Celtics' starting center. How much higher he can climb is an open-ended question. Still, Zubac represents an upgrade. And the tandem would give Boston one of the best combinations at the position across the Association.
As a side note, one can't help but find amusement in the prospect of this team suddenly leaning on two options who aren't floor-spacing fives. However, Queta's flourishing and the Celtics' offense boast the second-highest net rating. Zubac's fit or leaning further into a different approach to maximize their new personnel is not a concern.
Furthermore, acquiring the latter in a deal sending Simons to the Clippers would shed salary. It could move Boston below the first apron, perhaps even setting the organization up to make a subsequent trade aimed at getting below the luxury tax.
Zubac would arrive on a team-friendly deal. He is under contract for $18.1 million this season, $19.6 million next year, and $21 million for the 2027-28 campaign. At 28, he could help the NBA's original monarchy contend for championships for years to come.
Whether the Celtics should pursue him is a resounding yes from this vantage point. Unfortunately, it takes two sides to tango.