The Los Angeles Clippers are coming off a spirited 2024-25 season.
The Clips finished with a 50-win record despite losing Paul George to free agency and battling injuries to Kawhi Leonard.
While the team showed resilience, their first-round playoff exit against the Denver Nuggets highlighted a need for roster upgrades to push for a deeper postseason run.
With James Harden and Leonard leading the charge, the Clippers are poised to make bold moves this summer, particularly in the frontcourt, to complement their star-driven lineup.
One of the standout performers for the Clippers this season was center Ivica Zubac, who solidified his role as a defensive anchor and rebounding force.
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According to Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes, “Ivica Zubac was one of the best things about the 2024-25 Los Angeles Clippers. The paint-protecting, board-hoarding finisher down low upped their net rating by a team-best 14.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor."
"But he can't shoot," continued Hughes.
"If the Celtics decide shedding Kristaps Porziņģis' expiring $30 million salary is the smoothest way to get out of the second apron, the Clips should rope in a third team and see if they can snag one of the best spacing bigs in the league. While the possibility of KP being a one-year rental might worry some Clips fans, their fate is currently tied to James Harden (who turns 36 in August) and Kawhi Leonard (who turns 34 at the end of June and is always a health risk)."
"It's not like this organization can realistically look far down the road. Porziņģis could open the lane for Harden, manage his own health in a reserve role and give L.A. the change-of-pace center it lacked during a feel-good 2024-25 campaign.”
Zubac’s impact was undeniable in 2024-25. His rim protection and rebounding helped the Clippers boast a 110.3 defensive rating, third best in the NBA. Acquiring a stretch big like Porziņģis to back up Zubac would help LA achieve balance at the position offensively.
Porzingis's ability to space the floor would create driving lanes for Harden and open up pick-and-pop opportunities, addressing a key weakness in LA's attack.
In a reserve role, Porziņģis could manage his health—crucial given his injury history—while providing a change-of-pace option behind Zubac, especially in playoff matchups against versatile bigs like Nikola Jokić or Rudy Gobert.
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