Fresh NBA Trade Rumors on Clippers’ Ivica Zubac and Potential Landing Spot After James Harden Deal

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac is reportedly generating interest leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Clippers have been “receiving calls” on Zubac, and the Indiana Pacers have emerged as a “prime” suitor.

The Clippers already made one huge move this week, sending 11-time All-Star guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for two-time All-Star guard Darius Garland and a second-round pick on Tuesday.

Despite trading away Harden, the Clips are still in the thick of the playoff race, as they sit ninth in the Western Conference with a 23-27 record.

In order to make the playoffs, they will likely have to go through the postseason play-in tournament, and Zubac would undoubtedly be central to their chances of doing so.

Kawhi Leonard is the Clippers’ leading scorer this season with 27.6 points per game, and Garland will slot into the second spot as the replacement for Harden, but Zubac isn’t far behind.

The 28-year-old veteran from Bosnia and Herzegovina is third on the team with 14.4 points per game and he leads the Clippers with 11.0 rebounds per contest.

Zubac enjoyed a career year last season when he averaged 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game en route to finishing sixth in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting and earning NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors.

While his numbers this season aren’t quite at that level, the 7-footer is still in the midst of the second-best season of his career statistically, making him a desirable trade candidate for teams in need of frontcourt help.

Indiana would perhaps be a somewhat unexpected landing spot since the Pacers have the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 13-38, but he would be an acquisition for next season and beyond.

After reaching Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season, the Pacers dropped off sharply this season due to guard Tyrese Haliburton being on the shelf with a torn Achilles, as well as the departure of center Myles Turner in free agency.

However, the combination of a healthy Haliburton, an All-Star forward in Pascal Siakam and a quality center in Zubac could quickly get the Pacers back in the playoff mix next season.

Zubac is signed through the 2027-28 season, so the Clippers are under no obligation to trade him right now, but they could receive some enticing offers from the Pacers and other teams due to the fact that Zubac would not be a rental.