Celtics Writer Discusses Potential Ivica Zubac Trade
Trade chatter around Boston’s frontcourt has resurfaced, and one name drawing attention is Clippers center Ivica Zubac. A Celtics beat writer recently explored the idea of targeting Zubac, framing him as a potential solution to one of Boston’s few remaining roster vulnerabilities: long-term size and durability in the middle behind (and eventually beyond) Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford.
From a stylistic standpoint, Zubac fits the archetype Boston has often lacked. He’s a traditional, physical 5 who screens hard, rebounds in traffic, and deters drives at the rim. On a roster loaded with perimeter shot creation and spacing, the Celtics do not need another high-usage scorer; they need reliability, verticality, and a presence who can soak up regular-season minutes without compromising the defensive identity. Zubac checks those boxes.
League-wide, centers like Zubac have become more valuable than their modest box-score profiles suggest. In a postseason shaped by matchup hunting and small-ball counters, having a big who can survive switches in short stretches, control the glass, and stay playable against multiple styles is critical. Boston has already seen how vulnerable elite offenses can be when forced into undersized lineups for too long.
The financial and asset calculus is trickier. Zubac’s contract is reasonable by starting-center standards, which makes him both attainable and coveted. For the Clippers, he remains one of their few stable interior anchors, so any deal would likely require meaningful draft capital or rotation talent. The Celtics, with a top-heavy salary structure and limited future picks, would have to decide whether shoring up the frontcourt is worth thinning out depth elsewhere.
There is also the question of role. Zubac is a full-time starter in Los Angeles. In Boston, he would share minutes with Porziņģis and Horford, and his usage would drop on a roster headlined by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. That trade-off could appeal if he prioritizes winning and stability, but it is a factor in any realistic scenario.
For now, Zubac remains a thought experiment more than a looming acquisition. Still, the fact that Celtics observers are seriously entertaining the idea underscores a broader truth: in a league obsessed with wings and guards, a sturdy, dependable center can still be the missing piece for a contender.
From a stylistic standpoint, Zubac fits the archetype Boston has often lacked. He’s a traditional, physical 5 who screens hard, rebounds in traffic, and deters drives at the rim. On a roster loaded with perimeter shot creation and spacing, the Celtics do not need another high-usage scorer; they need reliability, verticality, and a presence who can soak up regular-season minutes without compromising the defensive identity. Zubac checks those boxes.
League-wide, centers like Zubac have become more valuable than their modest box-score profiles suggest. In a postseason shaped by matchup hunting and small-ball counters, having a big who can survive switches in short stretches, control the glass, and stay playable against multiple styles is critical. Boston has already seen how vulnerable elite offenses can be when forced into undersized lineups for too long.
The financial and asset calculus is trickier. Zubac’s contract is reasonable by starting-center standards, which makes him both attainable and coveted. For the Clippers, he remains one of their few stable interior anchors, so any deal would likely require meaningful draft capital or rotation talent. The Celtics, with a top-heavy salary structure and limited future picks, would have to decide whether shoring up the frontcourt is worth thinning out depth elsewhere.
There is also the question of role. Zubac is a full-time starter in Los Angeles. In Boston, he would share minutes with Porziņģis and Horford, and his usage would drop on a roster headlined by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. That trade-off could appeal if he prioritizes winning and stability, but it is a factor in any realistic scenario.
For now, Zubac remains a thought experiment more than a looming acquisition. Still, the fact that Celtics observers are seriously entertaining the idea underscores a broader truth: in a league obsessed with wings and guards, a sturdy, dependable center can still be the missing piece for a contender.
