The Clippers had an opportunity to radically change their roster when their season looked dark.
The Los Angeles Clippers have accomplished a remarkable turnaround with a 16-3 run as of late to improve their record to 22-24, but things haven't always looked this way.
After a dismal 6-21 start to the season, things looked dark for the Clippers franchise and some teams looked to take advantage of that vulnerability and seize an opportunity if the Clippers were looking to give up on their season and clean house.
The Boston Celtics reportedly offered a trade deal to the Clippers early in the season to acquire Ivica Zubac, the Clippers' promising young center, but the Clippers refused.
“When the Clippers were struggling with a 6-21 record to begin the season, the Celtics inquired about an exploratory framework around Simons, a first-round pick, and a future first-round pick swap for Ivica Zubac and salary filler, which didn’t gain any traction," per a report from HoopsHype.
The Clippers Refusing the Trade
The fact that the Clippers refused this trade despite their record at the time and what seems like a somewhat reasonable deal shows a considerable amount of faith in the team that they had even with their slow start.
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) gets the rebound against Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson (22) during the second half at Intuit Dome. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesThat refusal has clearly paid off with the Clippers' rapid rise and it reveals how much potential the Clippers had in their roster that was held back by so many injuries so early on the season.
While James Harden and Kawhi Leonard have been the clear leaders of the team and highest-scorers on the team, they are nearing the tail end of their careers and ages 36 and 34 respectively. Zubac, on the other hand, is very much the future of the franchise.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) in the second half at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesZubac as the Future
Zubac is just 28 years old and is one of the best two-way centers in the league, averaging 14.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game while providing lock-down defense for the Clippers at a crucial position on the court.
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) and guard Kris Dunn (8) head down court after defending a basket by Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) in the second half at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesWhen Harden and Leonard's careers reach their twilight, Zubac will be the face of the team even more than he already is and will help guide the next generation of Clipeprs, players like Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders, into the players they've already shown they can be.
The Clippers may have been in a bad spot to start the year, but the faith they showed in their roster to refuse a trade so early on has clearly paid off and led them to a surge of success that by all accounts looks like it'll keep on rolling.