Ivica Zubac Rumors

Michael Scotto: The Celtics previously proposed Anfernee Simons, a first-round pick, and a future first-round pick swap for Clippers center Ivica Zubac and salary filler, which the Clippers declined, sources said. Boston also inquired on Jaren Jackson Jr. Instead, Boston lands Nikola Vucevic.

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Hardwood Paroxysm: Stein reports on the high asking price for Zubac, which is why I continue to be confused at how much I've heard about interest in him. Why on Earth would the Clippers move him?

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During that 2018-19 Lakers season, things were looking bright until LeBron James went down with a groin injury. Do you think that squad was talented enough to make the Finals if everyone had stayed healthy? Brandon Ingram: [Laughs]. I don’t know if we would’ve made the Finals, but I will say we were a very talented team. We had our young core in their second and third years—Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac. We had LeBron, Rondo, and Michael Beasley. It was a smart group. We would have had a chance, but we were also pretty inexperienced. I’m not sure about the Finals, but we were definitely talented enough to make a real run in the playoffs.

ScoopB.com

Justin Russo: Final: Clippers 117, Suns 93. That’s a massive win without James Harden. Everyone contributed. Jordan Miller was fantastic off the bench, Kawhi Leonard had 25-8-5, and Ivica Zubac was monstrous. Clippers have won 17 of 21. They’re 23-25. Up next: home tomorrow vs 76ers.

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Sam Yip: Shams Charania earlier a couple days ago reported that the Celtics were shopping for a starting center. What are you hearing on that end? Bobby Manning: Yeah, I think they're exploring it. I don't think that this organization is one that's been of the mind that we're going to spend 30, 40, 50 million even on a center. And I'm sure when a guy like Jaren Jackson's available that you do your due diligence there and see what it would cost and, it's a player I'm sure they like, it's probably not a contract that they like necessarily. Ivica Zubac is in a much more favorable position. So, I understand the interest there, though. The Clippers have been the ones who are going in the opposite direction right now in terms of their rise in the West standings and better play of late. They love him. They charge a heavy price to move off of him. So, I think the Celtics have moved from a value perspective over the last handful of deadlines here.

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Conversely, if there was a notable center upgrade that could be attained while using Simons' expiring contract, it could appeal to the Celtics. 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, league sources told HoopsHype.

HoopsHype

When the Clippers were 6-21, teams inquired about Ivica Zubac and were told the Clippers wanted multiple first-round picks for the 7-foot center, something no team was willing to do back then. Now that the Clippers are in the midst of a 15-3 run, the NBA executives and scouts said the Clippers are not looking to move Zubac, Kawhi Leonard or James Harden.

Los Angeles Times

Justin Russo: Ivica Zubac, on the incident with Jarred Vanderbilt: “I was just protecting my shoulder. A guy pulled my shoulder and got to protect myself.”

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Leonard, Harden and Zubac are a big reason why the Clippers have won 14 of their last 17 games. “It was just being positive with our guys every step of the way,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said before the game. “I think that bled over to just coming together, understanding that first game against the Lakers (the Clippers won in December) and it was kind of like we could exhale then. Now we can start playing better basketball and we’ve been able to do that.”

Los Angeles Times

Ivica Zubac has been widely considered the Clippers best trade asset, with the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and Charlotte Hornets among at least five teams who inquired about the big man's availability when the team was going through its struggles, league sources told ClutchPoints.

Clutch Points

Justin Russo: Per Clippers: With his 4,687th rebound as a Clipper, Ivica Zubac surpasses Blake Griffin for sole possession of 3rd place on Clippers’ all-time rebounds list.

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Jorge Sierra: You’re a former Mega Basket player. What do you think is the key to the success of players from that team in the NBA? Goga Bitadze: Yeah, it was definitely (agent) Misko Raznatovic and Dejan Milojevic, who passed away. That was the key. Dejan, Nikola Jokic, Ivica Zubac, so many more. Changed so many people's lives including me and that was the key. It was a lot of hard work a lot of dedication from them, from us, and that's why they're so successful.

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Tomer Azarly: Ivica Zubac was asked about playing with James Harden: "I've been playing my best basketball since he got here. For a big, there's no better point guard to play with."

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Joey Linn: Clippers steal an overtime win in Toronto without Kawhi Leonard. James Harden struggled shooting but had 31 PTS and 10 AST. Ivica Zubac double-double with 16 PTS and 14 REB. Jordan Miller added 19 PTS and 6 AST in 46 (!) minutes off the bench. LA is 18-23 and the 10th seed. Five straight wins.

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