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Multiple reports that the Lakers want to keep Luka happy and will ask him about future signings, especially since he could become a free agent soon. With his confidence damaged after being stabbed in the back vilely, I think surrounding Luka with guys he trusts would be paramount. Zubac is a close friend (at least within the NBA) they have been seen spending time off the court etc... On the court the fit is perfect, Zubac meets each and every one of the premises that a center needs to shine alongside Luka, he is just entering his prime and is the closest thing to an iron man, when you take into account his size.


The Clippers are in a difficult situation at the middle of the road. They are not good enough to compete (it is probably a pipe dream to even get past the 1st round), while their stars are going backwards as time goes on... It is true that they do not have their own selections, so sinking does not make sense either, but on the other hand they are a very good destination. appetizing as FA.. K. Leonard has 2 years left after this one and that should be the start of a new competitive cycle for LAC... So in this scenario, should they sell high, if good offers come in for their role players..?? and accumulate assets, (while staying moderately competitive) to be ready when their new contender window begins..?
How would that trade be to bring Zubac back to the Lakers?
Or on the contrary, is it very unlikely to happen and the LAC will simply hold on to their guys?? What are your thoughts, on this trade or the future of the Clippers...
Or what would you do if you were in charge?

The Lakers don't have the assets for this kind of move. Let's be real here they couldn't even trade for Vucevic.

Matching contracts is trivially easy with either Vincent or Kleber both expiring after next year. The problem is the assets. LAC has no incentive to tank and Zubac is a good role player locked into a team friendly deal.

Is LAL willing to include a lightly-protected 2031 1st for Zubac? Knecht? Both?

Should be easy... just sign Mike Muscala and trade him for Zubac

I think they have the assets to make it happen if they are committed. Zubac is a tremendous fit with Harden, which means he would be with Luka, too. They'll have to give up enough that the Clippers can trade for someone more impactful than Zubac ***for them***. So, I think it takes the 2031 1st, Knecht, and Rui. That might be worth it for the Lakers because they'd have a "core" moving forward of Reaves/Luka/Zubac, which seems rather decent, and they'd have cap space after LeBron expires to add more to that.

The big problem is that if the Clippers trade Zubac they end up with a clear hole at center. And obviously the Lakers can't help fill that.

Knecht+Kleber for Zubac

Mostly don’t think this is an option for LAC. They were performing better than almost anyone expected this season and didn’t use assets to improve the team. Think Zu is good and cheap enough to just keep bleeding out the Leonard years..

The Clips would need to go find a comparable center that’s worth disrupting their team..

Turner in a sign and trade? Vooch and keeping LAL’s asset (pay something minor to Chicago)..

giberish wrote:The big problem is that if the Clippers trade Zubac they end up with a clear hole at center. And obviously the Lakers can't help fill that.

The sub-problems here are that if LAC has to follow up Zubac for assets with an assets-for-center deal, (1) why do it at all, and (2) why wouldn't LAL just pursue that center instead of paying a premium for Zubac.

zimpy27 wrote:Knecht+Kleber for Zubac

I think that's too light...
Knecht/Maxi to MAGIC

WCJ+FRP31 to CLIPPERS

Zubac+to LAKERS...

The Clippers could offer the full MLE to Capela after that

What if LAC are no longer interested in propping up LAL's success?

If they get Kawhi healthy, they're arguably better than LAL...BECAUSE they have a really good center and LAL does not.

Honestly, Mark Williams looked good this year...he's obviously an injury risk as long as he's in the NBA, but LAL should have rolled the dice and just hoped Williams kept it together, even if it meant limited minutes, no back to backs, etc. The price wasn't that high to potentially throw away their shot at a ring with LBJ at 40yo.

giberish wrote:The big problem is that if the Clippers trade Zubac they end up with a clear hole at center. And obviously the Lakers can't help fill that.

The Chicago Bulls in an effort to send all their veterans to the state of California offer the Clippers the expiring Nikola Vucevic for who knows what from LAL. Yeah I already know Vucevic isn't much of anything on defense, he can score and rebound but most of all he's a one year stopgap so the Clippers can sort out who they have and who they want to start the 2026-27 season with

Now the Lakers could make the straight deal for Vucevic, they could have done it at the deadline, I'm sure they figure they can just resign Alex Len and be happy

zimpy27 wrote:Knecht+Kleber for Zubac

This is a FRP short

Knecht+31 unprotected+30&32 unprotected swaps would be the bare minimum to keep FranknCo listening. Why are the Clippers, who don't control any of their picks until 2031 giving up one of the most consistent and reliable Cs away? Wouldn't, unless it's quite the overpay

Astaluego wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:Knecht+Kleber for Zubac

I think that's too light...
Knecht/Maxi to MAGIC

WCJ to CLIPPERS

Zubac+FRP 31 to LAKERS...

The Clippers could offer the full MLE to Capela after that

So Lakers get the best player, dump an injured, albeit, expiring guy and get a first. C'mon now.

ejftw wrote:Knecht+31 unprotected+30&32 unprotected swaps would be the bare minimum to keep FranknCo listening. Why are the Clippers, who don't control any of their picks until 2031 giving up one of the most consistent and reliable Cs away? Wouldn't, unless it's quite the overpay

Astaluego wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:Knecht+Kleber for Zubac

I think that's too light...
Knecht/Maxi to MAGIC

WCJ to CLIPPERS

Zubac+FRP 31 to LAKERS...

The Clippers could offer the full MLE to Capela after that

So Lakers get the best player, dump an injured, albeit, expiring guy and get a first. C'mon now.

I made a mistake when I wrote it, obviously the FRP goes to Clippers

Astaluego wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:Knecht+Kleber for Zubac

I think that's too light...
Knecht/Maxi to MAGIC

WCJ+FRP31 to CLIPPERS

Zubac+to LAKERS...

The Clippers could offer the full MLE to Capela after that

Lakers prefer WCJ

So just get him from Knecht+Maxi

Astaluego wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:Knecht+Kleber for Zubac

I think that's too light...
Knecht/Maxi to MAGIC

WCJ+FRP31 to CLIPPERS

Zubac+to LAKERS...

The Clippers could offer the full MLE to Capela after that

Or the Lakers could just sign Capela. It's far more realistic, imo.

Sometimes you read hilarious stuff over here. Lakers agreed to send an unprotected 31 FRP + unprotected 30 swap + Knecht + expiring filler for MARK WILLIAMS, and you expect THE CLIPPERS to send ZUBAC (who is better and more durable than Mark Williams) for about half the draft capital, no Knecht, and bad money? I get it that everything sounds reasonable when compared with the Luka deal and that threw a wrench into people's bball logic, but come on... this isn't even close. Clippers won't hurt themselves when they don't own their pick, just to help their city rivals. Use your brain.

zimpy27 wrote:

Astaluego wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:Knecht+Kleber for Zubac

I think that's too light...
Knecht/Maxi to MAGIC

WCJ+FRP31 to CLIPPERS

Zubac+to LAKERS...

The Clippers could offer the full MLE to Capela after that

Lakers prefer WCJ

So just get him from Knecht+Maxi

What u base lakers prefering wcj over zubac on? I dont really see any way they would

SkyHook wrote:

Astaluego wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:Knecht+Kleber for Zubac

I think that's too light...
Knecht/Maxi to MAGIC

WCJ+FRP31 to CLIPPERS

Zubac+to LAKERS...

The Clippers could offer the full MLE to Capela after that

Or the Lakers could just sign Capela. It's far more realistic, imo.

Suppose that depends on what they do with the pick? Something that makes luka see a longterm future with lakers, so someone at max 27yo