![]() Zubac differs significantly from the top defensive centers with his mobility on the perimeter. The case for the Clippers to let Zubac walk can be seen in his fit with the rest of the roster. He’s a true 7-footer on a reasonable contract who nearly averaged a double-double during the regular season (10.3 PPG and 8.5 RPG) while offering solid rim protection (3.5 BLK%, good for 17th in the NBA). While Zubac isn’t quiet in their tier, he’s a better option than anything the strapped-for-cash Clippers will find in free agency. Seven out of the final 8 teams left in the playoffs feature an excellent defensive center-Brook Lopez (Bucks), Bam Adebayo (Heat), Robert Williams (Celtics), Joel Embiid (76ers), Deandre Ayton (Suns), Draymond Green (Warriors), and Jaren Jackson Jr. The case for keeping Ivica Zubac is simple. Los Angeles management would be wise to trade Marcus Morris this offseason for another playmaking guard. However, they only have one reliable rotation point guard on their roster, Reggie Jackson. The Clippers are loaded with 3-and-D wings who play better two-way basketball than Marcus Morris. Morris, at 6-8, 218-pounds, often played with an enforcer attitude for the Clippers after possessions were over, scowling at opposing players, but he often abandoned that tough-nosed frame of mind when the ball was live, pulling down only 4.4 RPG along with a measly 0.3 BPG while allowing his assignments to shoot 1.5% over their normal average. He’s a black hole with the ball on offense, ending the 2021-22 season with a 23.2 Usage Percent (4th on the Clippers) while averaging only 2.1 assists per game, frequently stalling Clippers possessions instead of swinging the ball to one of his teammates for a better shot opportunity. Still, outside of his decent shooting ability, he doesn’t offer much else. Still, Leonard hasn’t played over 60 games in five seasons (he’s averaged 35.6 games played from 2017-18 to 2021-22), yet he’ll soak up a little over 25% of the Clippers cap sheet next season and the following two years. He’s also one of the premier one-on-one defenders in the NBA, a player capable of stifling positions 1 through 4. He’s averaged 26.0 PPG and 6.8 RPG while notching 5.0 assists per game, a clear indication he’s upped his playmaking skills throughout his time in LA. Kawhi Leonard’s numbers on the Clippers are impressive. ![]() That’s the difference between playing for the Lakers and LA’s other team. Despite Kawhi Leonard’s inability to stay on the court and help the Clippers advance deep in the postseason, his reputation has remained mostly unscathed, while AD’s name has been dragged through the mud and torn to shreds. At the same time, Davis has appeared in 138 games during his three seasons in LA, hanging a banner in 2020. Leonard has played 109 games throughout his three seasons in LA and reached the Western Conference Finals. ![]() Kawhi Leonard signed with the Clippers during the 2019 offseason, roughly one month after Anthony Davis was traded to the Lakers.
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