The Los Angeles Clippers are hoping to remain competitive in their debut season at the Intuit Dome despite the departure of Paul George this summer. The team retained James Harden while adding multiple defensive-minded free agents such as Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn. The team will hope that Harden having a bigger role in the offense could lead to success for elite off-ball players, including Kawhi Leonard.
Last season proved that success in the NBA isn’t guaranteed through elite perimeter play, with the center being heavily featured across successful teams in the NBA, particularly the West. The Clippers frontcourt crumbled while facing Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, with Daniel Theis and Mason Plumlee leaving the franchise this summer. They need to add another elite big man to rotate with Ivica Zubac, with the Chicago Bulls possibly having the answer they need.
Trade Details
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Nikola Vucevic
Chicago Bulls: Norman Powell, Amir Coffey, 2030 Second-Round Pick (LAC), 2031 Second-Round Pick (LAC)
Having a center rotation with Zubac and Vucevic for 48 minutes of a game will be a huge addition for the Clippers, as both players are hard-nosed rebounders. Zubac brings a more complete defensive game as a rim-protector while Vucevic is more offensively refined, occasionally able to step out and shoot when required.
The Clippers Add Size To Compete Amongst Giants
When we look at the top-four teams in the West last season, all of them have fierce centers in their rotation. The Mavericks have a young and athletic duo Gafford and Lively while the Timberwolves have Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, along with Naz Reid off the bench. The Nuggets have arguably the best center of the last 20 years in Nikola Jokic and the Thunder have future All-Star Chet Holmgrem, while also signing former Clipper Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency.
The Clippers don’t have a replacement for their outgoing rotational centers, which is why a risky move for a former All-Star like Vucevic could give them a new competitive window in the West.
He averaged 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds last season. Vucevic has flaws defensively but adds offensive panache from the center spot, being able to meld into multiple offensive schemes with ease. Given the lack of offensive options on the new-look Clippers, Vucevic would be the team’s third offensive option behind Harden and Kawhi.
The team can’t be committed to winning now in a halfway fashion, as they failed to replace the outgoing George with anyone of his caliber. Their depth might be improved but it might not be enough to stay a top-six team in the West and definitely not enough to be a credible title contender, with Vucevic making that prospect more tangible.
The Bulls Continue Their Teardown
The Chicago Bulls have seen crucial winning players leave the franchise this summer, as Alex Caruso was traded to the OKC Thunder while DeMar DeRozan went to the Sacramento Kings. They can send another one of their best players to the West in this deal with the Clippers which brings back another movable asset and a young player who could blossom on a team with low expectations.
Norman Powell averaged 13.9 points last season, excelling as a sixth man for the Clippers. His production doesn’t justify his contract on a team like the Clippers who need more value for the money they put in their players.
The team has multiple perimeter scoring options with a stronger defensive play style than what we’ve seen from Powell in the last few seasons. It’ll be a risk to lose a shooter like him, but his archetype is more easily attainable as compared to a multi-faceted big man like Vucevic.
Amir Coffey has been a great developmental story for the Clippers, as the former second-round pick has worked his way to finding a rotational role on a contender. He averaged 6.6 points on 38.0% from three last season. He isn’t going to bring great production but he’s a solid 3-and-D option with more upside to be developed, or he could be a win-now rotational piece for any other contender in the NBA if the Bulls wanted to move him.
The Clippers Take A Step Forward While The Bulls Prepare For A Tank
This isn’t a rich return, which Vucevic likely won’t get given his age, contract, and defensive concerns. He is a very good NBA player who will invariably help the Bulls win more games than they would intend to if they wanted to maximize a top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Clippers have a unique roster that can accommodate Vuc to add a spark to the center rotation. With Zubac in place to cover any defensive flaws in the middle and a competent perimeter defense protecting him, Vucevic can succeed in helping the Clippers use a big body to combat their big opponents in the West.
The Clippers can’t go into their debut season in a hyped-up new arena and be a middle-of-the-pack team because they lost Paul George. Their offseason moves show they are a good team, but you need to be a great team to be a title contender. Vucevic will add another dimension to how the team faces up against rivals in the West, with the four top teams and even the rival Lakers having star big men marshaling their paint.
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