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Reading: Los Angeles Clippers Acquire Nikola Vucevic In Mock Trade To Compete In The West
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Home > NBA Trade Rumors > Los Angeles Clippers Trade Rumors > Los Angeles Clippers Acquire Nikola Vucevic In Mock Trade To Compete In The West

Los Angeles Clippers Acquire Nikola Vucevic In Mock Trade To Compete In The West

The Los Angeles Clippers can make a big move to bring Nikola Vucevic to compete in a competitive Western Conference.

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Sep 2, 2024
7 Min Read
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Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

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.

Contents
  • The Clippers Add Size To Compete Amongst Giants
  • The Bulls Continue Their Teardown
  • The Clippers Take A Step Forward While The Bulls Prepare For A Tank

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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TAGGED:Chicago Bulls ArchiveLos Angeles Clippers ArchiveNikola Vucevic
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ByIshaan Bhattacharya
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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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