The Los Angeles Lakers regrettably traded Ivica Zubac to the rival Clippers with Michael Beasley for Mike Muscala in 2019. The Moose played just 17 games in purple and gold, and Zubac has blossomed into a starter for the Clippers. He was second-team All-Defense last season, and now, the Clippers are turning down trade offers featuring one first-round draft pick and a swap plus expiring salary for him.
LA has been searching for a starting center ever since. Anthony Davis never wanted to play the five, and Deandre Ayton certainly isn’t the answer. Zubac is an elite defender and finisher inside. He would pair perfectly with Luka Doncic, but the Lakers gave him up before he ever reached his prime.
Los Angeles is struggling to make trades because they only have one tradeable first-round draft pick. There is no way they can land Giannis or even get a significant rotation upgrade. Trades like this Zubac deal are why. The Lakers have to maximize the value of their talent.
Lakers regret disastrous Ivica Zubac trade even more after new rumors
LA traded Zubac for 17 games from a journeyman who never played more than 20.4 minutes per contest in a season. They failed to make the playoffs in 2019 and watched Muscala leave in free agency five months after acquiring him.
The trade was immediately mocked and has only gotten worse. Zubac quickly became the Clippers starting center and has helped them make the playoffs six times. The seven-footer keeps getting better, and several teams have tried to trade for him as the Lakers' rivals struggled out of the gate.
Michael Scotto says Boston offered Anfernee Simons, one first-rounder, and a first-round pick swap for Zu, but the Clippers turned it down. The Lakers would love to get the big man back, but they can’t top Boston’s offer.
Lakers fans have imagined for years what it would have been like if Zubac stayed in purple and gold. He was showing signs of a breakout before the trade, but the front office made a short-sighted move to try to break their five-year playoff drought. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka failed, and so did this trade.
The Lakers should learn a valuable lesson as they watch Zubac excel across town. An NBA franchise must maximize the value of its assets. They can’t just dump a young, talented big man because there are some growing pains. The Lakers want to chase championships, and depth matters more than ever before. They can’t afford to let the next Zubac go because they want half a season of a player that won’t make a difference.
The Los Angeles Lakers got absolutely fleeced in the Ivica Zubac trade, and it keeps getting worse seven years later. Zu is now worth multiple first-round draft picks, and the Lakers still don’t have a trusted starting center. All the franchise can do is learn from this mistake and move on. Zubac is unlikely to be moved before the deadline, and Lakers fans will be left wondering what could have been.