A fatal mistake the Clippers must correct at the 2025 NBA trade deadline

Despite the departure of Paul George during the offseason, the Clippers have pulled off all the surprises this year. Heading into the 2024-25 season, the team sits in fifth place in the tough Western Conference with a 24-17 record. To make matters more interesting, they did it without Kawhi Leonard.

While the Clippers have been great, they are still far from perfect. The biggest flaw for Los Angeles is the void at the backup center position. With Ivica Zubac single-handedly holding down the fort for the Clippers, she could help spark the team’s surprising streak even further. For that to happen, the front office needs to find some big bodies at the trade deadline.

Too much reliance on Ivica Zubac at center

There’s no doubt that Ivica Zubac has been phenomenal for the Clippers, even without Leonard. A lot has to do with the brilliance of Zubac. In the current 2024-25 season, the 7-foot center is an average of 15 points12.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per outing while shooting 61.5% from the field overall. Although Zubac has been incredible, he is the only center who has contributed to the Clippers.

At the age of 27, Zubac is approaching his peak years. But while the resident center is playing up to par, it’s worth asking how sustainable it is to let him handle this workload as the season progresses.

If the Clippers are serious about aiming for a deep playoff run, the team needs to strengthen their frontcourt. The Western Conference is loaded with elite big men, including Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis and Victor Vembanyama. With Zubac as the lone reliable center, it could be too much for even the rising big man to handle.

Unreliable backup big men

As mentioned earlier, outside of Zubac, the Clippers don’t have much help in the frontcourt. To make matters worse, this was also the story last season for Los Angeles. Currently, the team’s bench at center includes Mo Bamba and Kai Jones, who aren’t much of an upgrade compared to last year’s Mason Plumlee and Moussa Diabat.

It wasn’t long ago that Bamba was a celebrated college star who entered the NBA with high expectations. Since then, he has been down more due to countless injuries. With the Clippers, the former University of Texas standout is averaging a so-so 4.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per outing while making 44.0% of his shots from the floor. Given that he’s limited offensively, it’s easy to see why he hasn’t been able to become a reliable backup to Zupac.

Jones was a controversial figure early in his career, displaying wild social media behavior capped by a trade demand while with the Charlotte Hornets. Since then, the Clippers have given him a chance to erase it all. While Jones showed better behavior, his production on the court, like Bamba, did not reflect his status as a first-round draft pick. Jones is averaging just 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.

Without Zubac on the floor, the Clippers roster has a glaring weakness in its frontcourt. The team essentially gambled on these players, who were once full of potential. Unfortunately, the gamble doesn’t pay off.

Trade with the Portland Trail Blazers

Clippers get: Robert Williams ($12.4 million)

Blazers get: Terrence Mann ($11.4 million) and Cam Christie ($1.2 million)

Since acquiring Paul George, the Clippers haven’t exactly had enough funds and capital to move. However, it is still possible for them to make a deal. One of the best big men they can get is Blazers center Robert Williams, who is widely known as the Time Lord.

Williams will eventually provide some defensive teeth for Los Angeles. For the season in 13 outings, he is averaging 6.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. But more importantly, he appears to be the perfect fit for the Clippers’ backup position.

Despite his impact on defense, the Blazers may want to move on from the 6-foot-9 center, especially because of his injury history. And as a rebuilding team, the Blazers could use him as a trade tool for long-term players, which the Clippers can take advantage of.

The Clippers can hang up Terence Mann, who is capable of leaving. He is showing a dip in production this year, posting just 6.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. The Blazers could be attracted to Mann’s scoring, given that he is a player they can rely on offensively. Aside from Mann, the Clippers can also throw rookie Cam Christie into the mix as a salary cap addition. He’s also a young player that the Blazers can better develop.