Ivica Zubac
Ivica Zubac has also been previously mentioned as a major target for the Atlanta Hawks in free agency, and Zubac was also involved in the incredible Clippers comeback that took place earlier this week.
Though the Clippers have an interesting strategy of letting two of the team’s best players come off the bench (Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell), it worked wonders for them against the defending champions, and LouWill continues to amaze in his 13th NBA season (Williams dropped 36 points and 11 assists in 33 minutes against the Warriors).
One starter for the Clips that only played 9 minutes was 22-year-old Ivica Zubac, who was traded by the Lakers in a head-scratching move at the deadline.
Zubac would provide some rock-solid rim protection for the Atlanta Hawks at the center spot, as he would immediately be the sturdiest center on the roster with a 7-foot-1, 240-pound frame and a 7-foot-4 wingspan.
Zubac’s raw defensive rating of 109 over his three NBA seasons per Basketball Reference would’ve been tied with Dewayne Dedmon this season on the Atlanta Hawks, but Zubac also has the benefit of youth on his side, and the Atlanta Hawks could sign him to a more lucrative deal than they Clippers could afford as L.A. goes star-hunting this offseason.
Since he’s still only 22, the Hawks could take a swing on Zubac as an inexpensive high-upside play this offseason.