Doc Rivers Couldn’t Believe Clippers Had Chance To Acquire Ivica Zubac In Trade With Lakers

Ron Gutterman
3 Min Read
Brian Babineau-NBAE

After more than a week of Anthony Davis speculation leading up to the trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers instead made two minor moves. The more baffling one was trading Ivica Zubac and Michael Beasley to the Clippers for Mike Muscala.

It was a deal that no one saw coming, not even Clippers head coach Doc Rivers. The Lakers made the trade in order to acquire some shooting and get themselves an open roster spot.

It can also be presumed they may not have planned on re-signing Zubac this offseason. However, while Zubac was an integral part of talks for Davis, his trade to the Clippers was rather surprising.

Rivers was not only surprised by the trade, he was shocked at just the thought that the Clippers could get Zubac upon being informed of the possibility by president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, via Clevis Murray of The Athletic:

Before this season, many criticized the Lakers for keeping Zubac instead of promising second-year player Thomas Bryant. However, Zubac responded with a career year, and in the two months leading up to the trade deadline, he was the Lakers best big man, surpassing JaVale McGee and Tyson Chandler on the depth chart.

Since his departure, the Lakers have struggled mightily with interior defense when McGee is on the floor and have generated virtually no interior offense when Chandler is on the floor. Zubac was a nice blend of both.

Of course, Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka likely had longer term visions in regard to this trade, but the immediate effects have been noticeable.

Reminder: Vivid Seats is the Official Ticket Reseller of LakersNation.com. New Customers use “LAKERSNATION” (all CAPS) in the Vivid Seats App on your phone and get 10% off any Lakers home game ticket order for the remainder of the season.

Ron Gutterman is a Washington State University alum from Anaheim, California, and is currently a Staff Writer for LakersNation.com, RamsNewsWire.com, and RaidersNewsWire.com. He is also the lead editor for AngelsNation.com. With Lakers Nation, Rams News Wire, Raiders News Wire, and Angels Nation, Ron assists in news, game coverage, analysis, and hot takes via his Twitter account, @rongutterman24. Without a doubt, Ron's favorite Laker, and favorite athlete of all time, is Kobe Bryant. Ron began watching basketball when he was 6 years old, in 2005, when Bryant was dragging the likes of Smush Parker and Ronny Turiaf to playoff spots. Ron's all time favorite Lakers moment was Bryant's final game when he dropped 60 points. While the Lakers beating the Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, as Metta World Peace hit the game clinching three, will always be a top option, Bryant's final night takes the cake. Contact: ron@mediumlargela.com
Exit mobile version