LA Clippers lineup: 3 players who could break into 2021-22 starting five

No. 1 player who could break into the LA Clippers 2021-2022 starting five: Ivica Zubac

Ivica Zubac starting for the LA Clippers shouldn’t be a surprise.

Zubac ended the regular season and started the postseason as the starting center. Much of that, however, was due to Ibaka’s back issues in the 2020-2021 year.

Zubac, however, still was the best rebounder on the team last year, averaging 7.2 per game.

I like Ibaka better due to his veteran leadership, experience, and three-point shooting. He has a much better career resume than Zubac, and I trust him more due to that fact.

That being said, Zubac will absolutely be in competition for a starting spot if he doesn’t initially get one next year, and deserves to compete for it.

In Games 2 through 4 of the Western Conference Finals, he collected 41 rebounds. We really did miss his big man presence when he went down for Games 5 and 6.

Zubac can absolutely be a starter for the Clips, and would provide a little more size than Ibaka.

All of these guys are in the conversation, and will need to step up if injuries pop up again throughout the season. We’re already down our best player, but we proved this year that we can contend with the ‘Next Man Up’ mentality.