Cheap options to help the LA Clippers on the inside

Ivica Zubac Paul George (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ivica Zubac Paul George (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers
Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The LA Clippers are stacked on the perimeter, more so than any other team in the league if we’re being honest here.

You need 3-point shooting? Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Norman Powell, Luke Kennard, and Robert Covington have you covered. How about lockdown defenders? Those aforementioned names are more than capable of locking up elite offensive players with ease.

Top-tier play-making, otherworldly defenders on the perimeter, and the ability to hit shots from all over the floor have defined the Clippers over the past few seasons. But while they’ll enter the 2022-23 season as one of the favorites to win it all, they won’t come close to their potential if they don’t address their lack of size in the middle.

Now, of course, the Clippers could opt to bring back Ivica Zubac but that won’t help. The Clippers need athleticism on the block, someone who’s capable of sending shots to the 15th row, while also being willing to get their hands dirty to fight for boards. Offensively, the Clippers won’t need the second coming of Shaquille O’Neal but having a big body that you can throw the ball to and give a reprieve to Leonard and George is always a good thing.

Unfortunately for the Clippers, if the franchise is hoping to finally hang a championship banner, they’ll need much more than superb perimeter play.

Presently, Zubac is their only true big man on the roster, it would be disingenuous on our part if we ignored their interior play. The Clippers aren’t in the best position in terms of their cap space. But still, they have a number of excellent options that’ll be cost effective to address their big man issues.