The LA Clippers have a well-built championship-contending roster. From top to bottom, each player contributes in their way. The LA Clippers may be entering their most crucial season ever, in which, there is absolutely no time to waste. Franchise stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will be entering their fourth year together and players like Nicolas Batum and Reggie Jackson are entering the later stages of their careers.
The LA Clippers are loaded with wings. Some may even say the Clippers are above average at the point guard position. One position the LA Clippers have never been genuinely stacked at is the center position. In recent years, the LA Clippers have had guys like Deandre Jordan, Montrezl Harrell, DeMarcus Cousins, Marcin Gortat, and even Joakim Noah.
As Isaiah Hartenstein enters this off-season as an unrestricted free agent, he will likely receive interest from multiple teams. With Ivica Zubac entering the final year of his contract, it is also likely that he will demand a contract extension. In this off-season, the LA Clippers have some decisions to make. The Clippers must make sure they surround Leonard and George with the highest level of talent to fulfill their hopes of a championship run.
With that being said, a few questions remain unanswered. Should the LA Clippers re-sign Hartenstein? Will Zubac receive an extension? Could the Clippers look to find a new center for the future? Continue reading to find out some potential moves the Clippers could make to build the best roster possible!
Re-sign Isaiah Hartenstein
The first and arguably the best option would be to run it back. Resigning Hartenstein and giving Zubac the extension he has earned would maintain the chemistry. It is clear what Zubac brings to the table. High-quality centers that can play on both ends of the floor are seemingly hard to find. Zubac is also a perfect fit for guys like Leonard, George, and Jackson, especially through PNR.
Hartenstein’s value came as a surprise to many. After showing flashes in the pre-season, Hartenstein won the role as a backup center. There were moments throughout the season when the Clippers needed a bit more from the center position and Zubac was not able to fill those needs. Hartenstein quickly came in and provided the missing spark.
Hartenstein finished the 2021-22 NBA season with career highs across the board. Averaging 8.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 62.6% from the field in only 17.9 minutes is not easy. Hartenstein could easily be a starting center on many teams throughout the NBA.
Entering the most crucial season as a franchise, it would not be smart to bring in new faces and take the risk of ruining chemistry which could create issues within the locker room. Both Zubac and Hartenstein are enough to get the job done. One of the biggest factors that are holding the Clippers back is health. This is not the issue with Zubac and Hartenstein as they both played a majority of the 2021-22 season.
Mo Bamba
Another option the LA Clippers could consider is bringing in a center that brings more to the table. A player they could look at is Mo Bamba. Assuming the Clippers wait before making their decision on giving Zubac an extension, Bamba would come in and battle for the starting role. After a slow start to his career, Bamba had a phenomenal season last year.
As the starting center for the Orlando Magic, Bamba posted 10.6 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game, and 1.7 blocks per game in only 25.7 minutes per game. Bamba also developed an efficient three-point shot where he drilled 38.1% of his 4.0 attempts per game. Bamba posted career-highs across the charts.
Bamba also had a defensive rating of 108 in which he averaged 9.4 total contested shots per game. In the same season, Bam Adebayo, who finished 4th in defensive player of the year voting, averaged 7.8 total contested shots per game. Bamba is a very good defensive player.
What Bamba adds to the Clippers is better shooting at the center position as well as better defense. These are two very important factors when building a championship roster. Bamba would fit right into any role asked of him. Bamba instantly elevates the Clippers at the center position.
As Bamba enters this offseason as a restricted free agent, the LA Clippers would have to match offers to sign Bamba. Depending on what other moves the Clippers decide to make, the amount of money that is spent on Bamba’s contract is the most important factor.
Mitchell Robinson
Another center that would help the LA Clippers significantly is Mitchell Robinson. Robinson enters this off-season as an unrestricted free agent. If the Clippers decide to let Hartenstein walk, Robinson would come to the Clippers and battle with Zubac for the starting role. Robinson is 24 years old and is coming off one of the best seasons of his young career.
Playing for the New York Knicks, Robinson is known for his elite shot-blocking ability as well as his efficient scoring ability. Throughout the 2021-22 NBA season, Robinson averaged 8.5 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocks per game, shooting 76.1% from the field in only 25.7 minutes per game. It is clear what Robinson brings to the table.
The LA Clippers are missing a defensive-minded center. These types of centers are extremely hard to find. During the 2021-22 NBA season, Robinson averaged a defensive rating of 106 on 8.3 contested shots per game. Jaren Jackson Jr, who finished 5th in defensive player of the year voting, averaged a defensive rating of 106 on 9.9 contested shots per game. Robinson’s value on the defensive end is unmatched.
The LA Clippers do not need a center whose main focus is to score. There are numerous guys on the Clippers who can score the ball at an elite level. The Clippers need a center who can finish around the rim, rebound the basketball, and play elite defense. Robinson checks each one of these boxes.
As Mitchell Robinson will receive interest from numerous teams, the LA Clippers should keep an eye on his situation with the Knicks. If Robinson is available for the right price, the Clippers should make an offer. Adding a guy like Robinson should be one of the Clippers top priorities this off-season.