The LA Clippers are attempting to win an NBA Championship. That may seem like one of the biggest “no duh” statements of the NBA season, but it’s important to keep in mind when analyzing what the team might do to achieve that goal.
The Clippers are a team willing to spend money and in pursuit of the aforementioned goal that will mean continually looking for ways to improve the team. There is no “standing pat” for this team that has to find a way to overcome teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, and (maybe) Golden State Warriors.
Should the Clippers make this trade with the Spurs to upgrade at center with Jakob Poeltl?
The Clippers have wings aplenty, but it’s the outsides of the lineup that could use a boost. We discussed point guard options if LA wants to upgrade at the 1; what about at the 5? The Clippers have been linked recently to San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poetl as a potential trade target to upgrade at center.
What would a trade look like? And would the Clippers improve enough to make it worth sending out the assets? Let’s break it down from both sides.
LA Clippers trade for Jakob Poeltl: What is the trade?
The San Antonio Spurs seem to like Jakob Poeltl quite a lot, and trading him for nothing doesn’t seem in the cards. At the same time, he plays the league’s most replaceable position and will be an unrestricted free agent come July. That makes for a murky trade market. Here’s one idea for the Clippers that keeps things simple.
The Clippers upgrade on Ivica Zubac with one of the league’s half-dozen best rim protectors and send along a developmental scoring wing and a second-round pick as sweeteners. There are absolutely different ways for this trade to be built, including using a first to send more salary to the Spurs. Let’s see if this version works for both teams.
Clippers trade for Poeltl: Would the Spurs do it?
The Spurs are probably hoping to get at least one first-round pick back for Poeltl, and perhaps there is a team out there that will supply it. They also may just keep Poeltl to lock down the center position. This is a third option, one where they get a cost-controlled replacement for Poeltl and a couple of smaller assets.
Zubac is having a middling season for a middling team, but (1) he makes just over $22 million combined for the next two seasons, and (2) is two years younger than Poeltl. He allows the Spurs to put a reliable rim protector and rebounder who fits their scheme on the back line while saving money and extending their timeline. If they end up drafting Victor Wembanyama or another elite center in the next couple of drafts, they can easily move on from him.
This seems like a totally fine option for the Spurs, and if it’s the best offer on the market perhaps they say yes and send Poeltl to LA.
Clippers trade for Jakob Poeltl: Would the Clippers do it?
Ivica Zubac absolutely beasted Myles Turner and the Indiana Pacers a few weeks back, putting up 30 points and 29 rebounds in a truly impressive performance. The potential issue for the Clippers is letting that one game overshadow the reality of this season for the Clips: they are 11.6 points per 100 possessions better when Zubac is on the bench than when he plays, per Cleaning the Glass.
The Clippers have been at their best, this season and for a while now, deploying small-ball options at center. Yet playing Robert Covington, Marcus Morris or even Nic Batum at center has drawbacks, namely rim protection. Adding a legitimate shot-blocker who can give them another look and potentially a dangerous one.
Jakob Poeltl is playing on the league’s worst defense and he still has a positive Defensive EPM (Estimated Plus-Minus). Zubac has a break-even overall EPM for the season playing on the West’s sixth seed; Poeltl is +1.6, 13th among all centers playing for a tanking Spurs team. He is elevating a bad team; Zubac is simply average for a good one.
Poeltl has never had a 30-29 game, but he is a great rebounder, excellent roll man and finisher, and he has underrated foot speed on defense. He would be an instant upgrade and could potentially close games when facing the league’s biggest centers like Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, and Joel Embiid.
Verdict: Make the trade!