Through the 2025 NBA draft, LA Clippers fans wondered and pondered deeply on which area the rotation requires more youth in. The top options are the frontcourt, led by James Harden and co., or the backcourt, which could lose massive depth this summer following the career decisions of Ben Simmons and Drew Eubanks.
The answer seemed obvious: additional assistance behind Ivica Zubac. This is a significant need, as they can look to their postseason series against the Denver Nuggets as an example of why another competent player must be hired before the start of next season.
However, when thinking thoroughly through all the possible routes LA could take to obtain the proper amount of help, their draft night choice may change to a quality, young point guard. This is simply because the Clippers already have a future all-star, likely next season, in Zubac and have the mid-level exception available to acquire a solid backup in free agency.
Executive Lawrence Frank could make a major splash via sign-and-trade for Myles Turner, or he could work out a deal with another exceptional veteran like Clint Capela, who would be fit because of the chemistry he has had with Harden on the Houston Rockets.
Nonetheless, the Clippers seemed to have overlooked these notable pathways and chose to draft a big man Yanic Konan Niederhausee. He could be a great player and may immediately excite fans with his potential, but a young point guard with a high IQ is what should have been prioritized at pick number 30.
The LA Clippers may have found a player they wanted in the first round, but it is not what they needed given Ivica Zubac’s age and success
Ivica Zubac is only 28 years old and just made the first All-Defensive team of his career. He had a real case for All-NBA and the All-Star team, but this only foreshadows what next season could hold if all goes as expected for the Croatian star.
Furthermore, the Clippers will use their 30th overall pick,Yanic Konan Niederhausee, but they did not need him due to who they have in front. Instead, Lawrence Frank was better off selecting a point guard to develop through the time James Harden has left with the Clippers, then let him flourish when the starting role opens back up.
This would have led to a nice pairing with Zubac, but now the Clippers will have to take a riskier gamble on their second-round pick or even wait until next year’s draft to finally select a talent that pushes the organization toward promise.