With a pretty large hole at the center position, it’s almost a guarantee that the front office will be evaluating as many as they can through free agency. One that will reportedly be available, according to Marc Stein of ‘The Stein Line,’ is Nikola Vucevic, a former All-Star, who joined the Boston Celtics at the deadline via trade from the Chicago Bulls, but failed to impress on both sides of the ball in his half-season stint that was cut short due to injury.
Vucevic has underperformed in the scoring department, displayed he’s a defensive liability, and is going to be 36 years of age right around the time of opening night, which are all reasons he will likely no longer be returning to the Celtics, and should also be why the Clippers need to stay as far away as possible in the open market.
Offering him a contract, especially given his weaknesses, would signal poor money management by Lawrence Frank.
Nikola Vucevic doesn’t match what the Clippers require in the front-court
Alongside Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin, and the fifth overall pick, the LA Clippers need a center that is explosive, can protect the rim at a high level, and is age-friendly. These characteristics complement the Clippers’ young core, and unfortunately for Nikola Vucevic, he’s clearly not a match.
Though Vucevic was solid with the Chicago Bulls, averaging a near-17-point, efficient, double-double in 48 contests, which explains the Celtics’ desire to trade for him, he could not replicate that production in Boston’s winning environment.
In fact, Vucevic finished the 2025-26 season having suited up 16 times for the Celtics, and logging 9.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, shooting 43.9% from the floor and 34.0% from beyond the arc.
The two-time All-Star may have had a different role playing under Joe Mazzulla, but that doesn’t excuse his numbers, which are some of the lowest he’s recorded in over a decade.
What’s worse? With age, Vucevic is only going to get slower, particularly on defense, an area he hasn’t been the best in for ultimately his entire NBA career.
That said, the Clippers need to simply skip Vucevic’s name when it pops up in the conversation of unrestricted, veteran free-agent centers.
While he may be a good fit for another team around the league, it’s no secret that the Clippers need significantly more than what he brings to the table.
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