In the middle of the season, when players start to become trade-eligible, teams all over the league will be spamming the LA Clippers’ phone with inquiries. Understandably so, the Clippers have an overflowing amount of talent on their roster that can consistently produce at a high level, some of which they do not need.
However, one player that must be held far away from trade talks, despite the fact that he will be taking a chunk of the season to recover from a Lisfranc injury he suffered last season, is the LA’s rising big man, Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who is underrated by many outside of Clipper Nation.
The 2025 late first-round pick only appeared in 41 contests as a rookie, and in most of them, he was only suiting up in minutes when the game had already been decided.
The Clippers must keep Yanic Konan Niederhauser out of trade talks
To the outside world, it’s easy to look past Yanic Konan Niederhauser’s name. He didn’t see the court a ton as a rookie, was faced with a devastating season-ending injury, and has a sophomore campaign coming up that may have gotten lost in the LA Clippers’ eventful offseason, particularly through the draft and investigation around Kawhi Leonard.
In the same breath, one might wonder why the Clippers should refrain from trading a center that averaged 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds if a good opportunity presents itself.
Well, the Clippers organization and fans worldwide know just how valuable Niederhauser is.
In a 12-game stretch just before he got hurt, Niederhauser posted 6.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in just 15.8 minutes, shooting 62.8% from the field. This does not include his two best games of the season, where he scored an extremely efficient 16 points, one against the Sacramento Kings and the other versus the Washington Wizards.
These numbers are impressive, and what’s better is the athleticism, composure, coordination, and floor-spacing abilities he showed.
It’s truly difficult to put into words how much potential Niederhauser has. When the news was announced that his year was over, everyone was heartbroken, as there was the utmost excitement to witness his growth, especially after Ivica Zubac had been dealt.
As a result, the Clippers must decline every call from teams trying to pry him away. He’s very clearly the center of the future, and someone the front office cannot let go of.
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