Zubac, Clippers agree to three-year extension through 2028
The big man appears primed for a breakout season.
The LA Clippers and Ivica Zubac have agreed on a three-year, $58.6 million extension, as first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday evening.
It was the maximum allowable extension the center could sign.
“Zu had a career year,” Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank told reporters at his end-of-season presser in May.
“I think James [Harden] had a lot to do with unlocking it. Zu I think led the league in shooting percentage between six and eight feet. You know, developed a floater with either hand. I think he was second in points produced out of post-ups behind [Kristaps] Porzingis. He’s 27, he continues to work. He loves to play every single night and hates when he got injured. It just kills him not to play in a game. He’s our longest-tenured Clipper. So, we’ll have conversations with Jeff [Schwartz] and Mike Lindemann, his agents at Excel. And an extension makes sense. We love Zu and (would) love to keep Zu here.”
Zubac, 27, is coming off of a campaign where he averaged a career-high 11.7 points to go with 9.2 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per contest. Zubac played in 68 of the team’s 82 games, with the Clippers going 42-26 (.618) overall—a 51-win pace—when the big man suited up.
The uptick for Zubac didn’t stop there as the Croatian managed 16.2 points and 9.3 rebounds in the Clippers’ six-game first-round series loss to the Dallas Mavericks, shooting 60% overall in the process.
Zubac came to the Clippers via trade in February 2019 and has since established himself as a key contributor within the franchise, appearing in 364 of the team’s 390 games since the beginning of the 2019-20 season while putting up 10.0 points and 8.5 rebounds over that stretch.
Beyond the offensive value Zubac has provided, namely the 63% shooting as a member of the Clippers, the true impact from the 7-footer is made on the defensive end, where he’s stymied a myriad of opponents over the years while anchoring the Clippers’ interior defense.
Zubac was arguably the league’s best rim protector last season, as evidenced by data provided by Synergy’s Todd Whitehead. Additionally, the Clippers were 2.2 points per 100 possessions better defensively last season with Zubac on the floor as opposed to off, and 2.8 points per 100 possessions better overall when factoring in both ends of the floor.
According to Second Spectrum, and noted by Wojnarowski:
Zubac held offensive opponents a 49.6 percent shooting percentage at the rim last season, best in the league among players to defend 200-plus shots, per Second Spectrum.
The Clippers lost star wing Paul George in free agency this offseason, as well as guard Russell Westbrook, but have since replaced them with the likes of Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, and Kris Dunn in an attempt to become more defensive-oriented.
Agreeing on a three-year extension with Zubac keeps that mantra intact.
Zubac will likely see an increase in touches this season due to the loss of George and a heavier lean on pick-and-roll action between Zubac and guard James Harden, who the Clippers re-signed to a two-year, $70 million deal in late June.
The big man averaged 1.23 points per possession as the roll man in pick-and-roll settings last season. Harden assisted on 103 of Zubac’s 337 field goals overall.
The next domino to fall for the Clippers will likely be that of Terance Mann agreeing on a similar extension.
The Clippers view both Mann and Zubac as key pieces within the franchise, especially as starters alongside both Harden and star forward Kawhi Leonard.
Los Angeles was able to nail down an extension with Zubac nearly a month before the start of training camp in Hawaii, and one can surmise they’ll attempt to do the same with Mann.
Zubac’s extension will tie him to the Clippers through the 2028 season.
This developing story will be updated with more details as they become available.