LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers’ defensive concerns have been well-documented this season, with many fans hoping for the storied franchise to upgrade at the five spot this summer.
However, perhaps LA’s interior woes could have been avoided if it held onto one of its most promising center prospects of the past decade, whom James still holds in high regard.
LeBron James Lauds Ex-Lakers Teammate Ivica Zubac As ‘Great Player’ After Clippers-Pacers Trade
Drafted 32nd by the Lakers in the 2016 NBA Draft, Ivica Zubac spent his first two and a half seasons with the organization before its head-scratching decision to move on from him at the 2019 trade deadline.
LA shipped Zubac and veteran forward Michael Beasley to its crosstown rival, the Los Angeles Clippers, in exchange for journeyman stretch big Mike Muscala, who made a limited impact across 17 outings with the Lakers.
Zubac went on to blossom into one of the NBA’s top low-post threats with the Clippers, leaving Lakers fans perplexed. The 10-year veteran peaked last season, earning an NBA All-Defensive Second Team nod while posting career-highs in points (16.8) and rebounds per game (12.6), further boosting his trade value.
That set the stage for the Clippers to flip Zubac to the Indiana Pacers at this year’s trade deadline. In exchange, they landed wing Bennedict Mathurin, center Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and one second-round pick, marking a sizable return on their initial investment.
While Zubac has yet to make his Indiana debut due to a left ankle sprain, he is projected to be an ideal running mate for Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) once the injury-plagued squad returns to full strength next season.
Among those in favor of the blockbuster acquisition is James, who briefly played alongside Zubac during the 2018-19 campaign, the former’s first in LA.
“I think it’s a great pickup for Indy, especially going into the future, after losing Myles Turner, obviously, to [the] Milwaukee [Bucks]. Two different players, but I think with Tyrese coming back at some point with Zu, I think it’s gonna work well,” James predicted on Tuesday’s episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast.
“Zu works well with playmaking point guards, or playmaking players, and Tyrese is one of our best playmakers in our game. Obviously, you seen what Zu was able to do the last couple of years with James [Harden], so I think it’s gonna be a great pickup.”
James also anticipated the 28-year-old becoming a locker-room favorite with the Pacers.
“Kudos to Indiana … they saw his talent; he’s still young, relatively, and things will be good,” James added. “I think Tyrese is gonna love him. … I think they gonna love Zu. He’s good. Great player.”
On top of Zubac being an elite two-way presence in his prime, he is in on arguably one of the league’s best-value contracts. The 7-footer is in Year 1 of a three-year, $58,650,480 deal, making him a savvy addition for the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
