Lakers Rumors: Possible Trade Packages for Ivica Zubac

As you will see with all of these deals, the team acquiring Zubac will also acquire future draft picks; showing that Zubac, if dealt, would be dealt to a team looking to rebuild. If things do not work out for the Trailblazers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Warriors, they could look to turn a pleasant surprise in Jusuf Nurkic into future picks and a similar player.

Nurkic was a pleasant surprise for the Trailblazers as he went from a decent role player to putting up good numbers in his time with Portland. In 20 games played, Nurkic averaged 15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks. If you compare his numbers, in the same season, to his time with the Nuggets the improvements are huge. With Denver, Nurkic was averaging 8.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks.

Then, the Lakers would also be swapping the massive contracts of Evan Turner and Luol Deng. Turner has not worked out the way Portland wanted him to, but the Lakers would be getting a younger guy that can turn it around, something that Deng is running out of time to do.

Overall, in this deal we see the Trailblazers turn their breakout performer into future picks and another center that can put up similar numbers. Zubac has very similar numbers as Jurkic did his rookie year, and if the Trailblazers think they can craft Zubac into the same player this will be a great deal for both sides.

The Lakers would get the production they need at center immediately, and the Trailblazers will be able to effectively have the same player as before in a year or so and get a future first round draft pick.