LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: Why trading Ivica Zubac isn’t as bad as it seems

By Jason Reed

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 06: Ivica Zubac #40 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a foul call during the second half of a NBA preseason game against the LA Clippers at Honda Center on October 6, 2018 in Anaheim, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 06: Ivica Zubac #40 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a foul call during the second half of a NBA preseason game against the LA Clippers at Honda Center on October 6, 2018 in Anaheim, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Ivica Zubac is probably being overvalued right now

The career path of Ivica Zubac is absolutely fascinating to me. Zubac put together decent numbers in his rookie season, kind of fell off in his sophomore year and started off this season with not many fans and no expectations around his name.

To give ourselves some props, we looked at Zubac’s numbers from his rookie campaign and made the case that he could be a solid contributor on the Lakers this year. That slowly became the case and Lakers’ fans slowly began to love him.

However, after today’s trade, you would have thought that the Los Angeles Lakers traded all-star Andrew Bynum.

There has been so much negativity around this trade and so many fans calling it a terrible trade because people are way too high on Zubac. While we love Zubac as well and get to continue to watch him as this is an LA-based site, it is not like he is a huge cog in the wheel.

At the end of the day, this is still a center that is only averaging 8.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game. His stock was virtually zero until his big game against New Orleans on Dec. 21 where he dropped 16 points with 11 boards.

But for some reason in the six weeks since that outing fans have absolutely changed the narrative on Zubac even though he is still only averaging 11.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Next. The Tobias Harris trade was brilliant. dark

If we are being honest with ourselves, the Lakers can get that out of almost any center in the league, just look how hot JaVale McGee was to start the year before Zubac’s stretch; especially with Lebron James.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers