Los Angeles Clippers: Nikola Vucevic is worth considering
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Clippers have arguably the most exciting summer in team history ahead of them with countless options to pursue.
The Los Angeles Clippers are primed to bring in two superstars and become the best team in the Western Conference, well, at least compete with the Golden State Warriors for that honor.
The front office’s focus on this summer has been clear since the minute the team traded Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons and everything leading up to this offseason has been playing with house money. LA’s run into the NBA Playoffs was not expected and only bolstered their chances of signing two stars.
Most fans are thinking big this summer. The idea of landing both Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant is a realistic one and there are other stars, such as Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins, that will be available.
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The biggest win for the Clippers would be signing both Durant and Leonard as that gives the team two of the five best players in the league, who both have championship experience.
However, if the Clippers do not land both star forwards, they should not automatically go into the “second-star” pool of players. Instead, the Clippers should shift focus and bring in a breakout all-star from 2019 and consider Nikola Vucevic to be the team’s starting center.
The Clippers are alarmingly thin at the center position entering the offseason and something is going to have to be addressed. Right now, the only player that could provide relief at the position is Montrezl Harrell, who is more of a power forward, anyway.
Aside from Harrell, the team’s only real option to retain is Ivica Zubac, who is a restricted free agent and could theoretically sign a deal out of the Clippers’ price range, resulting in the team not matching his offer.
Even if the team does re-sign Zubac, he should not be the starting center on a contending team. Zubac is a great rotational piece that shows flashes of brilliance but is better off as the eighth guy in a rotation.
Vucevic, on the other hand, was one of the five or so best centers in the league last season and at 28 years old, he is only entering his prime. Vucevic averaged 20.8 points, 12 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game last season while also being able to stretch the floor with a 36.4 percent three-point shot.
Vucevic fits the modern center billing of being able to stretch the floor and shoot the three ball while also having the size (seven-foot) and presence down low of a traditional center.
It might not be as appealing on paper as it would be signing Butler or Thompson but the Los Angeles Clippers would be better off actually signing someone that addresses a need rather than jamming Butler or Thompson into a roster that would have too much depth at those positions with Leonard on the roster.
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Plus, having an elite two-way player like Kawhi with one of the league’s best centers, who is only going to get better, is a fun idea in upon itself. For that reason, don’t be surprised if Nikola Vucevic starts hitting the Clippers’ rumor mill in the coming weeks.