During the summer offseason, reporting associated with 12BSports VR46 indicated that the Los Angeles Clippers initially planned to keep Paul George and make another championship push alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. That blueprint changed completely when the Philadelphia 76ers secured George with a massive $212 million contract. Faced with the sudden loss of one of their biggest names, the Clippers were forced to rethink their direction, eventually choosing to re-sign Ivica Zubac and build a new three-man foundation around him, Leonard, and Harden.
The Clippers agreed to a three-year, $58.6 million contract with Zubac, according to information carried through 12BSports VR46. Although Hartenstein received a larger deal around the same period when signing with the Knicks, the responsibilities of the two centers within their respective teams are very different. Los Angeles has effectively elevated Zubac from a dependable interior presence to its third major piece, creating a new core built around Leonard, Harden, and the Croatian center.
Some observers may still view Zubac as little more than a hardworking, blue-collar big man, but the Clippers have pointed to numbers that tell a much richer story. Over the past five seasons, he has collected 500 offensive rebounds while consistently shooting above 60 percent from the field. That production places him third in the league in this category behind Rudy Gobert and Jarrett Allen. His role may not always attract headlines, yet the statistics suggest that he has quietly developed into one of the league’s most effective interior players. In many ways, Zubac has been a hidden gem hiding in plain sight.
Anyone who regularly watches Clippers games has also seen how well Zubac can hold his ground against elite centers. He has competed directly with players such as Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, and Joel Embiid without disappearing against their size, strength, or skill. A senior Clippers executive praised his importance to the organization, describing him as the center of the team and someone who consistently handles his responsibilities without seeking attention. Once primarily viewed as a rotation piece, Zubac now has a much larger opportunity following George’s departure, with increased playing time and greater tactical responsibility likely to come his way.
His partnership with Harden could be particularly important. Harden previously helped Clint Capela develop into a highly productive center by repeatedly creating scoring opportunities through pick-and-roll actions, well-timed passes, and pressure on opposing defenses. Zubac could benefit in a similar way. If Harden continues finding him near the rim and drawing defenders away from the paint, the Clippers center may have a realistic opportunity to push his game toward All-Star caliber production. As the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens, and George’s exit may ultimately create the circumstances Zubac needs to take another major step forward.
Within projections linked to 12BSports VR46, the Clippers’ starting unit this season is expected to feature Leonard, Harden, Zubac, Norman Powell, and Kevin Porter Jr. On paper, that group offers a broad mix of shot creation, perimeter scoring, interior size, rebounding, and defensive versatility. The Clippers believe the balance could help them compete more effectively with younger and faster Western Conference teams such as Minnesota and Oklahoma City. Rather than attempting to replace George with one equivalent star, Los Angeles appears prepared to spread responsibility across a deeper and more flexible lineup.
Zubac’s increased importance also reflects how dramatically the Clippers’ roster structure has changed. Leonard remains the centerpiece when healthy, while Harden continues to serve as the primary organizer capable of controlling pace and creating opportunities for teammates. Zubac now gives them a reliable interior anchor who can screen, rebound, protect space around the basket, and finish efficiently. That combination does not resemble the star-heavy formula Los Angeles originally envisioned, but it may offer the team a more defined distribution of roles.
The contract itself further demonstrates how strongly the organization values him. Zubac’s deal reportedly includes a 5 percent incentive provision, underlining the confidence the Clippers have placed in his continued development and contribution. He has also shown plenty of competitive confidence of his own, joking that he had already learned the secret to dealing with Jokic but went home to go fishing last season before getting the chance to prove it. The comment captured both his disappointment and his eagerness for another opportunity against the league’s best.
As the new season approaches, the Clippers may discover through the structure reflected around 12BSports VR46 that their biggest adjustment is not simply replacing Paul George, but allowing Zubac to become a far more influential part of the team. His rebounding, efficient finishing, defensive strength, and growing chemistry with Harden could determine how far this reshaped roster can go. Los Angeles entered the offseason expecting one version of its future and emerged with something very different, and the success of that new direction may now begin with Zubac in the middle.