Los Angeles is receiving the most trade inquiries about center Ivica Zubac, but the Clippers have sent mixed signals on whether they will seriously entertain offers, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported. League sources told Siegel the club would want at least two first-round picks if it elects to move the 27-year-old big man.
The report labels the Boston Celtics as a speculative suitor, suggesting Anfernee Simons’ expiring contract could headline a potential package. Los Angeles had pursued Simons before Portland dealt him to Boston, though no active talks have been confirmed.
Collins’ expiring deal on the table
One player the Clippers are openly shopping is John Collins, whose $26.6 million contract expires after the season. Acquired from Utah in a three-team trade over the summer, the forward is averaging 11.9 points, shooting 31.6 percent from three and grabbing a career-low 4.9 rebounds per game—his least productive campaign since his 2017-18 rookie year.
Paul waiver would clear path for Sanders
In a separate assessment, Keith Smith of Spotrac and a panel of ESPN insiders examined the Clippers’ next steps with Chris Paul. Waiving the 40-year-old guard within the next two to three weeks would all but signal a plan to promote two-way rookie Kobe Sanders to a standard contract. The club would need to add a 14th player within 14 days of cutting Paul but lacks sufficient first-apron flexibility to sign an outside free agent, making Sanders’ conversion the only immediate option.
According to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, Paul drew internal criticism after calling out teammates, coaches and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. Although he later apologized, the relationship frayed, and Turner’s source noted there is no guarantee another team will sign Paul once he is officially released.
Amid rumors that Paul and head coach Tyronn Lue had stopped communicating, Frank told reporters Wednesday that Lue is “a hell of a coach” and will remain in the post “for a long time,” The Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds relayed.
Bogdanovic still sidelined
The Clippers initially labeled guard Bogdan Bogdanovic day-to-day with a left hip contusion, but he will miss his seventh straight game Wednesday. He last played on Nov. 20, The Athletic’s Law Murray tweeted.
Source: Hoops Rumors
