Kevin O’Connor Identifies Celtics’ ‘Ideal Target’ For Trade
With the NBA trade deadline looming on February 5, the ball is in Brad Stevens’ court. No one knows for sure how the Boston Celtics‘ president of basketball operations will approach the deadline, but Boston’s main weaknesses are clear: size and rebounding.
This got Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor thinking. On a new episode of The Kevin O’Connor Show, KOC asserted that LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac is a great target for the Celtics.
“I think with Boston, Zubac would be an ideal target, in my opinion,” O’Connor said. “Neemias Queta has been great for them so far this year. I think adding one more big, though … is of the utmost importance … I think that would involve trading Anfernee Simons.”
“If you can somehow flip Simons … plus picks and maybe one other salary to go get Zubac from the Clippers … I do think they should be aggressive in making me an addition at the deadline, whether or not they have any confidence Tatum’s going to return.”
Zubac, a native of Croatia, entered the NBA when the Los Angeles Lakers selected him 32nd overall in the 2016 draft. In his rookie year, he appeared in 38 games, averaging 7.5 points and 4.2 rebounds before an ankle injury ended his season. Over the next two seasons with the Lakers, he saw limited action, posting modest numbers like 3.7 points per game in 2017-18.
Traded to the Clippers in February 2019, Zubac quickly became a reliable starter. He contributed steadily, averaging 8.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in 2019-20, helping the team reach the Western Conference Semifinals. His production grew, reaching 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds in 2023-24, followed by a breakout 2024-25 campaign with career highs of 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 80 games, earning All-Defensive Second Team honors. On April 9, 2025, he notched his first triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against Houston. In the 2025 playoffs, he averaged 17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds over seven games.
Zubac is currently sidelined with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain that’s expected to keep him out for most of January.