The Denver Nuggets didn’t make headlines at the trade deadline - unless you count offloading Hunter Tyson to save a bit of cash. But sometimes, the biggest wins come not from what you do, but from what happens around you. And in that sense, Denver just quietly walked away as one of the biggest winners of the deadline.
Why? Because Ivica Zubac is no longer in the Western Conference.
Let’s rewind for a second. This year’s trade deadline had no shortage of surprises.
Jaren Jackson Jr. landed in Utah. Anthony Davis was shockingly dealt to the Wizards.
And then, on deadline day, the Indiana Pacers pulled off a major move, sending a hefty package to the Clippers in exchange for Zubac - one of the most underappreciated two-way centers in the league.
Zubac isn’t flashy, but he’s the kind of player who impacts winning in a big way. He’s an elite interior defender, a rock-solid screener, and a sneaky-good passer out of the post.
And in an NBA era where cap space is gold, he’s on an incredibly team-friendly deal for the next three seasons. That made him a hot commodity - and now he’s heading East.
For the Pacers, the move is about setting the table for a big leap next season when Tyrese Haliburton returns from his Achilles injury. They get a defensive anchor and a physical presence in the paint.
For the Clippers, it’s about facing reality. This season hasn’t gone their way, and they opted to cash in on Zubac’s value rather than chase a playoff dream that was slipping away.
But the biggest sigh of relief? That came from Denver.
Zubac was Jokic’s toughest matchup - and now he’s gone
Let’s be clear: Nikola Jokic is the best player in basketball. Two MVPs, a championship, and a level of offensive brilliance that’s nearly impossible to scheme against.
But “nearly” is the key word. Because if anyone has come close to slowing Jokic down, it’s been Ivica Zubac.
According to Databallr, over the past five seasons, eight players have defended Jokic for at least 500 possessions. Zubac held him to the lowest field goal percentage of the bunch - 56%.
That’s still efficient, but when you’re talking about Jokic, it’s about as close as anyone’s gotten to putting a dent in his rhythm. And we’re talking about a list that includes elite defenders like Rudy Gobert, Anthony Davis, and Bam Adebayo - none of whom fared better than Zubac.
The reason? Zubac is built like a tank but moves with enough agility to hang in space.
He’s strong enough to battle Jokic in the post and smart enough to avoid biting on the Serbian’s endless bag of fakes and pivots. And on the other end, he’s no slouch either.
He demands Jokic’s attention defensively, which means no hiding or cross-matching - Jokic has to guard him straight up.
We saw it play out in last year’s playoffs. The Nuggets needed seven games to get past the Clippers, a team that brought a less-than-stellar James Harden into the postseason and still gave Denver everything it could handle.
Kawhi Leonard was a big part of that, sure. But Zubac’s presence in the middle was a key reason why Denver couldn’t just run away with the series.
Now, Zubac’s in the East. That’s one less elite defender standing between Jokic and another deep playoff run.
And with the Clippers scrapping just to make the Play-In Tournament, there was a real chance Denver could’ve drawn them in the first round again. That’s no longer a concern.
The path is clearing for the Nuggets
Denver still has work to do. Health is going to be a major factor down the stretch, and the Western Conference is no cakewalk.
But with Zubac out of the picture, the list of bigs who can even make Jokic sweat is getting shorter. And in a playoff series, those margins matter.
The Nuggets didn’t need to make a splash to improve their odds. Sometimes, the best moves are the ones you don’t have to make - especially when one of your toughest matchups just moved across the country.