The Los Angeles Clippers have officially turned a page, and the latest chapter comes with some emotional weight. After sending James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline, the Clippers made another major move - this time parting ways with longtime center Ivica Zubac, who was traded to the Indiana Pacers. For Kawhi Leonard and the rest of the locker room, this one hit a little deeper.
“Man, almost like losing a brother,” Leonard said when asked about Zubac’s departure. “We see these people - the players around here - more than you see your family during the NBA season.
There’s just somebodies that will be missed. Like you said, I played a lot of games with him, a lot of battles.
Yeah, he’s a face that we’re gonna miss in the locker room.”
That kind of sentiment speaks volumes. Zubac wasn’t just a big body in the paint - he was part of the Clippers’ identity over the last seven years. A steady presence, a guy who showed up every night, did the dirty work, and earned respect from stars and role players alike.
From a basketball standpoint, the Clippers didn’t let him go for nothing. In return for Zubac, Los Angeles brought in Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, along with two first-round picks and a second-rounder.
It’s a haul that suggests the front office is thinking long-term while still trying to stay competitive in the now. And make no mistake - Zubac had built up real trade value.
He was averaging 14.4 points and 11 rebounds across 42 games this season, numbers that had several teams circling. One NBA insider even claimed his trade value had surpassed that of Anthony Davis - a bold statement, but one that underscores how much Zubac’s stock had risen.
For the Pacers, this is a win-now move. With Tyrese Haliburton leading the charge and Indiana pushing to contend in the East, adding a proven interior presence like Zubac could be a game-changer. Leonard acknowledged that too, noting Zubac’s opportunity to chase a championship in Indiana.
Zubac, for his part, showed nothing but class on his way out. In a message posted to Instagram, he thanked the Clippers organization, his teammates, and the fans who supported him throughout his time in LA.
“This is one of the toughest moments in my life,” Zubac wrote. “I leave with nothing but love, gratitude, and respect from this organization and all you guys.
From top to bottom, I’ll never forget these 7 years and the love I got here. Always love LA Clippers.”
It’s been a long journey for Zubac since arriving in 2019 from the Lakers in a trade that sent Mike Muscala the other way. Over the years, he evolved into a reliable starter and an anchor on the defensive end - not flashy, but fundamental. The kind of player every contender needs, and now, the Pacers have him.
For the Clippers, this is a transition moment. The roster is shifting, the core is evolving, and the front office is clearly thinking about both today and tomorrow.
But for Kawhi Leonard and the rest of the locker room, it’s more than just basketball. It’s about the bonds built over years of battles - and the reality that sometimes, those bonds get tested by the business side of the game.