The lazy and misinformed narrative with the Clippers this season was that the center position was their weak spot.
That just wasn’t true. Ivica Zubac grew in his role as a starting center, becoming one of the game’s premier rim protectors, rebounders and screeners. As our John Hollinger has written a few times now, many advanced metrics painted Zubac as a top 15-to-20 center this season. No, that isn’t a typo.
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Backing up Zubac was one of the game’s best backup centers — if not the best in 2019-20 — in Montrezl Harrell. While Harrell’s bubble play was concerning and his place on a championship team remains murky, he was still the Sixth Man of the Year and has evolved into one of the game’s better scoring fives.
This offseason, the Clippers have an important decision to make with Harrell. He was clearly compromised physically in Orlando, but how does he fit with the team moving forward? Are they confident in him against Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic over the next few years? How much are they willing to spend to retain him?
If they re-sign Harrell, the Clippers will likely look to add another center or power forward to provide depth behind Zubac, Harrell, Morris (if he’s re-signed), Green (if he doesn’t opt out or re-signs), Joakim Noah and Mfiondu Kabengele. If Harrell departs in free agency or is signed-and-traded to another team, the Clippers’ priority will be finding a quality backup center at a reasonable price.
Remember: the Clippers only have the taxpayer midlevel exception (projected around $6 million annually) or the non-taxpayer midlevel exception (projected between $9 million to $10 million annually) available this offseason. Thankfully for them, there is a lot of cheap depth on the big-man market this offseason.
In the third and final installment of our free-agent tiers, let’s look at the centers. Our first installment featured point guards and our second was on the wings.
Note: We’re excluding the Clippers’ own free agents from these tiers. We’re also excluding players with player options or early termination options, as well as coveted restricted free agents. (For example: Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, etc.)
Unrealistic
Players: Danilo Gallinari, Christian Wood
These two will almost certainly be just outside of the Clippers’ price range, with Gallinari commanding a starting salary in the range of $14-to-18 million and Wood probably in the $10-to-14 million range, depending on how many suitors he has.
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A Gallinari reunion makes some sense for both parties, but it could presumably only happen if Morris was not re-signed and Gallinari was willing to take a pay cut. Otherwise, the Clippers would be better off spending their money on a center.
Wood was an emerging 20-and-10 threat after the All-Star break, with the offensive prowess and defensive mobility to stretch the floor and protect the rim.
Tier 1
Players: Serge Ibaka
Ibaka is the best available big man that could be within the Clippers’ non-taxpayer midlevel exception. The 31-year-old is good enough to be in the unrealistic list, but it’s possible he prioritizes a chance at a championship if he feels the Clippers present that opportunity more than Toronto does.
In the case that he signs with the Clippers, Ibaka would probably come off the bench, similar to Harrell, playing something like 26 to 28 minutes a night as both a five and a four. He could close games in smaller units with spacing and rim protection, or if the Clippers go bigger, he could play alongside Zubac or Green depending on the matchup. He already has familiarity with former Raptors teammate Leonard.
Ibaka is one of the game’s rare elite 3-and-D bigs. He shot 38.5 percent from deep last season and, though his shot-blocking dramatically decreased, he can still protect the rim, switch onto smaller players and rotate precisely. He’s the ideal big on the market and arguably the Clippers’ No. 1 realistic target.
Tier 2
Players: Marc Gasol, Derrick Favors, Tristan Thompson
This trio of bigs lack the two-way and positional versatility of Ibaka, so they’re a notch below him. But any of these players would constitute a win for the Clippers and be an upgrade over Harrell given their skill set matching the team’s needs.
Gasol is still a high-level defender who spaces the floor and facilitates from the high and low post. He’s become more matchup-based than in years past, but as a backup and mentor to Zubac — who some around the league have compared to Gasol defensively — he would be incredibly useful. There are rumors that he’s likely going to play in Spain next season, but if he’s available, the Clippers will be interested. Like Ibaka, he already has experience with Leonard.
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Favors is a solid screener, finisher and offensive rebounder who can protect the paint in drop coverage. He’s coming off of a career-best rebounding and shooting efficiency season in New Orleans and would possibly push Zubac for the starting role. His durability is a concern, but the Clippers can limit his minutes and keep him fresh.
Thompson isn’t the same player he was during Cleveland’s second LeBron era, but he’s still a capable defender who can both protect the rim and switch onto wings and guards in a pinch. He’s a high-energy player with an elite rebounding knack and good mobility. He’s already played for head coach Tyronn Lue and could start or come off the bench.
Tier 3
Players: Paul Millsap, Jakob Poeltl (restricted free agent), Aron Baynes, Nerlens Noel, Dwight Howard
This next tier comprises above-average, role-playing backups (Poeltl is a respectable starter but would likely back up Zubac).
The Clippers saw firsthand how Millsap was able to help swing the conference semifinals with his 3-point shooting, rebounding and multi-positional defense. He’s better suited to come off the bench, but he could be a potential Morris replacement on a cheaper and shorter deal.
Baynes was a popular name attached to the Clippers around the trade deadline. He’s one of the toughest players in the league and has a unique skill set as a 3-and-D center. He can’t stay healthy and isn’t particularly mobile, but he’s more than qualified for the 15 to 18 minutes he’d receive off the bench. Poeltl will be tough to snag given his restricted status, but there’s a chance San Antonio, sensing a likely rebuild, doesn’t want to commit long-term salary to him.
Noel, only 26, is a dangerous lob threat and shot blocker that would inject some needed athleticism and verticality into the Clippers’ rotation. Howard played his role as a rim runner and rim protector to near perfection in Los Angeles. He was one of the more effective backup bigs in the league last season. He’d be a good fit given his low-usage play.
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Tier 4
Players: Dario Saric (restricted), Markieff Morris, JaVale McGee (player option), Willie Cauley-Stein (player), Kelly Olynk (player), Harry Giles
This group features a variety of players. Saric and Morris are stretch fours. Morris is more defensive-minded, while Saric is the more gifted and skilled offensive player. Either would be a cheaper replacement for Morris if he departs, though the Clippers would try to sign Gallinari, Ibaka or Millsap ahead of these two.
McGee and Cauley-Stein are likely returning to their respective teams, but they’re good rim runners and rim protectors. Meanwhile, Olynyk is a stretch five who can provide scoring pop, but he doesn’t help much defensively or on the glass.
Giles is the highest upside player in this tier — and possibly this entire list. He’s a unique player with untapped potential that Sacramento hasn’t been able to figure out yet. He can score inside and outside, rebound at a decent level, pass and defend multiple positions. It’s rare for a 22-year-old with his pedigree to hit unrestricted free agency this soon.
Tier 5
Players: Mason Plumlee, Alex Len, Frank Kaminsky (team option), Robin Lopez (player), Meyers Leonard, Chris Boucher (restricted), Wenyen Gabriel (restricted)
With this tier, value is in the eye of the beholder. Plumlee is a talented screener, roller, rebounder and passer, but he’s below-average defensively and probably will cost more than he’s worth. Kaminsky and Leonard are stretch fives that could be had for cheap.
Lopez and Len are lumbering energy backups that can screen, rebound and defend the rim and post. Boucher and Gabriel are high-upside gambles. Both can play either the four or five, with the athleticism, shooting and shot blocking to eventually develop into 3-and-D bigs.
Stay away
Players: Hassan Whiteside, Enes Kanter (player), Carmelo Anthony, Jahlil Okafor, Jeff Green, DeMarcus Cousins, Bobby Portis
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Whiteside’s per-game numbers have inflated his value through the years. He just doesn’t fit the Clippers’ culture or what they need.
Kanter is too similar to Harrell (although he’s a much better rebounder). He’s a turnstile defensively who’s unplayable in certain matchups. If the Clippers decide to move on from Harrell, replacing him with Kanter is a step backward even if he’s more cost-effective. Similarly, Okafor is basically a poor man’s Kanter and presents defensive drawbacks.
Anthony is a future Hall of Famer, but he’s clearly on the back nine of his career and doesn’t do much aside from scoring and shooting. The Clippers need role players that defend and do the dirty work. That’s not Anthony.
Cousins was sneakily awful defensively at Golden State and would be similar to Harrell (at best). He’s a hard stay-away. Portis is another offensive-minded backup that should be a pass.
