Throwback - Ivica Zubac was thankful for his last-minute trade from Lakers to Clippers

NBA's unpredictable ways of working are no secret, especially when making trades. We often hear players forcing their way of a franchise, but another aspect of this power dynamic rests with the ownership.

Ivica Zubac was one such case in point. He learned about his trade from the Lakers to the Clippers 15 minutes before the deadline. Fortunately for the seven-foot center, he remained in the same city of LA and would be awarded a starting role.

Appearing as a guest on Podcast P with Paul George sometime back, Zubac gave a detailed description of the turn of events, including receiving a phone call from Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka.

Behind the scenes of Ivica Zubac Lakers-Clippers trade

Drafted by the Lakers in 2016, Zubac represented the Purple and Gold for two and a half seasons. The 27-year-old was teammates with Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Brandon Ingram until his overnight trade to the Clippers.

Revisiting the event, Zubac said, " I (Zubac) was in Boston, and they called me 15 minutes before the deadline. Magic and Rob on the phone, they're like, 'We're trading you, appreciate you for everything………..'"

The big man was told about the Clippers when asked where he was going. Surprisingly, Zubac didn't have much of an issue, considering he was still staying in the same city.

"They (Lakers) say they just waived Marcin Gortat, so you're (Zubac) going to be a starter, you're going to get a big opportunity, and that's something I was thankful for………..Easiest trade ever," concluded the Croatian basketball star.

While Zubac got the sweet end of the unfair situation, this isn't the case with everyone. In the past, we've seen players shipped cross-country overnight and some learning about their future playing destination via media.

Zubac reveals his overseas GOAT

When asked to choose between Dirk or Hakeem in a 2022 episode of the Buckets podcast, Zubac had the following to say :

"I love Dirk, but Hakeem is the most skilled player in the game."

Currently playing for the Clippers, Zubac has impacted both court ends. In his six seasons with the Ballmer franchise, the seven-foot center has averaged 10 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 1.1 BPG on close to 63% field-goal shooting.

Given Paul George's exit, Zubac might see an increased role, giving him further opportunities to prove his mettle.

Related: Clippers to host the Warriors in Hawaii for the first time since failed Paul George negotiations