The Los Angeles Clippers have made some significant moves this summer after losing Paul George and Russell Westbrook. However, Ballmer’s front office inducted young talents like Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, Kevin Porter Jr., and Kris Dunn. In the wake of a new squad for the Intuit Dome, Inglewood facility, the team is currently relying on the role players. And it did not hesitate when they got the chance to extend their veteran’s contract who has been a big role player for the team. It is 27-year-old Ivica Zubac who recently signed an extension on his already existing contract. What are the details about it and the annual salary structure? Let us get to it without further ado.

As per ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski’s latest report, the Clippers have signed a $58.6 million contract extension with Zubac for three years. Apparently, Zubac is still under the previous three-year $32.8 million contract with the Clippers that he signed in 2022. So the center will already earn about $11.7 million for the 2024-25. Moving ahead, Ivica Zubac’s new extension will come into effect from the 2025-26 season. Therefore, The Croatian is set to earn about $70 million dollars in guaranteed money over a span of four years.

But what compelled the Clippers to sign the center considering their hard cap situation? Well, Ivica Zubac is coming off a great season, putting up care high 11.7 points on 64.9% field goal percentage in addition to 9.2 rebounds. The 7-footer Croatian is efficient on both ends of the court, being a center and scoring as well. That’s why the team extended his contract to assist Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. For now, Zubac is the third-best player on the Clippers’ roster. But the contract from Zubac has put another load on the Cippers’ finance department.

How Ivica Zubac’s contract extension will affect the financial equation for the Clippers?

So Ballmer’s LA squad was $6 million under the first apron mark before the Kris Dunn signing. Later on, they signed a contract with Dunn for three years worth $17 million. It was a sign-and-trade agreement that made the Clippers use their full mid-level exception. Therefore, the LA squad will get a negligible hit on the first apron mark for the 2024-25 season. Though the exact numbers are not out yet as an annual salary breakdown for Dunn, he is expected to earn slightly north of $4 million.

Now, the Clippers have a little less than $2 million cap space. Considering if Ballmer goes for a small signing before the offseason deadline, they will be north and south of the first apron mark. However, moving ahead from the 2025-26 season, they’ll be above the first apron mark as Kris Dunn’s contract might hit the $5 million mark.

Also, Ivica Zubac’s increased salary will also be a part of the books from 2025-26. Therefore, the team will get above the first apron mark again in the next season. Surprisingly, the Clippers might be content with this as they’ve been in this territory for a long and wanted to avoid the second apron mark. Also, their basketball operations president Lawrence Frank told the media recently, “Managing max cap space in ’26-27 and being out of the second apron in 25-26. The goal was to get you as much money as possible, but we still have to add to the team.”