The Los Angeles Clippers today recalled Eric Bledsoe from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League. Bledsoe, 22, appeared in two games with the Jam as he continues his rehabilitation from surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. Bledsoe is with the Clippers in Denver and will be available for tonight’s game against the Nuggets.

In two games with the Jam, Bledsoe averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 assists in 21.0 minutes per game. 

Chauncey Billups reached out to free agent Kenyon Martin recently to let him know that the Clippers have interest in his services. When asked to reveal Martin’s thoughts on joining the Clippers, Billups hinted the interest was mutual.

"I'll let him tell y'all that," Billups said with a smile.

The Clippers have the mini mid-level exception for $2.5 million as well as two trade exceptions, one for $3.8 million and another for $2.7 million that were acquired in their deal for Chris Paul. Martin can sign with an NBA team as soon as the team he signed with in China, the Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers, completes its season.

"He's very valuable," Billups said of Martin. "Of course, he comes from winning stock. He's been to the [NBA] Finals twice. He has great ability. He is a leader. One thing I know about Kenyon, he's a winner. He'll do whatever it takes to win. He's one of the great one-on-one defensive players for a big man I've played with. And, contrary to what everybody believes, he's a really good dude."

The Clippers waived guard Courtney Fortson. He was signed by the Clippers on Jan. 16 and appeared in four games, averaging 4.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 11.2 minutes.

The 5-foot-11 guard scored a career-high 13 points on Jan. 17 vs. Utah.

Fortson was promoted from the D-League after Chris Paul injured his hamstring and then Paul returned the lineup Wednesday.

The Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks are pursuing free-agent forward Kenyon Martin, according to league sources.

Martin has spoken with executives from each of the clubs and is hoping to make his decision next week.

Martin signed a $2.6 million deal with Xinjiang during the lockout, but left the team in late December in hopes of returning to the NBA.

The Los Angeles Clippers have waived guard Courtney Fortson. Fortson was signed by the Clippers on Jan. 16 and appeared in four games, averaging 4.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 11.2 minutes.

Fortson scored a career-high 13 points on Jan. 17 vs. Utah.

The Los Angeles Clippers announced that they have assigned Eric Bledsoe to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League for a two-game rehabilitation assignment. Bledsoe has been sidelined all season after undergoing surgery on October 7th to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. The injury originally occurred during an offseason workout.

"Eric has reached the point in his rehab where playing in a game setting is the final step in satisfying his return to play criteria,” stated Vice President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey. “If he performs as expected for Joe Resendez, our Assistant Trainer and Howard Eisley, our Player Development Assistant, who will both accompany him on his assignment for the Jam’s next two games, we anticipate him rejoining our team for our trip to Denver this Saturday."

DeAndre Jordan is leading the league with three blocks a game, though he's fine-tuning his technique.

"I'm working on it now, like Bill Russell did, blocking [to keep the ball] inbounds or blocking to a teammate," says Jordan.
His size really helped in high school when he could easily block 10 shots a game.

But in the NBA, he's learning that a successful block often depends on timing.

"I didn't realize until later that I could jump after people released a shot," he says.

The Clippers have five players averaging double-figures this season.

Blake Griffin leads the team in scoring, followed by Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler and Mo Williams.

"The thing about this team, our scoring and rebounding, it can always come from different areas," Griffin said.

"Last year, it was completely different. It was like we had to have points from certain guys and if we didn't, it was tough. But this year it's been unbelievable with guys stepping up and guys making shots."

The Clippers relied heavily on Griffin and the departed Eric Gordon last season.

"Now, obviously, having Blake and Caron and Mo takes some of the load," Del Negro said. "Then Chauncey takes it, then Chris takes it. So the more weapons you have, hopefully you can [be] … a little bit better and be more consistent."

Chris Paul is likely to return on Wednesday when the Clippers play the Lakers, though it has yet to be confirmed.

Vinny Del Negro wouldn't make any guarantees about Paul's return, and there was no practice Monday or a medical update.

Paul will get a chance to practice with the entire team Tuesday.

If Paul plays on Wednesday, it will be 11 days since he was injured on Jan. 14th.

Blake Griffin has made just 33 of his past 75 free throw attempts, a 44% rate over the past 10 games. Griffin went 6-of-14 at the line on Sunday.

Griffin shot 64% from the line as a rookie.

"He's been getting to the line 10-plus times," said Vinny Del Negro. "He's just going through one of those spells right now. He's going to keep on working on it and there's some technical things that he's working on right now to improve overall. 

"Sometimes you might take a step back to get to the level that he wants to get to. But he's going to get to the line and I have confidence in him to make it...Sometimes it's easier for him than others, but nobody works harder than Blake, and I expect him to improve throughout the season, like he did last year."