March 2018 Los Angeles Clippers Wiretap

Clippers Concede Two-Way Players Have Saved Season

Jan 31, 2018 5:48 PM

With a number of injuries hitting the Los Angeles Clippers this season, they have relied upon strong play from their entire roster, including players on two-way contracts.

Tyrone Wallace and C.J. Williams have been key to the Clippers.

“The two-way contracts have been a godsend,” Doc Rivers told The Crossover. “Without the two-ways and without our G-League team [the Agua Caliente Clippers], we’d probably be in last place. And that’s not an overstatement.”

“When the two-way came out, that was the impetus for us to get a G-League team,” Lawrence Frank said. “For years, we were hit with the criticism that young players don’t get a chance to play for the Clippers. Our thinking [in the past] was just that we always had better players in front of them. We had wanted a G-League team for years but now we would have been at a competitive disadvantage if we didn’t have one.”

The NBA and NBPA decided that each two-way contract player signed early in the season could have a maximum of 45 “countable days” with the NBA team, with a “countable day” applying to game days, practice days and travel days. The rest of the player’s time was to be spent with the G-League affiliate. 

The Clippers have been trying to limit the "countable days" for their two-way players. The Clippers are so careful with Wallace’s “countable days” that he often is held out of practices. 

According to Frank, “it’s probably fair to say” that L.A.’s two-way players have “been worth five wins” this season.

“The biggest tweak they need to make is to stop counting travel days,” Rivers said. “I think they should only count game days. That would help the players. We’re doing silly things like sending guys to the G-League for practice and bringing them back for games. Tyrone had to fly on the day of the Utah game and he’s missed two or three practices. He’s only 23. He has a chance to be a heck of an NBA player. He shouldn’t be missing those days.”

Ben Golliver/Sports Illustrated

Tags: Tyrone Wallace, C.J. Williams, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA

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LeBron James Not Expected To Consider Clippers

Jan 30, 2018 5:32 PM

While the Los Angeles Clippers were mentioned as a franchise interested in pursuing LeBron James this offseason, they are not expected to be on his list.

A source close to James said he's not expected to consider signing with the Clippers. Even a source close to the Clippers said the team doesn't expect to be a player for James.

The Clippers secured a meeting with James when he was a free agent in 2010.

James is expected to consider re-signing with the Cavaliers, along with possibly free agent pitches from the Lakers and 76ers.

Marc J. Spears/The Undefeated

Tags: LeBron James, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers Weren't Interested In Trading For Blake Griffin

Jan 29, 2018 10:59 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers were not interested in Blake Griffin prior to the Clippers' trade of him to the Pistons.

The Lakers could have used Brook Lopez's $22 million expiring contract to match salaries.

The Lakers don't own their 2018 first round draft pick and also aspire to have two max contract slots to offer in free agency.

Griffin had been linked to the Lakers heading into his free agency, but he quickly re-signed with the Clippers.

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Tags: Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Clippers Believe They Have Opportunity To Sign LeBron James

Jan 29, 2018 9:50 PM

The Los Angeles Clippers believe they will have an opportunity to sign LeBron James in the offseason.

The Clippers traded away Blake Griffin in a package for Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley.

Los Angeles could also trade DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams by the Feb. 8th trade deadline if they can find deals that help them in their pursuit of James.

James has previously been linked to the Lakers as he has begun to spend more time in Los Angeles.

Marc Stein/New York Times

Tags: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Clippers Continue To Discuss Trades Involving Lou Williams, DeAndre Jordan

Jan 29, 2018 8:13 PM

The Los Angeles Clippers continue to discuss trades involving Lou Williams and DeAndre Jordan.

Williams and Jordan will be free agents in the offseason.

The Clippers traded away Blake Griffin on Monday as they begin to reset their roster.

The Clippers continue to have playoff aspirations despite trading Griffin.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: DeAndre Jordan, Lou Williams, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Clippers Trade Blake Griffin To Pistons

Jan 29, 2018 8:09 PM

The Clippers have agreed to trade Blake Griffin and Willie Reed to the Pistons for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic a first round pick and a second round pick.

The Clippers will receive Detroit's 2018 first round pick if it is outside of the top-4. The top-4 protection also applies in 2019 and 2020 while becoming unprotected in 2021.

Griffin is in the first year of a five-year deal worth $173 million. 

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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James Harden First Approached Chris Paul On Free Agency During Game Last Season

Jan 24, 2018 11:52 AM

James Harden approached Chris Paul about his impending free agency during the second to last regular season game of the year in 2017 when he was still on the Clippers.

"So, what are you going to do?" asked Harden to Paul.

Harden and Paul previously had superstar marriages that didn't work out. Harden and Dwight Howard had teamed up with the Rockets while Paul and Blake Griffin never reached the Western Conference Finals.

Harden is said to have been an active recruiter of Paul in the weeks leading to an eventual opt-in and trade to the Rockets.

Lee Jenkins/Sports Illustrated

Tags: Chris Paul, James Harden, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Rockets Not Interested In Trading Clint Capela For DeAndre Jordan

Jan 23, 2018 10:59 AM

While DeAndre Jordan is believed to have some level of interest in joining the Houston Rockets, the team is not interested in entertaining a deal for him involving Clint Capela.

Capela has emerged as one of the game's more promising role player centers this season.

Capela will be a restricted free agent in the offseason while Jordan is in line for a more substantial payday this offseason in unrestricted free agency.

Ian Begley/ESPN

Tags: Clint Capela, DeAndre Jordan, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Blazers Interested In Trading For DeAndre Jordan

Jan 22, 2018 2:25 PM

The Portland Trail Blazers have interest in trading for DeAndre Jordan.

While the Los Angeles Clippers have been listening on trade discussions involving Jordan, they have yet to receive a proposal from the Cavaliers, Bucks and Blazers that they've found seriously tempting.

Jordan is set to be a free agent this offseason and his future with the Clippers is unclear.

Before the start of the season, the Clippers held extension talks with Jordan before he hired an agent.

Marc Stein/New York Times

Tags: DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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DeAndre Jordan, Lou Williams Receiving Trade Interest From Cavaliers

Jan 19, 2018 7:32 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers have interest in both DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Both Jordan and Williams will be free agents in 2018.

The Cavaliers have also registered interest in George Hill.

The Cavaliers own the 2018 first round pick of the Brooklyn Nets but they've been reluctant to include it in any trade proposals. The Cavaliers are shopping Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith in trade talks.

Marc Stein/New York Times

Tags: DeAndre Jordan, Lou Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Steve Ballmer Was Eager To Evaluate Doc Rivers As Head Coach

Kevin Arnovitz/ESPN

Trevor Ariza, Gerald Green Receive Two-Game Suspensions

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Trevor Ariza Emerges As Instigator Into Clippers' Locker Room

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Chris Paul Praises Lou Williams With Perceived Shade Towards Blake Griffin

Tim Bontemps/Washington Post

Mike D'Antoni Claims Blake Griffin Made Intentional Contact With Him

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

CP3, Ariza, Harden Enter Clippers' Locker Room Seeking Confrontation

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Goran Dragic, Lou Williams Named Players Of The Week

RealGM Staff Report

Lou Williams, Clippers Have Held Extension Talks

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Blake Griffin: DeAndre Jordan Knows I Want Him To Be A Clipper For Life

Marc J. Spears/The Undefeated

Clippers Waive Jamil Wilson From Two-Way, Sign Tyrone Wallace

RealGM Staff Report

Austin Rivers Out At Least Two Weeks With Right Ankle Impingement

RealGM Staff Report

Bradley Beal, Lou Williams Named Players Of The Week

RealGM Staff Report