The LA Times' Steve Springer writes that the Clippers waived two players, forward Derek Strong and guard Miles Simon, and placed forward Harold Jamison (contusion of the left shin) on the injured list to reach the 12-player limit.

The Strong move raised eyebrows, considering the Clippers still owe the 10-year veteran $8 million, which will now be paid over the next four seasons. In the past, owner Donald Sterling would rather eat crow and keep a player he didn't need than eat a contract.

But no longer.

The Clippers also obtained center Will Perdue, 36, from the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, then immediately waived him.

The Clippers had no intention of keeping Perdue, making the move strictly for salary-cap purposes. In exchange for freeing money up for the Trail Blazers, who are well over the cap, the Clippers received monetary compensation from Portland.

But since the Trail Blazers weren't allowed to simply give Perdue away, the Clippers made it legal by giving Portland the draft rights to Doron Sheffer, a 1996 second-round draft choice who retired after playing in Israel two years ago.