The Clippers announced today that rookie guard Willie Warren would rejoin the club after a stint with the Bakersfield Jam in the D-League. Here's the release from the Clippers:
This move is not unexpected. The Clippers have been on an extended road trip that began on February 4th. During that trip, they played 8 games, including a couple of back-to-backs, and between the busy game schedule and the travel, there was little or no practice time, so Warren would have benefited little from being with the big club if he wasn't going to get into games - which let's face it, he wasn't. But the post All Star Break schedule is a bit more manageable, so at least there will be some practice time, and Warren can benefit from working directly with Coach Vinny Del Negro and his staff. It just so happens that Warren is back with the team just in time for their first trip to Oklahoma to play the Thunder - Warren of course played college ball with the Sooners.The Los Angeles Clippers today announced that they have recalled rookie guard Willie Warren from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.
Warren, 21, was assigned to Bakersfield on Feb. 2 and appeared in six games with the Jam, averaging 21.0 points, 7.0 assists 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3-point land. The Jam went 5-1 with Warren in the lineup from Feb. 4 - 16.
Warren has appeared in 14 games with the Clippers this season and is averaging 2.2 points and 1.4 assists in 7.8 minutes per game.
The former Oklahoma University standout was selected by the Clippers in the second round (54th overall pick) of the 2010 NBA Draft.
Warren is something of a pioneer for the franchise, as the first Clippers player ever to be assigned to the D-League. Former Coach and General Manager Mike Dunleavy Sr. always believed that his players benefited more from being at his practices, and that the additional playing time they could get in the D-League was not worth the missed practice time.
Obviously, Warren performed well in Bakersfield - 21, 7 and 5 is impressive at any level. And if there's any truth to the rumors that teams have interest in Rasual Butler, Warren may be taking a step up the depth chart at or before the trade deadline this Friday.