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Summer League 2016: TaShawn Thomas to Join Clippers in Orlando

The former Oklahoma power forward will try his luck again.

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, TaShawn Thomas played for the Orlando Magic in summer league last year.  This year, he's at it again, joining the Clippers' squad for their five-game stint in Florida.

After averaging 16.8 point and 9.7 rebounds per game in his sophomore year at Houston and 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in his junior year. Thomas transferred to Oklahoma, where his production dipped in a predictable fashion, but remained solid: 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.  When he didn't make an NBA roster last year, TaShawn went overseas and had a successful year in Germany, averaging 12.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in 31 appearances.  He even flashed a little more range when he went abroad: 32% from deep on over 2 attempts a game is far from good, but it proves that he isn't the same guy who made 3 three pointers in his senior year at Oklahoma.

Thomas is a 6'8" power forward who reportedly has a well refined inside offensive game and some shot-blocking prowess (although that type of stuff changes for most 6'8" big men who shift from playing against 6'8" NCAA competition to 7' NBA competition).  He's a nice addition to the Clippers' SL roster, and has the Blake Griffin Oklahoma connection, although he'll hopefully spend most of the week watching the Clippers two recently-drafted big men, Brice Johnson and Diamond Stone, eat up a lot of the minutes at PF and C.