Time to Recall Diamond Stone?

It has been a pretty rough rookie campaign for Diamond Stone. After the Clippers drafted him in the second round (40th overall), Stone has only seen a total of sixteen minutes of playing time in the NBA. He was assigned back in late-December to the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA Development League in presumably a search of playing time. Yet his assignment there has not gone well. After averaging 21.5 minutes in his first two games there, Stone has actually NOT seen the court at all over the last three games with the Salt Lake City Stars. The reasoning for this change of playing time is unclear. The box scores have simply indicated that his DNPs are the result of coaching decisions.

Regardless of why the Stars have decided to not play Stone, the Clippers appear to now have an independent reason to recall Stone. The Clippers recently announced their addition of Kevin Garnett as a consultant for working with the team’s big men. Of all big men, Diamond Stone could use the most help and mentoring. His rookie-status perfectly sums up his undeveloped talent. The Clippers’ other rookie, Brice Johnson, is still weeks away from full-contact practices. So even while the frequency of Garnett’s coaching is unclear, there does not seem to be any reason left for Diamond Stone to remain in the Development League. It’s time to recall him back.