Clippers Signing C.J. Williams to Three Year Deal, Per Report

Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports dropped a late night “bomb”, saying that the Clippers are finalizing a deal to sign C.J. Williams to a three year NBA contract. The first year would technically be the remainder of this deal, so C.J. will be signed for two additional full seasons after this one. Because he’s being signed for three years, the Clippers are dipping into the remainder of their Mid-Level Exception, or MLE, which they’ve previously used on Milos Teodosic, Jawun Evans, and Sindarius Thornwell. The next two years, C.J. will be signed to the minimum, with both years likely non-guaranteed.

C.J. has played in 36 games with the LA Clippers this season, starting in 16 of them. In 18 minutes per game, he’s averaged 5.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.8 assists, shooting 44.6% from the field and 31% from three (on 2.0 attempts per game). A competent defensive player with some ability to shoot from outside, Williams, while a rookie, is already 28 years old, so he probably won’t improve much further as an NBA player. He did flash some real scoring ability in the G-League, putting up 20 points with regularity, but so far that scoring has not really translated to the NBA. However, he’s a reliable presence off the bench, and a hard worker who’s well liked around the organization. It’s quite possible that with a year or two under his belt, his numbers will improve somewhat.

We will have more reports when additional details come out, and when the signing is officially completed. Congratulations C.J.!