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Clippers Retrospective: Angel Delgado Was a 15 Minute Man for the Clippers

Two-way player Angel Delgado was gone after just one season with the team, barely leaving a trace in his path.

By Robert Flom
Cleveland Cavaliers v LA Clippers Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Key Stats

  • Signed a two-way deal with the Clippers on July 6, 2018 (but was rumored to be signing with them as early as draft night)
  • Played in two games in the NBA (15 minutes total), averaging 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game
  • In 44 games with the Agua Caliente Clippers, averaged 18.5 points, 14.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 61.8% from the field and 61.2% from the line
  • Won G League Rookie of the Year, and was named to the First Team All G-League
  • Clippers declined to extend Delgado a qualifying offer on June 30, 2019, making him an unrestricted free agent

Expectations

Angel didn’t have any expectations from Clippers fans going into the 2019 NBA season. There might have been some who thought he could enter the rotation at some point, especially if Marcin Gortat was ineffective or Boban Marjanovic was played off the court, but nobody realistically believed he would play a role of any significance in the Clippers’ season.

Reality

Expectations matched reality, almost to a tee, at least at the NBA level. Angel only appeared in two games with the Clippers, and played a mere 15 minutes of garbage time. He sat on the bench and practiced with the team for a greater stretch of the season, but spent almost the entire year down in the G-League with Agua Caliente.

However, Angel excelled beyond expectations in the G-League, winning the G-League Rookie of the Year award and placing on the 1st Team All G-League. He was dominant on the boards, putting up one of the best rebounding seasons in G-League/D-League history, and was an efficient scorer on high volume. Additionally, he showcased some of the some passing ability that was intriguing at Seton Hall, being one of the primary playmakers on the team as a big man. While the Clippers didn’t have room for him in the rotation, particularly after the arrival of Ivica Zubac, Delgado’s play in the G-League suggested he could have a future in the NBA.

Legacy

Angel Delgado probably won’t leave much of a legacy with the Clippers. He barely played for the team, and spent most of his year in the organization in the G-League, which does not receive much attention from NBA fans. It’s possible he could return to the Clippers at some point and further his legacy with the team, but as is, he will probably fade to the sort of “remember that guy?” that longtime fans will mention every once in a while. Certainly, a “Where are they now” might be in store for him in a few years, beginning with the start of his career in China.

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