Clips Nation - 2013-2014 Clippers Exit InterviewsWhat it do babyyyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47967/clipsnation_fave.png2014-06-09T11:38:44-07:00http://www.clipsnation.com/rss/stream/55474192014-06-09T11:38:44-07:002014-06-09T11:38:44-07:002013-14 Clippers Exit Interviews: Matt Barnes
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VL2YIDl-tMnqt8jEpdTcjsztNGA=/0x167:2823x2049/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34115507/491077057.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As we try to do every season here at Clips Nation, we're running a series of "exit interviews" of this year's Los Angeles Clippers. An overview and analysis, player by player, of all 14 Clippers who finished the 2013-2014 season on the roster. In this edition: veteran small forward Matt Barnes.</p> <p><b>Name: <span>Matt Barnes</span></b></p>
<p>2013-2014 Key Stats: 9.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.0 apg<br><br>Age: 34<br><br>Years in NBA: 11<br><br>Years With <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>: 2<br><br>2013-2014 Salary: $3,250,000<br><br>Contract Status: Signed for two more seasons, $3,396,250 in 14-15 and $3,542,500 (partially guaranteed) in 15-16<br><br><b>In A Nutshell:</b></p>
<p>It seems strange to think about now, but for the first half of the regular season, <span>Jared Dudley</span> was the starting small forward for the Los Angeles Clippers. It wasn't necessarily supposed to be that way. Yes Dudley was supposed to be a key off-season addition, a floor stretching wing who would fit nicely in the starting lineup next to <span>Chris Paul</span> and Blake Griffin. But the re-signing of Matt Barnes, who returned to the Clippers for a portion of the mid-level exception after having a career year for the team on a minimum contract in 2012-2013, was also a major development. Barnes had backed up <span>Caron Butler</span> last season, but had also played more minutes than Butler and was the closer on the wing for Vinny Del Negro's Clippers. During the off-season, the starting job was theoretically up for grabs.</p>
<p>However, the decision was more or less made for <span>Doc Rivers</span> when Barnes was injured in training camp. He spent the seven weeks of the season either in street clothes or limping through an injury. He played the first four games -- then sat out three. He played the next four -- then went out for a month. It didn't help matters that he got tossed out of one of those early games, and then complicated matters by sending a controversial tweet from the locker room.</p>
<p>It came as a surprise when Rivers inserted Barnes into the starting lineup on January 20 -- but it shouldn't have. Dudley had struggled all season, his always questionable athleticism had seemingly abandoned him completely, and he wasn't even making his threes, the one thing everyone assumed he'd do well on this team. So Barnes came into the starting lineup and remained there for the final 40 games and the playoffs.</p>
<p>Whether it was his health, his role, or the psychological impact of trade rumors that dogged him until the trade deadline, Barnes was two different players before and after the all star break this season. In 869 minutes played before the break his true shooting percentage .490 and his plus/minus was +3.1. In 866 minutes after, his TSP shot up to .607 and his plus/minus was an impressive +15.9. Sure, you would expect his plus/minus to be better as a starter, playing alongside the likes of Paul and Griffin more -- but that post ASB plus/minus was actually better than that of either Paul or Griffin, so Barnes must have been doing something right.</p>
<p><br><b>Strengths:</b></p>
<p>There's little mystery to the production Matt Barnes provides on an NBA court. He runs his way into points and he works his way into defensive stops. He may not be the most talented guy out there, but he works harder than anyone.</p>
<p>Barnes gets his points in essentially three ways: (a) spotting up for open three pointers -- he's not a great three point shooter, but at .343 ( .373 as a starter!) he was more than adequate; (b) finishing on the break -- the Clippers ran much more this season, and Barnes was invariably filling a lane; (c) cutting to the basket -- few players in the NBA are as good at making off the ball cuts, and the rest of the Clippers, especially Paul and Griffin, were good at finding him on those cuts.</p>
<p>None of this is rocket science. Barnes rarely has to take more than a dribble or two to get points. He just runs to the right spot, catches and finishes. Of course it's harder than it sounds. Barnes is an uncommonly good finisher around the basket, with good body control and the ability to use either hand. In fact, he's equally comfortable dunking with either hand, which is not something you frequently see in a wing.</p>
<p>On the defensive end, the Clippers used Barnes as their wing stopper almost by default, as they really didn't have a better option. At 34, Barnes isn't the quickest guy in the world, but compared to Dudley he's friggin' Usain Bolt. In the conference semi-finals, <span>Kevin Durant</span> averaged 33 points against the Clippers and went to the free throw line 11 times per game. Barnes was far and away the best option the Clippers had for defending Durant -- it's better than nothing, but is it good enough?</p>
<p><b>Weaknesses:</b></p>
<p>If Barnes is the .373 three point shooter he was as a starter this year, or even the .343 guy he's been for two seasons now as a Clipper, then that's acceptable. However, on his career he's made just one in three from deep, and he's certainly not a guy who makes you feel super-confident when he's open behind the arc. He's clearly worked on his range and he knows full well that he has to be effective from there to remain a productive player in the league -- but there's definitely a feeling that the deep ball could leave him at any time.</p>
<p>He's not much of a creator on offense -- he works his way into good spots where he can finish plays, but he's not the kind of guy you can give the ball to with a short clock and ask him to make something happen. Teams like to cross-match against the Clippers in order to put longer defenders on Paul. That will leave Barnes defended, for instance, by the likes of Steph Curry. Barnes can be effective in the post in those situations -- but again, it's less than ideal.</p>
<p>At 34, there's a question as to how much longer he can be effective, especially when you consider that much of his effectiveness comes directly from his work rate. Hustling your way to points is easier for a guy in his mid-20s that for a guy in his mid-30s. Surprisingly, he's had two of his most productive seasons these past two seasons with the Clippers. He's in fantastic physical shape and takes great care of his body, but age is going to catch up with him at some point.</p>
<p>His confrontational attitude on the court can be a blessing and a curse. He will always protect his teammates and that can help create team unity. He will not be intimidated on the court. However, technical fouls and flagrant fouls cost points; points that seem more costly when it's a role player who is giving them away.</p>
<p><br><b>Future with the Clippers:</b></p>
<p>After a decade in the NBA, Barnes signed his first multi-year, multi-million dollar contract last summer. But even at $3.5M per season, he's a relative bargain at his current level of production. His remaining contract -- $3.4M next season and a partially guaranteed $3.6M the season after that -- is very friendly for the team, which is one of the reasons that Matt was so concerned about possibly being traded last February. He's actually someone that other teams would want under his current contract. Barring injuries or an age-related drop off, Barnes should be a major part of the rotation again next season.</p>
<p>But the reality of the current NBA is that if you don't have a defender to at least trouble Durant and/or <span>LeBron James</span> then you're going to struggle when you run into those teams in the post-season. The Clippers were better than the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a> at a majority of starting positions, off the bench, and in the coach's chair. But they still lost. No one can stop Durant and not many can slow him -- but the dude is 25, and the reality for every other Western Conference team is that they need a Durant-stopper (or a Durant-slower). Matt Barnes can be a decent plan B -- but for the Clippers this season, he was plan A (without a plan B).</p>
<p>So while the Clippers would be thrilled to have Barnes next season, they are almost certainly going to try to upgrade at the small forward during the off-season. Barnes is cheaper and much better than Dudley -- which paradoxically could mean that Barnes has to go and Dudley will stay. The Clippers would love to move Dudley for something useful, but that's highly unlikely given Dudley's current market value. The reality is that if they move Dudley, it will be for little more than salary relief (which might be the smart move regardless). But with <span>Reggie Bullock</span> hopefully ready for a bigger role and an upgrade needed on the wing, there's simply not room on the roster for both Barnes and Dudley.</p>
<p>All of which makes it difficult to predict what Barnes' role with the Clippers will be next season. He could be the starter at small forward. He could be an energy guy coming off the bench, backing up a new acquisition (probably the role that suits him best at this point). Or he could be gone, packaged in a trade for his replacement. Stay tuned.</p>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2014/6/9/5793918/2013-14-clippers-exit-interviews-matt-barnesSteve Perrin2014-06-05T23:22:21-07:002014-06-05T23:22:21-07:002013-14 Clippers Exit Interviews: Darren Collison
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HtN3WdZE7uNRhhSh-kBCXcmXii0=/3x0:3996x2662/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33986839/20140503_krj_ak6_0120.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As we try to do every season here at Clips Nation, we're running a series of "exit interviews" of this year's Los Angeles Clippers. An overview and analysis, player by player, of all 14 Clippers who finished the 2013-2014 season on the roster. In this edition: speedy point guard, Darren Collison.</p> <h3><b>Vitals</b></h3>
<p><b> Name: </b>Darren Collison <br><b> 2013-2014 Key Stats: </b>11.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 46.7% FG, 37.6% 3PT, 85.7% FT <br><b> Age: </b>26 <br><b> Years in NBA: </b>5 <br><b> Years With Clippers: </b>1 <br><b> 2013-2014 Salary: </b>$1,900,000 <br><b> Contract Status: </b>Player Option for 2014-2015, $1,985,500 if exercised (declined)</p>
<h3><b>In a Nutshell</b></h3>
<p><span>If you recall, back in September, I wrote a </span><a href="http://www.clipsnation.com/2013/10/16/4846702/2013-2014-clippers-player-previews-darren-collison-los-angeles" target="_blank">player preview</a><span> for Darren Collison, in which I had a lot of great things to say about him. So much so, in fact, that I asked Cardboard Corey to step aside to make room for Cardboard Collison. Well, it was just over a month into this season that I started having regrets. </span></p>
<p><span>Collison hadn't shown much, if any, of what I had praised him for. He wasn't scoring, he wasn't passing, and he wasn't playing much defense at all. Cardboard Corey even broke out of his Retirement Community and released the neighbor's cat on Cardboard Collison. December was going to be a tough month for me, when this is all I had left of my new pal:</span></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4573387/Cardboard_Collison_Piece.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Cardboard_collison_piece_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4573387/Cardboard_Collison_Piece_medium.jpg"></a> <br id="1402033834712"></p>
<p><span>Seriously tough times. </span></p>
<p><span>But just as Redick and Paul each started coming down with injuries, Collison stepped up</span><span>—</span><span>and he did it in a BIG way. In December, Collison seemed to catch fire. His jumper looked like pure silk, his aggressiveness on offense returned as he attacked relentlessly, and he even started to show off his playmaking skills. Combined with a new and improved Blake Griffin, this was a formidable offensive force that managed to keep the team playing elite basketball, despite the loss of their best player. </span></p>
<p><span>Anyway, </span><span>this was just the boost I needed. I pulled myself together and reconciled with Cardboard Corey. We even worked together to rebuild Cardboard Collison.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4573403/Cardboard_Collison_BackTogether.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Cardboard_collison_backtogether_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4573403/Cardboard_Collison_BackTogether_medium.jpg"></a> <br id="1402034023809"></p>
<p><span>Thanks Corey. What a gem. </span></p>
<p><span>Collison's strong play continued all the way through the end of the season, and while he began to falter a bit in the playoffs, he was still one of the best back up point guards in the NBA over the course of the season.</span></p>
<h3><b>Strengths</b></h3>
<p><span>First, let's get the obvious out of the way: Darren Collison is fast. I mean he's really fast. He's got sprinter-genes, so it makes sense, but not everyone who's fast knows how to use that speed. Collison has incredible timing; he knows exactly when he should burst to the goal, so that he can finish his layups before guys like Serge Ibaka even have a chance to swat the ball into the stands. If he's a single step too slow or waits a moment too long, he hasn't got a chance against monsters like Serge Ibaka or Anthony Davis or Jermaine O'Neal (hah get it?). </span><span>In the same way, he also uses this speed on defense to be one of the peskiest perimeter defenders in the league. His quickness allows him to gamble and recover quickly, which is a necessity for a player that lacks size.</span></p>
<p>Collison's shot is severely underrated as well. You might not have realized, but he was the 2nd best three point shooter of Clippers that shot more than 100 threes, and 3rd best if you include Hedo and his 50 attempts (which was kind of flukey, if we're being honest). <br><br> My favorite thing about Darren Collison, though, is that he's just ridiculously adaptable. I noted previously that he'd started out pretty rough this year, but then he started figuring things out in December/January. Well, I put together a graph of his <span>per-minute numbers (points and assists, per 36 minutes), over the course of the year:</span></p>
<p><span></span> <a href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4573435/DarrenMonthbyMonth.JPG" target="_blank"><img alt="Darrenmonthbymonth_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4573435/DarrenMonthbyMonth_medium.JPG"></a> <br id="1402035681840"></p>
<p><span></span><span>As you can see, after a little over a month, Collison started scoring very well off the bench, as he learned his role on the team. Then in January, Chris Paul got hurt, and Collison had to become both a scorer and distributor, which he was able to do quite well. When Paul game back in February and Collison returned to his bench role, he had a brief dip in scoring, but he immediately bounced back in March and April, quickly returning to his role as a bench scorer. </span></p>
<p><span>Collison did everything the Clippers needed from him, and he did it when they needed him to do it. Well, for the most part, which brings us to his weaknesses.</span></p>
<h3><b>Weaknesses</b></h3>
<p><span>Collison's main weakness, which we already knew of going into the season, has always been his lack of size and strength on the defensive end. For a small player, he's actually got no trouble scoring over the giants of the NBA, but defensively he's good for one thing: the aforementioned peskiness on the perimeter and in the lane. Sure, he can gamble and still recover, he gambles a bit too much for my taste. </span><span>When he keeps guards outside of the arc, he's perfectly fine defensively, but the rest of the time, he's a sieve.</span></p>
<p>Also, as mentioned earlier, in 13 playoff games this year, Collison didn't really "step up" in the playoffs. In fact, he actually managed to under-perform in most categories during these key games. Some can be blamed on lowered minutes (he was playing under 20 minutes per game in the playoffs), but it was clear that the Clippers' scoring point guard off the bench wasn't really scoring very well. His efficiency was way down, especially from behind the arc, where he ended up shooting only 1 for 12 (8.3%) during the playoffs (as compared to 37.6% from deep on the season). Of course, players like Collison that thrive on chaos and open courts tend to struggle a bit more in the playoffs when things slow down, so it wasn't totally unexpected.</p>
<h3><b>Future with the Clippers</b></h3>
<p><span>On the whole, it's clear Darren Collison's weaknesses were outweighed by his strengths, so one would hope that the Clippers would be able to bring him back for the 2014-2015 season. Not surprisingly, though, Darren decided to decline his player option on the second year of his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer, where he will likely earn himself a nice payday thanks to his great play this year. Having never earned more than $2.3M in a year, this young player is clearly deserving of more. Maybe he's not quite a starter, but Collison's got the skill to be a 6th or 7th man off a strong team's bench. </span></p>
<p>If, and it's a big "if," Collison were to come back to the Clippers, they'd likely have to spend their Mid-Level Exception next year to do it, which could be a little steep for a team that still needs to strengthen its frontcourt. It'll really be up to this front office, which has some tough choices to make this summer when deciding which areas need the most attention. But I trust Doc to make the right decisions... or at least to make up for the wrong ones before the trade deadline.</p>
<p>Truly, Darren Collison was one heck of a player this past year, and the Clippers would be lucky to have him back. The Nation will always appreciate what he (and his cardboard doppelganger) did for this team.</p>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2014/6/5/5519746/2013-2014-clippers-exit-interviews-darren-collisonErik Olsgaard2014-06-02T02:45:22-07:002014-06-02T02:45:22-07:002013-2014 Clippers Exit Interviews: Jamal Crawford
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VmhC6djgdwY8jHUm2m_iXhKEQsQ=/0x189:4000x2856/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33795413/20140503_rnb_al2_133.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As we try to do every season here at Clips Nation, we're running a series of "exit interviews" of this year's Los Angeles Clippers. An overview and analysis, player by player, of all 14 Clippers who finished the 2013-2014 season on the roster. In this edition: 6th man of the year Jamal Crawford.</p> <h3>Vitals</h3>
<p><b>Name</b>: <span>Jamal Crawford</span><br><b>2013-2014 Key Stats</b>: 18.6 PPG, 3.2 APG, 2.3 RPG, 41.6% FG, 36.1% 3PT, 86.6% FT<br><b>Age</b>: 34<br><b>Years in the NBA</b>: 14<br><b>Years with the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a></b>: 2<br><b>2013-2014 Salary</b>: $5,225,000<br><b>Contract Status</b>: Two years remaining; $5,450,000 in 2014-2015, $5,675,000 in 2015-2016. $1,500,000 guaranteed each year.</p>
<h3>In a Nutshell</h3>
<p>Jamal Crawford is a very good basketball player. At the outset of the year, one of the bigger question marks about how the addition of superb coach <span>Doc Rivers</span> would affect such a freeflowing player like Crawford after he thrived playing under the comparatively simple <span>Vinny Del Negro</span>. Some further questions about Crawford's role came up when the team finally added a true shooting guard to take the starting 2 position in sharpshooter J.J. Redick. Any concerns were answered quickly, as Crawford had one of the best offensive seasons of his career and was a constant lifeline to a Clipper backcourt that was decimated by injury all season. Crawford broke his own Clipper record set last year for three pointers made in a season. He scored 22.0 PPG Per 36 Minutes, the highest of his career. He continued to be the scorer we all know and love (and sometimes hate) while leaving a bit to be desired on the defensive end. All in all, Jamal had a very good year for the kind of player he's been his entire career, and he very much deserved his 6th man of the year recognition.</p>
<h3>Strengths</h3>
<p>Crawford can flat out score. The bench this year never quite felt solidified and went through many stages with many different pieces, but when Crawford came off of it, he gave a very reliable scoring punch. Crawford scored 18.6 PPG, his most as a sub, and shot the ball more times on average than he ever has as a sub. Some of those stats though are buoyed by the substantial time Crawford spent as a fill-in starter, as he played 24 games as a starter and scored 21.1 PPG during that stretch. Despite a bit of a shooting drop as a starter, Crawford spent a good deal of those 24 games as the second option behind a blossoming <span>Blake Griffin</span>, and was absolutely crucial in keeping the team not only above water but playing exceptionally well with <span>Chris Paul</span> injured. Crawford did whatever the team asked him to do to the best of his ability and has seemed like a consummate professional ever since he's been in Los Angeles.</p>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3><b>Weaknesses</b></h3>
<p>While Crawford did do whatever the team asked him to do, there were things he sometimes couldn't do that the team struggled working around. Crawford has never been known as a great defender.. I remember reading a joke on Twitter that the only time Crawford got into a defensive stance was after attempting to will a three into the basket after releasing it. It's not quite that bad, and as has been said before, Crawford's defense probably gets bashed more than it should, but with <span>J.J. Redick's</span> arrival, there seemed to be a healthy alternative on the bench that would provide some solid team defense without killing the offense (unless Redick was cold that night, which happened). It was a bit of a juggling act between Crawford and Redick this season, but Redick's defensive instincts often seemed on point when he wasn't recovering from his myriad of injuries. Aside from the defense, Crawford's offense could become a point of concern as well. While his one-on-one antics are dazzling, they would sometimes ice the rest of the team and Crawford too frequently would be caught taking very difficult shots that he could make but wasn't necessarily the way to go on a team loaded with offensive options. Few Clipper fans will forget the iso ball played to end game 5, and some of that fell on Crawford's shoulders. While Crawford made possibly the biggest shot of the postseason with game 4's go ahead three, no miss feels quite as painful as Crawford's missed layup with the Clippers up 4 in the final minute in game 5. (Made more painful by the events that followed) But you live by Craw, you die by Craw. Just months earlier Crawford hit a myriad of tough shots in Oklahoma City to bury the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Thunder</a>.</p>
<h3><b>Future with the Clippers</b></h3>
<p>Many Clipper fans started the season thinking of Crawford as an interesting trade asset in a position of strength. After a banner year, many fans have appreciated Crawford more, but in reality things haven't changed so much, and the positions of weakness seem even more glaring. With news of <span>Darren Collison</span> opting out, Crawford becomes a bit more valuable due to his ball-handling, but that could change with a very deep point guard pool leaving some potential quality point guards around to pick up those minutes to relieve Paul and possibly even continue playing alongside Paul at times like Doc liked doing with Collison. Crawford has a very affordable contract and provides an offensive punch most teams would love to have. His value after winning 6th man of the year is as high as it can get at this point. Crawford may be even more valuable in 2015-2016 as an expiring contract but he'll get calls for what he brings to the table today, too. Crawford is guaranteed only 1.5 million dollars per season for the next 2 years, but the idea of waiving him while he's so productive would be a stretch, and assuming he maintains a similar level of play, I can't see the team doing it in 2015-2016, either. Many fans have become very attached to Crawford, whether it be for his brilliance on the court or because you've seen his "Before the Bigs" one time too many.. But it's not beyond imagination to look hard into what he can get, particularly in the realm of a quality starting SF. It's of course possible that no deal manifests again and Crawford stays a Clipper, and that's fine. Because the guy is a very good basketball player. And I'd love for him to keep helping the Clips reach new heights.</p>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2014/6/2/5771510/2013-2014-clippers-exit-interviews-jamal-crawfordShapan Debnath2014-05-29T12:34:47-07:002014-05-29T12:34:47-07:002013-2014 Clippers Exit Interviews: Jared Dudley
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Aj70gHEobdF8TvOMfth2YU3As_U=/0x480:2667x2258/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33662861/20131212_hcs_sy4_004.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As we try to do every season here at Clips Nation, we're running a series of "exit interviews" of this year's Los Angeles Clippers. An overview and analysis, player by player, of all 14 Clippers who finished the 2013-2014 season on the roster. In this edition: acquired wing Jared Dudley.</p> <h3><b>Vitals</b></h3>
<p><b>Name: </b>Jared Dudley<br><b>2013-2014 Key Stats: </b>6.9 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 43.8% FG, 36.0% 3PT, 65.5% FT<br><b>Age: </b>28<br><b>Years in the NBA: </b>7<br><b>Years with the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>: </b>1<br><b>2013-2014 Salary: </b>$5,225,000<br><b>Contract Status: </b>Two years remaining; $4,250,000 in 2014-2015, player option ($4,250,000) in 2015-2016</p>
<h3><b>In a Nutshell</b></h3>
<p>The first, and maybe only, year of the Jared Dudley saga in Los Angeles seemed like it would never end. After acquiring him from the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phoenix Suns</a> in a three-team trade that saw the Clippers part with <span>Eric Bledsoe</span> and <span>Caron Butler</span>, Jared Dudley seemed like he'd be an integral part of this team going forward. It's not every day you're able to land a small forward whose shooting profile is as vast and prolific as <span>Jared Dudley's</span>. Through his first six seasons in the NBA, Dudley shot 40.5% from beyond the arc. So there was upside there.</p>
<p>While battling a tough case of tendinitis in his right knee, Jared Dudley started the first 42 games of the season for the Los Angeles Clippers. During those 42 games, Jared Dudley averaged 8.7 points per game on 45% shooting overall and 37.9% shooting from three-point land. He also posted a True Shooting Percentage of 55.8% and an Effective Field Goal Percentage of 54.8%. So, he did provide some value as far as his shooting was concerned. At least early on.</p>
<p>However, <span>Matt Barnes</span> soon got into the starting lineup and Jared Dudley's run as a starter for the Los Angeles Clippers was over. He would miss a few games throughout the rest of the regular season as <span>Doc Rivers</span> merely didn't find minutes for him or would let him rest his knees. Over the final 40 games of the season for the team, Jared Dudley only played in 32 of them and saw his minutes decrease from 28.6 per game down to 16.5 per game. He did start one game in that stretch, though. And he did perform well by putting up 16 points on 6 of 10 shooting in a win over the <a href="https://www.canishoopus.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Timberwolves</a> in Minnesota. During the second part of the year, though, he only averaged 4.5 points per game on 41.0% shooting overall and 31.3% shooting from deep. His True Shooting Percentage and Effective Field Goal Percentage also dipped down to 50.1% and 48.5%, respectively.</p>
<p>In the playoffs, Dudley's minutes fell off even further as Doc Rivers ultimately shortened the bench rotation. He only played in seven playoff games, averaging 6.4 minutes per game, and never looked great. It was tough to tell if his knees were bothering him or if his confidence was just completely shot. He did have a few moments, though, which included him defending <span>Kevin Durant</span> moderately well and even sinking a couple threes here and there. Overall, Dudley went 3 of 11 from the field in the playoffs with all his makes coming from deep. There really was just not much use for Jared Dudley in the playoffs, if we're being honest about it.</p>
<h3><b>Strengths</b></h3>
<p>While it would probably be easier to just say his only strength is his shooting and just leaving it there, that wouldn't be doing justice to Jared Dudley as a player. And while his shooting did drop off quite a bit this season, from his career marks of 47.3% overall and 40.5% from three, it is worth nothing that he was still a valuable shooter this year for the team. Dudley converted on 43.2% of his corner threes this season and on 50% of his 16-to-24 foot two-point jumpers. If you're counting just those two areas -- corner threes and those deep mid-range jumpers -- then Jared Dudley shot 98-of-208 (47.1%), with an Effective Field Goal Percentage of 56.3%, and showed his considerable worth.</p>
<p>One of the other noticeable strengths of Jared Dudley is his team defense and, yes, even his individual defense to some degree. Dudley isn't the quickest or most athletic guy, as I'm sure we all know, but he does his part on defense more often than not. He has some hiccups from time to time but generally does a solid of job of walling his man off on drives and forcing them into a semi-contested or even harshly contested jumper over his outstretched arms. What he lacks in quickness, he makes up for with surprisingly solid footwork and a chest that is able to absorb contact and push offensive players back.</p>
<p>As far as his team defense goes, Dudley's ability to wall guys off also allows him to funnel a ball-handler away from the baseline and back towards the middle of the floor where the shot-blocker is waiting. It's a real subtle thing that he does at times and can be useful, especially on a team that has a guy like <span>DeAndre Jordan</span> back there manning the paint. That doesn't mean he's a great defender but there are a multitude of little things that he does that can bother players throughout a game.</p>
<p>Lastly, he's a team guy and unselfish. Dudley really did sacrifice shots on this team, whether people choose to see it or not. That's why with every miss he had, it was almost like a punch to the gut. Among Clippers players who saw more than 20 minutes per game this season, Dudley had the lowest average of touches per game at 28.2. When filtering it out for Front Court Touches, Dudley's 21.2 was the second lowest mark among players who played more than 20 minutes per game. The only player lower was DeAndre Jordan (19.0). So, Dudley didn't see the ball nearly as much as he did in Phoenix and didn't shoot it as much but he never really complained. He was almost like <span>Willie Green</span> in that way.</p>
<h3><b>Weaknesses</b></h3>
<p>As I mentioned with his strengths, Jared Dudley was great from two areas on the floor, corner threes and deep mid-range jumpers. However, he was utterly atrocious from everywhere else. He only shot 98-of-239 (41%) from everywhere else. And while a guy shooting 41% overall and having a 50% Effective Field Goal Percentage isn't terrible, it isn't great when you factor in that 136 of them were Above The Break three-point attempts and he made a paltry 31.7% of them. This is something that is cause for concern since he did shoot 38.5% on those same three-point attempts last season.</p>
<p>Another weakness of Dudley's is that despite his sometimes solid to good team defense and individual defense, he can get beaten pretty easily by guys who are far more athletic or paying more attention than him. Quite a bit, Jared Dudley would try to anticipate a pass to the short corner and then get beaten on a backdoor cut because he'd play it way too aggressive on the denial rather than sitting back and playing good fundamental defense. He wasn't the only one it happened to but it was extremely noticeable with him. Also, if you can out-athlete Dudley, which isn't too hard, you can get by him easily sometimes if he isn't able to get his chest into you. It led to some rotational help and open shots elsewhere on the court.</p>
<p>Rebounding is another issue for him. His Total Rebounding Rate has dipped every year, except for one, in his NBA career. It started out at 11.9% and then has gradually gone to 10.5%, 8.0%, 8.6%, 8.4%, 6.4%, and then all the way down to 5.1% this season. Some is due to the fact that in his first two years in the league, he saw some time at power forward. And some is due to him just not being that good of a rebounder anymore. Dudley, on quite a few occasions, loses track of his assignment and his guy will sneak in for rebounds or tip it out to a teammate. Dudley just isn't aggressive going for rebounds anymore and there is a concern there, and overall, that will be addressed in a minute. To get more playing time, Dudley needs to fix this problem on the glass. He needs the fire to compete and help the team in that department.</p>
<p>And, finally, passing is another big weakness from Jared Dudley. Some slack should probably be given to Dudley in this area since he's just primarily a shooter or 3-and-D guy but passing is kind of a big deal on this team since ball rotation is key. On several instances this season, Dudley would head fake his man in order to get the defender to fly by, which he would, and then drive into the lane. Instead of pulling up for a little floater, or even a mid-range jumper, Dudley would try to feed the ball down low on a bounce pass to one of the bigs. And, a lot of those times, the ball would get deflected by a hand or just go out of bounds. Dudley doesn't need to be a great passer but being a competent passer would be great. You have to know your personnel and teammates. Sometimes it didn't look like Jared Dudley did.</p>
<h3><b>Future with the Clippers</b></h3>
<p>There aren't many options to the Jared Dudley saga as far as his future goes. Option A is obviously just having Jared Dudley around for next season and seeing what happens. Who knows, he might even come out of training camp as the starting small forward again and be given a second chance by Doc Rivers to show the team and the fans what he has. As noted way above, he does hold some perceived value as a small forward than can knockdown shots and stretch defenses. Everyone knows that. But he has to show it on a consistent basis.</p>
<p>Option B, which is pretty much the only other option here, is the Clippers try to package Dudley in a deal to get a better player at the position or get a backup elsewhere. There are still going to be backup spots that need to be filled in the backcourt and front line so dealing a player like Dudley, combined with another player, might be enough to land a piece that's needed. Dudley's contract is solid enough, as far as length and money is concerned, that a team acquiring him won't feel bogged down by it. It's also just enough money on a per year basis to get a solid player through a sign-and-trade if you do indeed package Dudley with another player. So, trading him could happen if there's a buyer (or taker) out there.</p>
<p>The Clippers could go either one of those two ways. Personally, I think Jared Dudley is back next season. I don't think teams are clamoring to trade for him and I don't think Doc Rivers would want to give up on him just quite yet. There was obviously a reason that Doc Rivers, and company, traded for Jared Dudley and we saw glimpses of that early on in the season. If Dudley is able to come back next season and is not handicapped by anything else, then there's no reason to assume that he can't play like he did throughout the first 42 games of this past season.</p>
<p>This is where the concern will be addressed. There's no telling how much of this past season for Jared Dudley was the byproduct of dealing with knee tendinitis. While he did say that he was all better as the year went along, it's impossible to determine how much the aftereffects hampered him. We honestly have zero idea. That's the problem when looking back on Jared Dudley's inaugural season with the Los Angeles Clippers. Next season, with a full offseason at his disposal and knowing he'd have some continuity with the players and team, could and should be vastly different for him. Only time, and health, will tell.</p>
<h3>GIF of the Year</h3>
<p><img src="http://giant.gfycat.com/ClearcutIncomparableBichonfrise.gif"><br>Jared Dudley's three in OT versus Minnesota.</p>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2014/5/29/5761812/2013-2014-clippers-exit-interviews-jared-dudleyJustin Russo2014-05-27T11:59:13-07:002014-05-27T11:59:13-07:002013-2014 Clippers Exit Interviews: Reggie Bullock
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NuTZMdF9QQCCbBUFdwhpV4DccO4=/170x70:2499x1623/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33564429/20131215_kkt_ar7_757.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Richard-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As we try to do every season here at Clips Nation, we're running a series of "exit interviews" of this year's Los Angeles Clippers. An overview and analysis, player by player, of all 14 Clippers who finished the 2013-2014 season on the roster. In this edition: rookie Reggie Bullock.</p> <p><b>Name: <span>Reggie Bullock</span></b></p>
<p>2013-2014 Key Stats: 2.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .301 3p%</p>
<p>Age: 23</p>
<p>Years in the NBA: 1</p>
<p>Years with the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>: 1</p>
<p>2013-2014 Salary: $1,149,000</p>
<p>Contract Status: Signed next season, the Clippers hold team options for 2015-16 and 2016-17.</p>
<p><b>In a Nutshell</b></p>
<p>Of the 11 players who began and ended the season on the Clippers roster, none played fewer minutes than rookie Reggie Bullock. The 25th pick in the 2013 draft, coming onto a deep team that was hoping and planning to compete for a championship, there was never going to be much of a role for Bullock. Nor did it help that <span>Matt Barnes</span> and <span><span>Jared Dudley</span></span><span> </span><span>were ahead of him on the depth chart at small forward. Not that Barnes or Dudley were were superstars -- but they were veterans whom the Clippers just happened to have spent some resources to acquire in the off-season (Barnes signing a new contract with most of the team's mid level exception and Dudley arriving in the <span>Eric Bledsoe</span> trade). Bottom line -- <span>Doc Rivers</span> had lots of incentive to play Barnes and Dudley, which dovetailed nicely with a plan to bring Bullock along slowly.</span></p>
<p>So there wasn't much of a role for Bullock this season. Early in the season when Barnes was injured and Dudley was limited by tendinitis, Bullock got his most sustained action, logging double figure minutes in nine consecutive games from late November to early December. He scored a season high 14 points in 26 minutes against Cleveland in mid-March. In short, he showed plenty of promise in the limited opportunities he received, but those opportunities became fewer and fewer as the team got healthy and added other vets capable of player the three (like <span>Hedo Turkoglu</span> and <span>Danny Granger</span>).</p>
<p>But those opportunities should increase next season and beyond. The Clippers, for all their up-and-coming buzz and Lob City athleticism, are actually getting a little long in the tooth at various spots in the roster. Barnes is 34 years old. Dudley is 28 going on 29 (going on 52 based on how he looked this season). At 23, Bullock is the youngest Clipper under contract. Barnes' contract is only partially guaranteed two seasons from now (when he'll be 35) and neither Barnes nor Dudley is under contract after 2016, when Bullock will be 25 and entering his fourth season in the league. In a perfect world, Bullock becomes a rotation player next season, and moves into the starting lineup shortly after that. That would be the plan anyway. We'll see.</p>
<p><b>Strengths</b></p>
<p><b></b>The Clippers were looking for a 3-and-D specialist when the drafted Bullock out of the University of North Carolina -- a small forward who could be a plus defender on the wing and a deadly three point shooter to spread the floor for <span>Chris Paul</span> and <span>Blake Griffin</span>. Bullock showed signs that he could fulfill the promise that the team saw there -- but the jury is very much still out as to whether he'll get there.</p>
<p>I am of the opinion that he will be a very good three point shooter in the NBA. He made 22 of 73 three pointers his rookie season, which is a sub-par .301 conversion rate. However, he began the season just 4-23 before suffering through a 2-18 slump to end the season -- in between he made half of his 32 threes. Obviously those are some VERY selective endpoints, but it also happens to include the period during which he was getting some consistent minutes -- how a player shoots coming into a game for 90 seconds of garbage time is hardly a fair representation. But even ignoring his hot three point shooting in the middle of the season, the guy looks like a shooter. His release is effortless and lightning quick. Nor does he lack for confidence -- at 6.7 three point attempts per 36 minutes, Bullock took threes at the same clip as <span>J.J. Redick</span> this season. The guy is very very capable of making a lot of three pointers.</p>
<p>As for defense, he has the length on lateral quickness to be a solid wing defender. At times this season he looked good on defense -- and at times he looked very, very bad. NBA defense is as much in the head as in the legs, and there's no substitute for experience in becoming a better defender. Nor is there any guarantee. He has the tools to be a good defender, which is one of the reasons the Clippers were so happy to draft him -- but he'll have to work hard and learn quickly to get there.</p>
<p><b>Weaknesses</b></p>
<p>Coming into the league, Bullock's ability to handle the ball was a question mark and it continues to be a problem for him. Ideally NBA small forwards are capable of making plays for themselves and their teammates (an area where all of the Clipper wings are lacking) and Bullock appears to be very limited in that regard. Plenty of NBA wings have had great careers as catch-and-shoot three point specialists -- Bullock will be able to do that. Whether he can do more than that remains to be seen.</p>
<p>There's not much of a sample size to know about his rebounding right now. His per 36 minute average of 4.9 rebounds isn't terrible for a small forward -- but it's not very good either. (It is a lot better however than Dudley.) The Clippers were frequently killed on the boards last season, despite having the best rebounder in the league at center and an excellent rebounder at power forward. The wings have been problematic on several levels for the Clippers the past few seasons, but rebounding is definitely one of the areas where the wings need to help a LOT more. Can Bullock eventually help to fill that need?</p>
<p>Beyond that, we don't know a lot. Bullock lacks experience -- and the only way to gain experience is to play meaningful minutes.</p>
<p><b>Future with the Clippers</b></p>
<p>There are three undeniable facts about Reggie Bullock -- he's young, he's signed and he's inexpensive. The Clippers have him for three more seasons for the paltry sum of $4.7M (and the final two years of that are at the team's option). Every good team needs guys contributing on inexpensive contracts, since the salary cap precludes filling the roster with eight figure guys.</p>
<p>Is he the starting small forward of the future for the team? We don't know yet. He could be. Then again, could a team with Reggie Bullock as the fifth best starter be a championship contender? It depends on where Bullock ends up as a player. I'm confident that he can handle the "3" part of his targeted 3-and-D role. Whether he can ever fulfill the "D" side of the equation remains to be seen.</p>
<p>By the end of this season, Dudley had fallen completely out of the rotation in LA. The Clippers would dearly love to move the remaining two seasons of Dudley's contract, though that will be easier said than done. At any rate, if Doc Rivers has to choose between playing Dudley or Bullock next season, he'll pick Bullock -- at least until such time as Bullock shows him he can't handle the job. For now Barnes remains the starter, but at 34 the Clippers clearly need a different solution before much longer. Danny Granger has a player option for next season -- but it's almost certain that he'll opt out and look for a bigger payday than the Clippers can afford to offer him. Small forward remains a problem area for the team and they'll try to shore it up this off-season, but the options are limited. Bullock could find himself penciled into the second slot on the depth chart -- and the Clippers are still hoping that he can grow into that starter's role eventually.</p>
<p>There are only four players currently on the Clippers roster whose contracts run beyond 2016 -- Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and Bullock. The first three are clearly part of the core that Doc Rivers has put together to compete for a championship. If the Clippers are lucky, Bullock is as well.</p>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2014/5/27/5754924/2013-2014-clippers-exit-interviews-reggie-bullockSteve Perrin2014-05-26T11:32:10-07:002014-05-26T11:32:10-07:002013-2014 Clippers Exit Interviews: Danny Granger
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eLVll002GwWUUYU1ehFup1W3RlU=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33523901/20140326_mjm_ah6_130.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As we try to do every season here at Clips Nation, we're running a series of "exit interviews" of this year's Los Angeles Clippers. An overview and analysis, player by player, of all 14 Clippers who finished the 2013-2014 season on the roster. In this edition: reserve veteran forward Danny Granger.</p> <p><b>Name: </b><span>Danny Granger</span></p>
<p>2013-2014 Key Stats (in 12 regular season games with LAC): 8.0ppg (17.8 per 36), 2.3rpg (5.2 per 36), 42.9% FG, 35.3% 3PT</p>
<p>Years in the NBA: 9</p>
<p>Years with the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>: 1</p>
<p>2013-2014 Salary: Pro-rated minimum</p>
<p>Contract Status: Veteran's minimum player option for next season</p>
<p><b>In a nutshell</b></p>
<p>Granger was one of quite a few mid-season forwards that the Clippers picked up in the bargain bin this season in an attempt to solidify a fairly weak back-up frontcourt. Behind the starters of <span>Matt Barnes</span>, <span>Blake Griffin</span>, and <span>DeAndre Jordan</span>, <span>Doc Rivers</span> was forced to trot out some combination of Granger, Jared Dudley, <span>Reggie Bullock</span>, <span>Glen Davis</span>, <span>Hedo Turkoglu</span>, <span>Stephen Jackson</span>, <span>Ryan Hollins</span>, <span>Byron Mullens</span>, and <span>Antawn Jamison</span> (am I missing anyone? There sure were a lot this year).</p>
<p>If Jared Dudley had performed up to expectations this season (39.7% 3PT career, 36.0% in 2013-2014), there wouldn't have been as much need for Granger, but it still seems that it would have been worthwhile to add him as a stretch power forward.</p>
<p>As far as the sub-par reserves went, Granger, along with Davis and Turkoglu, ended up winning spots in the rotation at the end of the season and going into the playoffs. While Granger performed relatively well in 12 regular season games (stats above), he dipped heavily in the playoffs, going on a horrible stretch where in 13 games he scored 9 points per 36 on 27.5% FG and 22.7% from deep. That's 2013 <span>Chauncey Billups</span> territory.</p>
<p>The big question for the Clippers, Granger, and the league, is which one will show up next season? Will he be a former all-star who adapted into a valuable role player, or a washed-up shell of himself who only gets contracts because of his reputation? The fact that he was still capable of producing in some games indicates that a full off-season of training could prepare him to have a solid 2015 campaign if he can stay healthy, but certainly his drop-off in the playoffs will temper any expectations from potential suitors.</p>
<p><b>Strengths</b></p>
<p>Granger is an ideal 3, at 6'8", 225 lbs. That size gives the Clippers length on the wing as well as the versatility of using him as a small-ball 4. In the Clippers' game 4 comeback against Oklahoma City, Doc Rivers played Granger over DeAndre Jordan down the stretch, forcing the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Thunder</a> to defend Granger at the three-point line and give Blake Griffin more space to work inside. This type of spacing is exactly why "stretch 4s" are so coveted in the modern NBA.</p>
<p>Granger also showed a nice mid-post game against smaller defenders, displaying an ability to either face up or spin off opponents at about 12-15 feet.</p>
<p><b>Weaknesses</b></p>
<p>It's clear that Granger's major issue is health. He missed all but 5 games in 2012-2013, and played only 41 this past season. Injuries happen, and teams would be willing to overlook this recent stretch when pursuing free agents, were it not for his sharp decrease in production as a result of his injuries.</p>
<p>Taking out his rookie season, Granger scored over 1000 points every season from the 06-07 season through 2012. He also shot 38.7% from deep over that stretch. In the two seasons since, he's scored a combined 365 points and shot 32.6% from three. It makes sense to throw out the 2013 season, where he only appeared in 5 games and was hurt, but in 41 games this year he scored 14.4 points per 36, which was his lowest rate of scoring since his rookie season (again, excluding the 2013 campaign).</p>
<p>The clear physical decline was enough to make Indiana bail on Granger at the trade deadline. It's unclear if that was a good move on the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pacers</a>' part, but it certainly demonstrates how drastically his value has decreased around the league.</p>
<p><b>Future With the Clippers</b></p>
<p>Granger has a player option for the veteran's minimum of about $1.3 million next season. While his value is certainly unclear at this time, it stands to reason that no matter what, he'll be able to get the minimum from most teams. It makes sense for Granger to opt out, and then if he wants to stay with the team, attempt to return to the Clippers under either the BAE or on a minimum deal.</p>
<p>The fluidity of the backup frontcourt is still there heading into the off-season, with uncertainty around <span>Jared Dudley's</span> ability to have a bounce-back year and no names under contract at the backup PF and C positions (with the exception of Glen Davis' minimum player option). Some in the media expect the Clippers to try and make a push for an upgraded starting SF, which changes the picture, but it still seems like in most scenarios Granger would have a spot on the Clippers should he choose to return.</p>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2014/5/26/5752318/2013-2014-clippers-exit-interviews-danny-grangerLucas Hann2014-05-23T12:00:07-07:002014-05-23T12:00:07-07:002013-2014 Clippers Exit Interviews: Willie Green
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uc58wLgig7skMlWh494rMFGq64w=/0x180:2783x2035/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33394523/155313477.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As we try to do every season here at Clips Nation, we're running a series of "exit interviews" of this year's Los Angeles Clippers. An overview and analysis, player by player, of all 14 Clippers who finished the 2013-2014 season on the roster. In this edition: sensational sub, Willie Green.</p> <h3><b>Vitals</b></h3>
<p><b>Name: </b>Willie J. Green<br><b>2013-2014 Key Stats: </b>5.0 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 0.9 APG, 37.6% FG, 33.9% 3PT, 82.4% FT<br><b>Age: </b>32<br><b>Years in the NBA: </b>11<br><b>Years with the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>: </b>2<br><b>2013-2014 Salary: </b>$<span>1,399,507<br></span><span><b>Contract Status: </b>Non-guaranteed in 2014-2015; </span><span>$1,448,490 if picked up</span></p>
<p> </p>
<h3><span>In a Nutshell</span></h3>
<p>When you think of a player that embodies the "consummate professional" or "perfect teammate" ideal, Willie Green is one of the first people that pops up in your mind. Whether the coaching staff asks him to start a game or just sit on the bench without any hope of stepping onto the floor, Willie Green does it without ever once providing any resistance. After starting 60 games last season, Green only started 9 this season but never once complained. He understood his job and his role.</p>
<p>Willie Green didn't play much during the first 15 or so games of the season but when <span>J.J. Redick</span> went down, <span>Doc Rivers</span> turned to him in order to find an answer. During that 21 game stretch without Redick, Willie Green started seven games and did decently but not what he did last year. His shooting had waned off and his production wasn't as solid as you'd have hoped for. But he was always out there competing and doing his best for the team.</p>
<p>When J.J. Redick went down again later in the season, and <span>Jamal Crawford</span> missed time due to his own injuries, Willie Green was once again called upon to help. And, once again, he did his best to help the team through a tough time when they were without two of their top four scoring options. Once Redick and Crawford came back, Willie gradually faded back into bench obscurity but that was okay with him. He had done what was asked of him.</p>
<p>Willie Green isn't going to give you great production but he's going to give you effort. In today's NBA, any bench player who goes out there and competes while keeping their mouth shut and doing their best to help the team is a guy you want on your squad. It doesn't hurt that Willie Green and <span>Chris Paul</span> are also good friends. Much like last year, playing time was hard to come by for Willie since he had to not only share minutes with Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, and Jamal Crawford but also with <span>Darren Collison</span>, who had a good year of his own. But Willie was always there. Ready when called.</p>
<h3><b>Strengths</b></h3>
<p><span>Willie Green's</span> greatest strength will always be his ability to shoot the ball and do so both coming off of screens or in catch-and-shoot situations. While his shooting did dip down a lot this season, we still saw glimpses of the Willie Green of old. After shooting nearly 43% from deep last season, Green was only able to muster a 34% mark this year. But his shooting is still his calling card.</p>
<p>Teamwork is another strength of Green's. He seems to do all the little things needed to help a team. While he's never been even an above-average rebounder, he still locates his man on the perimeter and boxes him out adequately enough to be noticed and helps his teammates gather rebounds. On top of that, Willie always seems to be moving around the court and trying his best to get open. He runs everything hard. Every curl, every action, he just runs it hard. In a weird way, he's a lot less talented version of J.J. Redick in that regard.</p>
<p>Lastly, his poise. Willie's a veteran in this game and never ever seems to get rattled by anything. For a guy that's quite often glued to the bench and then asked to step in to a big role, Willie never gets fazed. He's always calm, collected, and under control. Part of that is the veteran mentality that whatever happens, well, just happens. But another part of that is Willie himself. He's just a very even keel guy and takes things in stride. Mindset can get you a long way.</p>
<h3><b>Weaknesses</b></h3>
<p>Willie's never been a great rebounder, as mentioned, and never been that good of a passer. He can make some passes here and there but he is what he is. And while he does have some sneaky athleticism out of a guy of his stature and age, Green does get outrebounded because guys just beat him to the ball. You live with this stuff if he's hitting his shots, though.</p>
<p>The other notable downside to Willie Green is his defense. While it's not terrible and definitely is passable at times, he's clearly not good on the defensive side of the floor. Adequate would be a term I'd use to describe it best but he can get lost on defense sometimes and beat on backdoor cuts, as well as getting hung up on a screen and being late to contest his man's jumper.</p>
<h3><b>Future with the Clippers</b></h3>
<p>The upside with Willie Green is quite interesting as far as his future with the team is concerned. If the Clippers go into next season and have an open spot on the squad that could be filled by a guy who won't complain and will do his job when called upon, then Willie Green could definitely still be here. Especially if they need a reserve guard for spot minutes here and there.</p>
<p>Another option is that because his contract is non-guaranteed for next season, Willie Green could just be out of a job if the Clippers decide not to pick up his contract. If they don't pick up his contract then they'd save roughly $1.5 million. So, this could be a viable option that the Clippers use.</p>
<p>And, lastly, the other option with Willie Green's non-guaranteed contract is that it could be a somewhat valuable trade piece to a team looking to just cut salary right away if the Clippers are able to pull off a larger sign-and-trade. A contract worth about $1.5 million might not seem like a big deal but to teams looking to cut costs, it could be a tad helpful.</p>
<p>Willie Green's future with the Clippers is somewhat murky but if he does come back then no one should complain. His valuable traits of professionalism, teamwork, and shooting all come in handy. He's a calming influence both in the locker room and on the court. It'll be interesting to see what happens but no matter what does happen, I thank Willie Green for all he's done and how he's handled himself.</p>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2014/5/23/5743204/2013-2014-clippers-exit-interviews-willie-greenJustin Russo2014-05-22T12:20:21-07:002014-05-22T12:20:21-07:002013-2014 Clippers Exit Interviews: Glen Davis
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/W3up2aoqLiNNn4dFsf0MdxiEeF0=/830x0:3772x1961/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33384239/20140513_mje_aa4_373.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As we try to do every season here at Clips Nation, we're running a series of "exit interviews" of this year's Los Angeles Clippers. An overview and analysis, player by player, of all 14 Clippers who finished the 2013-2014 season on the roster. In this edition: reserve big man, Glen "Big Baby" Davis.</p> <p><b>Name: <span>Glen Davis</span></b></p>
<p>2013-2014 Key Stats: 4.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .481 fg%</p>
<p>Age: 28</p>
<p>Years in the NBA: 7</p>
<p>Years with the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>: 1</p>
<p>2013-2014 Salary: Minimum</p>
<p>Contract Status: Veteran's minimum player option for next season</p>
<p><b>In a Nutshell</b></p>
<p>When the Clippers used their full mid level salary cap exception to re-sign <span>Matt Barnes</span> and bring in backup point guard <span>Darren Collison</span> it made the roster two quality players deep at every perimeter position. But as of that moment, the front court consisted of starters <span>Blake Griffin</span> and <span>DeAndre Jordan</span> and literally nothing else, and all the money was gone. Ignoring the unlikely possibility of a trade, <span>Doc Rivers</span>' only recourse would need to find his front court depth via minimum contracts, the only option left to the team under NBA salary cap rules.</p>
<p>Almost by definition, you're not going to get a great player on a minimum contract. Rivers could offer a players a chance to win and an opportunity to play, but most bigs worth their salt could get those things and a bit more money elsewhere. The Clippers wound up scraping the bottom of the free agency barrel to sign <span>Ryan Hollins</span>, <span>Byron Mullens</span> and <span>Antawn Jamison</span> as their opening day reserve bigs.</p>
<p>Rivers was rolling the dice, particularly on Mullens and Jamison (Hollins was more of known quantity). Maybe the 24 year old Mullens would figure some things out playing on a good team for a new coach. Maybe Jamison -- who joined the ultra-exclusive 20K point club during the season -- had one more year in the tank. Both could shoot face up jumpers, something Rivers desperately wanted from his back up bigs as a complement to Griffin and Jordan. Maybe one of them could be a solid contributor by the postseason.</p>
<p>I suspect Doc had his doubts all along, and of course neither Mullens nor Jamison panned out. But Doc always knew he had another play up his sleeve. He knew his Clippers team was a destination now, and he knew that in the modern NBA, there's a second free agency period in late February when highly paid veterans on lottery teams are bought out of their existing contracts. (In fact, right around the trade deadline Doc told Ralph Lawler "I predicted this would be a high buyout year and it looks like I was right.") The Clippers limped through the first two months of the season with a mishmash of small lineups, short painful stints from the Jamollins triplets, a failed experiment with <span>Stephen Jackson</span> and their fingers crossed that nothing would happen to Griffin or Jordan. Buyout season started a bit early when <span>Hedo Turkoglu</span> joined the team in January, but the Clippers still needed their "third big," the guy they could turn to if Griffin or Jordan had foul trouble or an injury.</p>
<p>Then came word out of Orlando that the <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Magic</a> and Glen "Big Baby" Davis were negotiating a buy out. This was exactly what Doc was waiting for, and given the level of fit with the Clippers and the fact that Baby had played for Doc in Boston, his eventual signing with the Clippers was a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.clipsnation.com/2014/2/20/5431698/glen-davis-clippers-at-the-trade-deadline-what-happens-next">fait accompli</a>. Davis signed with the Clippers on February 24 and played his first game for the team two days later. He was an immediate upgrade over any of the other available options as a backup big that while he wasn't exactly a superstar in Los Angeles, he was still incredibly important. He logged 21 minutes in Game 1 of the first round and 18 minutes in Game 5 of the second round when the Clipper bigs got into foul trouble. The idea that those minutes could have been going to Ryan Hollins or Byron Mullens or Antawn Jamison is more than a little frightening.</p>
<p><b>Strengths</b></p>
<p><b></b>Davis has one of the widest frames in the NBA (more than a little too wide when he first arrived after an unmotivated half season with Orlando) and s virtually impossible to move in the low post. This makes him a very good post defender, where he can body up against any big in the league even if he's giving away several inches in height. He's also a smart defender, positioning himself well in help situations. He's obviously more earth bound than the other Clipper bigs and doesn't provide much in the way of shot blocking, but he certainly takes up plenty of space in the lane and is quite adept at taking charges, which provides a different form of rim protection.</p>
<p>On offense Davis has a very reliable face up jumper out to about 18 feet. In fact, he made over 64 percent of his shots from 10 to 16 feet as a Clipper, an incredible rate in an admittedly very small sample size. In the playoffs he shot 61 percent overall, mostly on those same face up jumpers. Given Griffin's preference for getting to the rim and Jordan's complete lack of range, a big who can hit a jump shot was something Doc Rivers wanted from the day he arrived in LA. Davis is not a stretch four (in any sense of the word -- if you did stretch him he'd be well over seven feet tall) and he doesn't have three point range, but a reliable face up jumper is the next best thing. <span>And although he looks as lacking in athleticism as any player in the league, he's actually much quicker that you might expect for a man his size. Occasionally Baby would break off a spin move on offense that would surprise everyone.</span></p>
<p><b>Weaknesses</b></p>
<p>The modern NBA loves length, but there's a reason that Davis' nickname is not Long Baby. At 6'9 and somewhere well north of 300 pounds with relatively short arms, Davis' moniker is well-earned from his infantile proportions. That lack of length means that he has difficulty challenging shots when guarding centers who have significant height and especially reach advantages over him. He uses his body well to keep opponents from establishing deep position and he's essentially immovable in the post, but there's no substitute for length when challenging shots.</p>
<p>On the offensive end his lack of length makes finishing at the rim difficult as well. He's crafty around the basket and possesses a lot of moves, but he needs them since his shot is always going to get challenged. On a team nicknamed Lob City, Davis does his work below rim level.</p>
<p>Davis has better lateral quickness than you'd expect, but at his size, it's a challenge to defend the pick and roll. Partly because he was late on switches, he was pretty foul prone as a Clipper, picking up 5.6 fouls per 36 minutes in the regular season and almost as many during the playoffs.</p>
<p>Early in his stint with the Clippers his conditioning was terrible and he couldn't play extended minutes without running out of gas. This speaks volumes about his lack of motivation in Orlando, where he'd been playing 30 minutes a night before getting bought out. He worked hard after joining the Clippers and was in significantly better shape by the postseason, but conditioning is obviously a constant battle for Davis.</p>
<p><b>Future with the Clippers</b></p>
<p><i>[Note by Steve Perrin, 05/23/14 10:40 AM PDT ] In an earlier version of this post, it said that Davis is an unrestricted free agent. That is not true. He has a player option for next season at the league minimum, which for a player of his years in the league is $1,227,985. The future for Davis still boils down to a few options -- being underpaid the minimum to stay with the Clippers, making more elsewhere, or possibly getting paid by the Clippers if they choose to dip into all or part of the mid level exception. Complicating all of this is Davis' Orlando buyout. If there is an offset in the agreement (i.e. if any 2014-2015 salary is deducted from what Orlando would owe him) then next season's salary is a moot point (assuming no one is going to pay him more than $6.6M). If that is indeed the case, then it seems pretty likely he would remain with the Clippers. He'd have a good role, the money would be a wash, and he could earn his early Bird rights with the team giving him another option for next off season.</i></p>
<p>During the postseason on the Clippers' team that was perhaps a couple of breaks from the Western Conference Finals, Davis was eighth in minutes played and eighth in points scored. The first six of those players are all signed for next season, making Davis among the biggest (pun intended) roster holes for the Clippers heading into the off season. The team will have the full mid level exception to spend this season, but could choose to spend it in any one of three positions -- for a back up point guard, an upgrade on the wing or a back up big.</p>
<p>Davis will get over $6M from Orlando next season in the final year of his prior contract, so he may be willing to take less money to play in the right situation. He's had his greatest successes as an NBA player under Doc Rivers and the two remain close -- but the Clippers won't be able to offer him more than the minimum without dipping into their MLE, something they'd no doubt like to avoid. Can they do better than Davis for their third big? Probably not without spending the lion's share of the MLE on it. If they can convince Davis to remain with the team at below his market rate, they can spend the MLE to upgrade other roster spots with a solid front court rotation already in place.</p>
<p>Davis would be leaving money on the table to play for the Clippers at the minimum; he wouldn't starve (he wouldn't even have to go on a diet) because of his Orlando contract, but neither players nor agents like to leave money on the table. My guess is he doesn't play for the minimum next season, but the Clippers may yet decide that he's still their best option as a third big and dip into their MLE to keep him. He's a good player, a good fit and a good guy. He was so much better than the options on the roster at the beginning of last season that the idea of having him from the start of next season seems great.</p>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2014/5/22/5738796/2013-2014-clippers-exit-interviews-glen-davisSteve Perrin