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Clippers miss out on Alonzo Gee for minimum to Pelicans

By Tom West

Mar 26, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Alonzo Gee (15) handles the ball while defended by Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Alonzo Gee (15) handles the ball while defended by Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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A potential small forward target for the Los Angeles Clippers, Alonzo Gee, has been re-signed by the New Orleans Pelicans on a minimum deal.

The time for the Los Angeles Clippers to fill their final roster spot is here. Except for Jeff Green, Pablo Prigioni and Cole Aldrich, many of the same old faces are coming back, accompanied by new signings such as Marreese Speights, Raymond Felton and Brandon Bass. They give the Clippers more depth than we could have expected as free agency began with little expectation for much activity, bolstering the frontcourt (albeit without Aldrich’s interior defense) and landing a reliable veteran point guard in Felton to run the second unit.

All in all, the Clippers have had a fairly successful offseason. Bringing back as many guys as possible was both expected and necessary due to their limited cap space. To finish with a highly productive shooting center like Speights, accompanied by reliable veterans such as Bass and Felton is more than satisfying.

The issue is small forward for the 15th and final roster spot, providing rookie David Michineau is stashed in France.

As free agency dwindles down, options are gradually leaving the market. The latest to disappear from the Clippers’ reach is Alonzo Gee, who will now be returning to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Even more frustrating for Clippers fans who were interested in his services is that Gee only cost the minimum, according to Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops.

At 29 years old, a highly capable defender in a backup role thanks to his solid steal rate (1.4 per 36 minutes) and aggressive on-ball play, Gee would have been a sound pickup for the Clippers. The issue is his minimal offensive game, largely reliant on strong drives to the basket. With a mere 7.2 points per 36 minutes and 28.3 percent shooting from three-point range last season, there isn’t much else to speak of.

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Yet, even still, for his defense, athletic cuts to the basket, energy in transition, and for a minimum contract to avoid a near 40-year-old wouldn’t have been bad by any means. After finishing last season with the second best defensive rating (104.1) for the Pelicans, it’s clear why they’d be willing to bring him back on a cheap deal.

Meanwhile in L.A., Wesley Johnson and Luc Mbah a Moute is it at small forward for the Clippers right now, unless you count the liability that is Paul Pierce as a three. Unfortunately, if he doesn’t retire and is going to be playing somewhere, a painful lack of speed makes him better suited to plodding along at power forward.

Whether the Clippers even had interest in Gee is unknown. At the very least, he’d have been worth considering for that price, despite a lack of three-point shooting making him a less than ideal target, given the defense-first skill set of Mbah a Moute.

Next: Clippers' options for 15th roster spot

Alan Anderson, Chase Budinger, Caron Butler and Gerald Green (a very popular target among Clippers fans) all remain as possibilities.

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