Los Angeles Clippers: Post-Draft Roster Update

With the NBA Draft behind us and free agency just three days away, here is a quick update on the Clippers’ roster situation heading into the summer, headlined by DeAndre Jordan‘s unrestricted free agency.

Under Contract

Chris Paul
Blake Griffin
Lance Stephenson
J.J. Redick
C.J. Wilcox

Quick Thoughts: The top two players are here to stay unless one of Anthony Davis, LeBron James or Kevin Durant publicly state they want to be Clippers. The other two, Redick, Stephenson, seem unlikely to be moved unless a “trade package you can’t pass up” stumbles into Doc Rivers‘ lap. Wilcox on the other hand? There’s no guarantee he makes it to the 2015-16 a Clipper. Ideally, the teams 2014 first-round pick could help the team this season with his shooting, semi-athleticism, and pick-and-roll ball-handling but due to depth at the shooting guard position and a lack of depth in the frontcourt (SF, PF, C), the right trade could lead Wilcox out the door after one year with the team who drafted him.

Guaranteed Contract Total – $57,621,101

Non-Guaranteed

Jamal Crawford
Jordan Hamilton
Lester Hudson

Quick Thoughts: The Clippers have to make a decision soon in regards to Crawford’s future on this team — his non-guaranteed deal becomes fully guaranteed after June 30. It’s no secret the team is shopping him to fill out weakened areas and with Lance Stephenson now in the picture, there aren’t enough basketballs allowed on the floor for the two to co-exist (at least I think so).

Guaranteed + NG Deal Total – $65,326,943

Miscellaneous

Carlos Delfino (deal stretched)
Jordan Farmar (deal stretched)
Miroslav Raduljica (deal stretched)

Quick Thoughts: These, ladies and gentlemen, are the lone proof left of Doc Rivers’ mistakes as a GM — Delfino and Raduljica the Jared Dudley trade and Farmar, a failed signing (though many could have predicted Farmar not working out on this team following his signing).

Guaranteed + NG + Misc. – $66,787,865

Not Signed

Branden Dawson

Quick Thoughts: The Clippers’ lone pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, barring something unforeseen, Dawson will sign a deal sometime between now and training camp — maybe before Summer League starts.

Mar 27, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) looks back over his shoulder after scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Clippers won 119-98. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Free Agents

DeAndre Jordan
Austin Rivers
Glen Davis
Hedo Turkoglu
Ekpe Udoh
Dahntay Jones

Quick Thoughts: Most of these players will be gone. For the Clippers sake, one of those players won’t be coveted center DeAndre Jordan, who has a market ready to pounce if he decides to leave LA. And while he may not be at Jordan’s talent level, Austin Rivers’ free agency may be more interesting. Even when considering his playoff outbursts, Rivers isn’t that good a player but Doc Rivers, his dad, wants him back. Will another team be interested in him? If so, could that team stop Doc from overpaying for his son? We’ll see.

Cap Space = $0

Quick Thoughts: It’s very unlikely the Clippers have any cap space available to them at any point in this summer. To get under the cap, they’d have to renounce all free agents and waive all non-guaranteed deals. Doing so would leave an already thin Clippers team bare, with only the full mid-level exception available to improve the team. So basically, that’s not happening.

Exceptions

Taxpayers Mid-Level Exception – $3.376 million

Minimum Player Salary Exception – via Larry Coon’s CBAFAQ, “Teams can offer players minimum salary contracts even if they are over the cap. Contracts can be up to two years in length. For two-year contracts, the second season salary is the minimum salary for that season.”

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