Another ex-Clippers player joins the Grizzlies

A former Clippers point guard becomes the latest of many ex-Clippers to join the rival Grizzlies.

There are many reasons a potential Clippers-Grizzlies playoff series will be interesting, but no storyline prevails over a ton of ex-Clippers getting their shot at revenge against their former franchise.

Matt Barnes. Lance Stephenson. Ryan Hollins. And now, point guard Jordan Farmar, who joins the injured Grizzlies on a 10-day contract, first reported by The Vertical’s Shams Charania.

A little over a year ago it was Farmar who was heralded as a decent offseason acquisition by Doc Rivers, a rarity, only for him to later turn out like the rest of Doc’s free agents, failing to succeed in the role given and eventually traded or released. Role played a part in Farmar’s failures — instead of being the dominant on-ball guy, Farmar played off-ball as Jamal Crawford ran the point — but his notable qualities that made him a player in Los Angeles, succeeding as a combo guard who could beat you both off the dribble and from the perimeter, didn’t carry over.

Next came the typical: like Josh Smith, Jared Dudley, Spencer Hawes, and Lance Stephenson before him, when things didn’t work out, Doc Rivers opted for a benching instead of making the proper adjustments to improve the bench, and right before the trade deadline, Farmar was waived to make room for Doc’s son in Austin Rivers, who the Clippers acquired via trade from Boston.

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Since then, Farmar’s named has remained off the radar outside of his return to play basketball in Turkey.

Now with Memphis, Farmar’s role will be to help maintain the team’s current playoff position, fifth, which stands as much of a surprise as the Grizzlies started the season slow and has dealt with an onslaught of injuries to key players of late, including Mike Conley, Marc Gasol (out for season), Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, Mario Chalmers (our for season + released), Brandan Wright, and more.

It’s a bit ironic many of Los Angeles’ cast-offs are ending up in Memphis, the team’s heated rival. Jordan included, these guys, given Memphis’ roster situation, the Clippers could use. Well, if used right, because the reason majority former Clippers are Clippers anymore is because Doc Rivers did a bad job of putting those players in a position to succeed.

Spencer Hawes? More than a spot-up shooter if barely a functional NBA player.

Lance Stephenson? More than a spot-up shooter and a guy who needs breathing room on offense, a factor a coach should be aware of before decide to acquire a talent.

Jared Dudley? Rivers’ use wasn’t necessarily the issue but everything else, problematic.

Farmar? In theory he’s surely a better option than Pablo Prigioni, though not the playmaker the vet is and a figure that could stand in Austin Rivers’ place if given the same opportunity as Rivers has with the bench unit.

Next: Jamal Crawford wants to play five more years, but should he?

Hopefully Farmar doesn’t give the Clippers a show in the playoffs — if he makes it to that point — and be one of several ex-Clippers who play a role in Memphis’ victory over Los Angeles in the opening round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

Because what could be more Clippers than that, right?