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Clippers Roundtable: Grading every 2015 free agency signing

By Pete D. Camarillo

Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers players pose with jerseys at press conference at Staples Center. From left: Branden Dawson (22), DeAndre Jordan (6), Austin Rivers (25), coach Doc Rivers and Josh Smith (5), Cole Aldrich (45), Paul Pierce (34) and Wesley Johnson (33). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers players pose with jerseys at press conference at Staples Center. From left: Branden Dawson (22), DeAndre Jordan (6), Austin Rivers (25), coach Doc Rivers and Josh Smith (5), Cole Aldrich (45), Paul Pierce (34) and Wesley Johnson (33). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center
Apr 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center /

Re-signing Austin Rivers

Grade: A

Tim Hiley: Why I loved this move: find me a better backup point guard in the league for the bargain price of £3,227,451 per year.

Is he the most consistent player? Not at all, but he epitomizes everything you want your franchise to be about. Don’t believe me, just look at Austin Rivers at the end of that heart-breaking loss in Game 6 as he throws up one last prayer at midcourt to try to extend the season. He had just put a fantastic line despite playing with only one eye open after taking a hard elbow from Al Farouq Aminu, and despite only playing with one eye, he committed zero turnovers. That is just astonishing to me.

He’s a fantastic defender and he has the heart of a lion. For teams in desperate need of a new point guard, he may even challenge for a starting position after the improvements he showed over the end of this season.

He gets a lot of stick from fans because of his dad trading for him, but it is so undeserved in my opinion. Should Austin leave this summer, he could be a starting point guard and a contender for Most Improved Player if he improves his passing and efficiency. He could also find a place on the All-Defense teams with consistent improvement.

I really hope for the Clippers sake, he decides to literally give the Clippers family discount and take up his player option for next year.

Next: Inking Johnson's potential

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