LA Clippers Black Friday Breakdown: Best value on L.A.’s roster
By Tom West
3. Mo’ Buckets for no cost
As our own Nick Junker wrote this week (check out his piece, it’s spot on), the LA Clippers have been trying to find a shooting center for years. Experiments like Byron Mullens, Spencer Hawes and Josh Smith all failed, and Cole Aldrich became the best option last season as a stellar defensive, rebounding, hook-shot-shooting backup.
Now, the Clippers have Marreese Speights. Who, despite being a weakness on defense (in his own defense, he’s been better than expected in the paint alongside the rest of the team so far), has the ability to provide instant offense. It’s his sole job, and along with a respectable 10.8 rebounds per 36 minutes, that’s exactly what he’s given the Clippers so far.
The best part about the Speights signing is how much he costs. Which, for a big man who can space the floor so well, is awfully cheap. Weaknesses aside, the Clippers paying the veteran’s minimum for Speights this summer at no damage to their salary cap is a bargain for how he’s helped so far. At the very least, you’d think a shooting big could fetch a few million in today’s market.
Speights is playing 15.7 minutes per game and his production is what you’d expect when transferred to a per 36-minute basis. 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in this time span has been light work for Speights as he comes in to shoot, hit the odd turnaround jumper from the post, operate in pick-and-pop plays with the backup guards, and simply live up to the Mo’ Buckets name.
Getting buckets is exactly what Speights has done so far, with an 11-point fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls in particular serving as a glowing example of how he can provide some major second unit punch at times. He helped the Clippers pull off their biggest comeback of the season after going down by as much as 19 in the first half, scoring 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter (in which L.A. outscored Chicago 30-18) to help seal the 102-95 win.
In his last game against the Dallas Mavericks, a 124-104 win, Speights tallied 16 points and 12 rebounds in just 22 minuets.
Having a quick impact is what Mo’ Buckets does, and he came with great value for money and fun factor for the cheapest price possible.