Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, LA Clippers restricted free agent guard Tyrone Wallace has agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, LA Clippers restricted free agent Tyrone Wallace has agreed to an offer sheet with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Clippers will be able to match the deal, however, it is unlikely that they do, given the amount of guards — and total players — on the roster.
Wallace made his NBA debut with the LA Clippers this January, after being called up from their G-League affiliate Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario. From the start, Wallace was an impactful player for the shorthanded LA team. Without Patrick Beverley and Milos Teodosic, Wallace was forced into a difficult starting role. His performance early on was a sign of great things to come.
The 24-year-old rookie went on to play in 30 games for the Clippers, including 19 starts, averaging 9.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 28 minutes per game. His best performance came against the Golden State Warriors on January 10. In 34 minutes, Wallace recorded 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals in a win over the defending champions.
As the season came to a close, fans grew more and more fond of Wallace, and rumors of a potential contract deal became increasingly common. However, as the LA Times’ Brad Turner reported in April, Wallace and the organization were unable to strike a deal.
Although Wallace was a great player during his time with the LA Clippers, matching New Orleans’ reported offer simply wouldn’t make sense. The team already has an excess of players on the roster, and most of the weight comes from the guards. As it stands, LA has eight guards signed, four of which are point guards. There’s just no room for Wallace.
For New Orleans, Wallace makes plenty of sense. Guard depth is one area of their roster which could be improved, and given Wallace can play both guard positions, he should slide nicely into their rotation.