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Everything you need to know about each member of the LA Clippers before the season begins

By Garrett Chorpenning

PLAYA VISTA, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Los Angeles Clippers' Danilo Gallinari (8), Lou Williams (23) and Tobias Harris (34) during the team's media day in Playa Vista, CA, on Monday, Sep 24, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Los Angeles Clippers' Danilo Gallinari (8), Lou Williams (23) and Tobias Harris (34) during the team's media day in Playa Vista, CA, on Monday, Sep 24, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 11: Marcin Gortat #13 of the LA Clippers reacts during a pre-season game against the Maccabi Haifa on October 11, 2018 at Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 11: Marcin Gortat #13 of the LA Clippers reacts during a pre-season game against the Maccabi Haifa on October 11, 2018 at Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

C. player. 77. Recent Stories. . LA Clippers. Marcin Gortat. 13

If there’s one thing that Marcin Gortat made abundantly clear throughout the preseason, it’s that he’s not DeAndre Jordan. Fortunately, that might not be a bad thing.

What Gortat does for the LA Clippers offense is something that hasn’t been done since Chris Kaman left the team — he opens up the paint.

Gortat can shoot consistently from outside the paint, and his mobility and pick-and-roll abilities help open up the lane for teammates to drive inside. Whereas before opposing centers didn’t have to chase Jordan when he moved outside the paint, Gortat is a midrange threat that will warrant tighter coverage.

The Polish Hammer is also a more consistent shooter from the charity stripe, converting nearly 68% of his attempts last season with the Washington Wizards.

Where Gortat fails to make much of an impact, then, is on the defensive end of the floor. He’s a solid rebounder, but doesn’t offer much on defense besides that — though his block per game numbers have been comparable to Jordan’s in recent years.

Don’t expect Gortat to lose his starting job early on in the season, if at all. He’s a good contrast to the rest of the projected starters, and will only help their offensive games expand.

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