The LA Clippers are assigning second-year guard Sindarius Thornwell to the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario, according to Clippers PR.
The LA Clippers are assigning second-year guard Sindarius Thornwell to the G-League’s Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario this morning, according to Clippers PR.
Thornwell had yet to suit up this season for the LA Clippers, with the coaching staff going in favor of players like Tyrone Wallace and Milos Teodosic instead. He played in 73 games for Los Angeles last season and made 17 starts, averaging 3.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in just under 16 minutes per game.
After sitting at the end of a crowded Los Angeles bench, Thornwell will likely become a focal point of the Agua Caliente Clippers this season. G-League rules allow LA to recall him and re-assign him an unlimited number of times, since he’s within his first three years in the NBA and because the Clippers still own his rights.
Thornwell made a big impact for the Clippers Summer League team this July, averaging 14.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists across 28.2 minutes per contest. Chances are, he’ll come close to replicating these numbers in the G-League.
The Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario will open up their season next Sunday at home against the Oklahoma City Blue. They’ll look to capitalize on their 23-27 record under new head coach Brian Adams this season.
Agua Caliente boasts an impressive roster entering the season, featuring former No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett, Desi Rodriguez, two-way players Angel Delgado and Johnathan Motley, and 23-year-old guard Manu Lecomte, who the Clippers selected in the first round of last week’s G-League draft.
The amount of time Thornwell will spend with LA’s G-League affiliate is unknown, though with the way the Clippers bench has been playing, it may be a while before we see him back in the big leagues.
Although the starters have been impressive, the LA bench has been the story of the season so far. Last week against the Houston Rockets, they combined for 85 points — including 30 from Montrezl Harrell. And just last night, the bench went for another 73 against the Washington Wizards. Every active player scored, and five different bench players scored in double figures.
It isn’t likely that Thornwell remains away from the LA Clippers all season long. Given his defensive versatility, he could be one of the first players recalled from Agua Caliente.