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LA Clippers call up G-League standout big Johnathan Motley

By Garrett Chorpenning

ONTARIO, CA - NOVEMBER 9: Johnathan Motley #15 of the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario warms up before the game against the Santa Cruz Warriors on November 9, 2018 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
ONTARIO, CA - NOVEMBER 9: Johnathan Motley #15 of the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario warms up before the game against the Santa Cruz Warriors on November 9, 2018 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The LA Clippers announced today that they will call up G-League standout big Johnathan Motley ahead of tonight’s matchup with the Sacramento Kings.

The LA Clippers are calling up two-way forward Johnathan Motley for tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

Motley, 23, has played in 16 games so far this season with the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario. He’s averaged 26.1 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists in roughly 36 minutes per game. Motley has twice been named G-League Player of the Week this season, and was just recently named to the G-League Winter Showcase Second Team.

This isn’t Motley’s first call-up of the season — the Clippers previously brought him up at the end of November — though he’s yet to log any regular season minutes in LA. Tonight should be a good opportunity for him, as Sacramento’s frontcourt depth is more depleted than usual.

Rookie forward Marvin Bagley III has been out for nearly two weeks with a bone bruise, and he’s already been ruled out for tonight’s game. If the Clippers do choose to play Motley, he should have a decent chance to prove his worth.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that Motley plays any meaningful minutes, or plays at all, despite his ability. Danilo Gallinari and Montrezl Harrell eat up most of the minutes at the four, and Marcin Gortat and Boban Marjanovic are the only true centers on the roster. Both Gallo and Trezz have seen minutes there to varying levels of success, and it’s likely that they continue to do so. Therefore, Motley’s positioning tonight will likely depend on where the two are situated.

Motley is a legitimate floor-spacer with a solid jump shot, especially for a player with his size. He plays with energy in a manner similar to Harrell, but with a knack for knocking down consistent jumpers from the midrange and beyond. In the G-League, he’s connecting on 56 percent of attempts from the floor, and nearly 30 percent from three-point range.

His ability to rebound is a nice attribute as well. His 11.4 per game would be a team-high in LA, and with 2.6 offensive boards per game, he can help out with some extra possessions when necessary.

Motley could very well be the player that the Clippers have needed down low since the season began. He’s quick, made for today’s NBA, and has the ability to create his own shot. And since the league revamped the two-way contract rules this summer, Motley will be able to play up to 45 games with the Clippers this season (rather than spend 45 days with the team).

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The LA Clippers and Sacramento Kings will take the floor tonight at 7:30 PM PST. Here’s hoping Motley gets a chance to leave his mark.

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