The LA Clippers added more talent to their roster by signing Amir Coffey to a two-way deal. What will he bring to the team?
After selecting two Florida State Seminoles on draft night, the LA Clippers added another young talent to their ranks from the University of Minnesota in the form of 6’8″ guard Amir Coffey.
Coffey, a 22-year-old guard, had a successful collegiate career for the Golden Gophers, averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game during his three years.
Coffey was best during his junior season, totaling 16.6 points per contest while connecting on 43.6 percent of his attempts from the field. However, he also shot a career-worst 30.4 percent from three-point range as a junior, which is something he’ll need to improve on as he progresses towards the NBA.
He added to his resume when Minnesota faced off against Louisville in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, when he dropped 18 points and grabbed six boards against the Cardinals. Despite losing to Michigan State in the following round, Coffey dropped 27 points in 39 minutes, scoring 54 percent of his team’s points and being the only player in double-figures for the Golden Gophers.
As for accolades, Coffey was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team, recorded 30 double-digit scoring contests in his junior season and his career-highs feature 32 points against Purdue in 2019, nine assists against Maryland in 2017, 12 rebounds against Northwestern in 2019 and 45 minutes played against Penn State in 2019.
It is difficult to tell where Coffey fits in the Clippers’ future plans, but he is a talented guard with unique size, he just needs to work on taking the right shots and distributing the ball more to his teammates. Coffey should see Summer League action for the Clippers.
For now, Coffey will spend a majority of his time in the G League, playing for the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario. LA’s G League affiliate followed up their inaugural season in 2017-2018 with a more successful one, winning 26 of 50 games and missing out on the playoffs by one game.
They’ll need longer guards like Coffey next season, as Jerome Robinson looks to spend a majority of his time up with the LA Clippers.
Amir Coffey probably won’t make a big splash for the LA Clippers next season, but with enough development in the G League, he could climb the ranks and end up a productive bench player in the NBA.