The LA Clippers already have plenty of players like him on the roster, but according to rumors, the team may have interest in swingman Justin Holiday.
The LA Clippers have already added several quality role players to their roster this summer, including Patrick Beverley, Maurice Harkless and Rodney McGruder, but according to rumors, they might still be interested in adding a few more.
According to The Athletic‘s Michael Scotto, the Clippers are among eight teams interested in signing free agent swingman Justin Holiday this offseason. Also included in the list are the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls (where he played the first half of the 2018-2019 season), Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers.
It’s already been noted on Twitter, but this is likely an agent leak considering the mass amount of teams reported to have interest in Holiday. That being said, he could be a solid contributor for the LA Clippers if they can sign him on a minimum contract.
Holiday, aged 30, appeared in all 82 games this past season between the Bulls and the Memphis Grizzlies, the latter of which he finished the season with. He posted combined averages of 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals in just under 32 minutes per contest. The majority of his looks came from three-point range, and he connected 34.8 percent of them overall.
Obviously, Holiday’s role with the Clippers wouldn’t be as large as the one he played with the Bulls or Grizzlies. If anything, I would view him as a better version of Tyrone Wallace, which could spell trouble for the former G Leaguer if the Clippers do end up pursuing Holiday.
Assuming the Clippers could add him for the minimum, I would expect either Wallace or Sindarius Thornwell to get the axe and be waived from the team. That may happen regardless, too, if the Clippers end up signing Kawhi Leonard this offseason.
Unlike Wallace and Thornwell, Holiday has a fairly consistent three-point shot. The percentage has dipped lately from the career-high 35.9 percent mark he shot in 2017-2018, but as a fairly high volume shooter from deep, his percentage could come back up in a lesser role given he would take fewer attempts.
If the Clippers are looking for upgrades deeper into the bench, Holiday makes sense. And since he’s maintained a starting role (albeit on some bad teams) over the last few seasons, he could be someone the Clippers could trust to jump back into the starting rotation in the event of an injury.
Holiday would be a solid addition with or without Kawhi Leonard, but I wouldn’t expect the LA Clippers to add any other players until they’re informed of his decision.