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Three goals for the LA Clippers’ rookies in 2019-2020 season

By Garrett Chorpenning

MADISON, NJ - AUGUST 11: Mfiondu Kabengele #25 of the LA Clippers poses for a portrait during the 2019 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 11, 2019 at the Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
MADISON, NJ - AUGUST 11: Mfiondu Kabengele #25 of the LA Clippers poses for a portrait during the 2019 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 11, 2019 at the Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 6: Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during Day 2 of the 2019 Las Vegas Summer League on July 6, 2019, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 6: Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during Day 2 of the 2019 Las Vegas Summer League on July 6, 2019, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Terance Mann: Learn from the vets

In the aftermath of the Kawhi Leonard deal, the LA Clippers were forced to part ways with Sindarius Thornwell, who summed up his experience with the organization perfectly with this tweet from last week:

"“Like I have no choice to be successful I had the best of both worlds as vets in Lou and Pat bev… I got the cheat code basically lol” – Sindarius Thornwell (@Sin_City_803)"

Patrick Beverley‘s influence on Thornwell was always evident — Sin’s style of defense reeked of Pat, and he rarely declined an assignment. At 6 feet 5 inches you wouldn’t expect him to be able to handle LeBron James, yet it was that game in which he posted the best plus/minus rating (+21) of his young career.

Terance Mann has that same opportunity, and because his offensive game is already more refined than Thornwell’s was upon his entry to the NBA, he could take even more from LA’s veterans.

Mann is long, fast and well-equipped to be a serviceable swingman in the NBA. With Beverley (and others like Maurice Harkless and Rodney McGruder) to learn from, he should have all he needs to become a capable defender during his rookie season. And with the right mentality, he could be a fierce one at that.

The Clippers may have been scouting Mann since he was 13, but it’s impossible that they could have predicted how well he would fit in with this current team. Like a majority of the Clippers, Mann boasts two-way ability and versatility more than anything else. The cultural fit is perfect.

Like Kabengele, Mann lit up Summer League and was one of the best players on the floor at all times. He fell one assist short of posting a triple-double against the Washington Wizards, finishing the game with 15 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Had he done it, it would have been the third triple-double ever recorded at Las Vegas Summer League (Detroit’s Bruce Brown ended up recording the third the following day).

Take from Summer League what you will, but no matter which way you look at it, Mann played very good basketball. And if he can bring that into training camp while learning a thing or two from each of the vets, he’ll be in excellent shape moving forward.

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