LA Clippers sign Derrick Walton Jr. to fill final roster spot

The LA Clippers have reportedly signed guard Derrick Walton Jr. to fill the 15th and final roster spot ahead of the start of the regular season.

Per the LA Times’ Andrew Greif, the LA Clippers have signed guard Derrick Walton Jr. to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal. In doing so, the Clippers have filled the 15th and final roster spot.

Walton was one of the more impressive players during the preseason, though he made his debut for the team during Summer League. He appeared in all five of LA’s preseason performances, averaging 7.0 points and 3.0 assists in 17.8 minutes per game and shooting 44.8 percent from the field. On top of that, he looked very confident in his ability and comfortable in his role.

Making Walton the final addition to the roster makes a lot of sense for LA. Prior to his signing, the Clippers did not necessarily have a traditional, pass-first point guard. Rookie Terance Mann was arguably the closest thing to it, but given his lack of familiarity with the role, Walton seems like the more logical choice as a reserve.

This is not Walton’s first run in the NBA. During the 2017-2018 season, he appeared in 16 games for the Miami Heat. He also signed a deal with the Chicago Bulls prior to the 2018-2019 season but was waived before it began.

Now, the 24-year-old will likely serve as the third point guard on a team that has a legitimate chance to take home the title next June.

Walton’s demeanor suggests that he’ll fit in nicely with the rest of the team. During the preseason, he was always one to hustle and give the extra effort necessary to finish a play. He probably won’t see a lot of time on the floor this season, but he’s a solid insurance guy to have on the bench in the event of an injury or if the Clippers rest their veterans on a given night.

With that, LA’s roster is now set ahead of Tuesday night’s marquee matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. There are still some questions about other players and positions, but those should work themselves out as the season goes on. For example, a trade, big or small, could remedy any issues that pop up involving frontcourt depth.

There’s no telling when Walton will make his regular season debut for the LA Clippers, but assuming he’s anything like the rest of the players on this team, he’ll be ready when his number is called.