LA Clippers making puzzling Summer League addition

Trey McGowens waited patiently for a phone call he knew was never coming.

Following his final game in Nebraska, McGowens took a step back and looked at his meager senior stats. While decent, the stocky 6’4” guard knew good and well that after averaging just 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, the chances of him hearing his name called during the 2022 NBA Draft was extremely unlikely. Nevertheless, while he was initially right, he’s been thrown a bemusing lifeline.

Despite his skimpy numbers, the LA Clippers believe the former Cornhusker could become a valuable asset. First, however, McGowens will have to prove himself in the Las Vegas Summer League. Just hours after the completion of the NBA Draft, McGowens was given an offer to join LA and prove his worth on their Summer League squad, something he readily and quickly accepted.

Why did Clippers add McGowens after unimpressive college run?

With McGowens forced to miss a chunk of time due to a foot injury this past season, his roster addition comes off as bemusing. During McGowens’ four-year collegiate career, he struggled with efficiency, registering a field goal percentage of just 39.1%. His 3-point ball was also lackluster, ending his career with a shooting clip of just 33.2%.

In totality, LA’s championship aspirations heading into the 2022-23 season will be at an all-time high. With both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George set to return from injury, along with a reshaped bench unit, LA has found itself on a shortlist of betting favorites next year. Though LA appears to have their rotations set in stone, if McGowens struts his stuff during Summer League play, his NBA dreams could become a reality.