Terance Mann gives the LA Clippers exactly what they need to win a title

The development of Terance Mann has been extremely exciting to watch. Seeing the former 48th overall pick grow each year is a great sign for the LA Clippers. From Summer League games to exploding on the Utah Jazz in a close-out Game 6, Mann has exceeded expectations.

Second-round picks receive little opportunity to shine. Terance Mann’s case was even harder, as he had to earn minutes on a stacked Clippers roster. With this, Mann took advantage of each opportunity he was given to show what he is capable of.

On both ends of the floor, Mann would make an impact. Mann immediately signed a two-year, $22 million contract extension, which was a bargain. This makes him the first player to sign a rookie-contract extension with the LA Clippers since Blake Griffin.

With opportunities slowly beginning to unfold, Mann established himself as a great rotational player for head coach Tyronn Lue. Mann fits Lue’s small-ball scheme perfectly. In games where a center may be unplayable, having a player like Mann gives the Clippers another option as a stretch forward. Being only 25 years old, players like Mann are hard to come by.

But what makes Terance Mann so valuable to the LA Clippers? Here’s why Terance Mann is a crucial piece to the championship roster the Clippers are trying to build.

Terance Mann makes his presence known

Terance Mann is exactly what the LA Clippers need to win a championship. Standing at 6’5”, 215 lbs, Mann is a force on both ends of the floor. During the 2021-22 NBA season, Mann posted career highs across the board as he averaged 10.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 48.6% from the field and 36.5% from the 3-point line. And there is much more to Mann than what the basic statistics show.

Terance Mann is an outstanding rebounder for his size. On top of averaging 5.2 rebounds per game last season, he also averaged a “player rebound when boxing out” percentage of 45 in the paint. To put this in perspective, Myles Turner, one of the best two-way centers in the NBA, averaged 52. Although Turner did average a higher percentage, Mann was not far behind.

Defensively, Terance Mann is phenomenal. During the 2021-22 NBA season, he averaged a defensive rating of 107.1 through 81 games played. Additionally, he averaged 1.3 deflections per game along with a steal percentage of 16.3 and a block percentage of 9.0.

Mikal Bridges, who finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, had a defensive rating of 106.9 along with a steal percentage of 18.8 and a block percentage of 15.1. This shows that Mann is on par with some of the best defenders in the NBA.

Below are some of Terance Mann’s best performances throughout the 2021-22 NBA season.

November 7, 2021 –  versus the Charlotte Hornets – 17 points and 10 rebounds on 62.5 FG%

December 31, 202 – versus the Toronto Raptors – 18 points and 11 rebounds on 70 FG%

February 12, 2022 – versus the Dallas Mavericks – 21 points and 9 rebounds on 60 FG%

February 14, 2022 – versus the Golden State Warriors – 25 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists on 64.7 FG%

March 22, 2022 – versus the Denver Nuggets – 24 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, on 70 FG%

Mann’s value to the LA Clippers is irreplaceable. He can fit anywhere and embraces each opportunity like it’s his last. Tyronn Lue can utilize Mann in numerous ways, whether as a big in a small-ball lineup, someone to run the bench unit, or a force on defense when the Clippers need a stop.

Mann is also in the perfect situation, as he can learn from players like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and John Wall, who have been in the league for several years. Mann has grown each year in the NBA, and his best is yet to come.