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5 players the LA Clippers’ front office signed past their prime

By Iliyan Lakhani

Nov 15, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue reacts during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue reacts during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Caron Butler, LA Clippers
Caron Butler, LA Clippers – Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Caron Butler

Coming off a championship season with the Dallas Mavericks, fans knew the LA Clippers landed an all-star talent when they signed Caron Butler. This was no mistake, as he was an improved three-point shooter who could score in various ways. The only issue for the former UConn product was staying healthy.

Furthermore, in Butler’s last season in Dallas, he only played 29 games due to a season-ending knee injury. Hence why the LA Clippers only signed him to a three-year, $24 million deal. Butler’s talent was worth more than eight million annually, but his consistency wasn’t.

This proved to be a smart move by the Clippers’ front office as Butler’s career was declining. His efficiencies dropped, and so did his averages in just about every category. Butler went from a high-level all-star to an average role player in only four seasons.

Moreover, in two seasons with the LA Clippers, the two-time all-star averaged 11.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in just under 27 minutes per game. What’s more, Butler shot 41.5% from the field on 10.1 attempts.

On the flip side, these numbers look very different from his prime years, where his points per game hovered around 20. Not to mention he averaged over 35 minutes per contest for six straight seasons.

That said, Butler’s numbers and injury history back up how his prime years were over before he signed with the LA Clippers. He was still a solid starter for LA but was clearly not the player he once was. In addition, his NBA career ended in 2016, when he played just 17 games for the Sacramento Kings.