Former Laker Wesley Johnson agrees to sign with Clippers

The Clippers agreed on Tuesday to sign former Laker wing player Wesley Johnson on a minimum veteran contract lasting one year.

The contract cannot be officially signed until Thursday.

Johnson, who is coming off a couple fairly solid seasons in LA has always been knocked for his lack of consistency and not living up to his potential however he's a solid, athletic player with room to grow. He's coming of a season which he average 9.9 points per game and shot 35 percent from three point territory.

The Clips now have 10 players under contract but still need to add a few more bench pieces including a point guard and a back-up centre and are still in desperate need for a c=starter at the 5 due to DeAndre's departure from LA.

Deandre Jordan, Mavericks reach agreement on contract

Its a dark day for Clipperland. Deandre Jordan is leaving the Clippers for the Dallas mavericks. A public announcement, first made at ESPN.com has revealed that Jordan signed an $80 million dollar max deal contract that includes a player option after the third season.

During his 7 year tenure at the Clippers, Jordan managed to ascend to being the 3rd wheel in the Clippers pecking order behind Paul and Griffin. He became an all NBA player but clearly was fed up with being stuck in Paul; and Griffin's shadow. The chance to be a "franchise player" for the Mavs and to return to his home state of Texas seemed to much an offer to refuse for DJ. By leaving the Clippers he left more money, stability and a bigger chance to win on the table.

"I think he's going to become our best player for years to come" said Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Jordan also met with the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks but he did seem very convinced by their pitches and what they had to offer him.

Jordan finished first in the league in field goal percentage (.710) and rebounds per game (15.0) in 2014-15. He was the first player to do so in back-to-back seasons since Wilt Chamberlain in 1971-72 and 1972-73. Jordan's field goal percentage was the second-highest in NBA history behind Chamberlain's .727 in 1972-73.

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers over the past few seasons had believed in Deandre and m,entored him into the defensive force he is today but it seems Deandre wanted more than his niche roll despite being one of the best in the NBA at rebounding and rim protecting.

While Jordan averaged a career-high 11.5 points per game last season, he shot 39.7 percent from the free throw line and is a 41.7 percent shooter there for his career. "Hack-a-Jordan" has become a common practice for opponents, but the Clippers are 12-0 during the regular season when Jordan attempts 14 or more free throws.

With the Clippers losing DJ they are in  a tough situation as they have no centre and barely any money to offer a new one. The only way they may be able to do so is through a sign and trade for a player like Kosta Koufas. This is a tough blow for the Clips but if they manage to stick things out hopefully they can sign a big name player  when the cap rises after next season and move on from the loss of Deandre.

Clippers centre Deandre Jordan being highly sought after by teams around the league

It's likely going to be a busy summer with Deandre Jordan who is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer once free agency starts.          

There's no doubt he has been highly sought after
by teams, particularly the Knicks, Mavericks, Bucks and Lakers with the Mavericks emerging as the frontrunner teams to sign him that is not the Clippers. Deandre earned the right to receive this kind of interest after having a career year for the Clips and becoming an All-NBA centre.

Jordan first meeting will be with the Mavs on Wednesday. The Knicks and Lakers will meet him later in the day. The Clippers will meet with him last. The meeting will involve Doc, Steve Balmer and a video presentation.

There have also been reports that Kobe Bryant called DJ and laid a pitch to convince him to change halls at the Staples Centre and join the Lakers, also, reports of Chandler Parsons hanging out with the Texas-born Deandre to help recruit him. Although the free-agency has Clipper fans on the edge of their seats it's important to remember that no team in the league can offer Deandre more money and security than the Clips.

Acquiring Lance Stephenson is only the beginning for the Clips

On a surface level the trade the Clippers made for Lance Stephenson involving the removal of Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes doesn't seen like a game-changer.  Especially with him coming off a disaster of a season with the Charlotte Hornets. However, Lance's arrival indicates the start of a new era for the Clippers along with their logo and uniform changes. A new era.

Despite peoples doubts, this could be the trade that saves the clips' future, the acquisition that finally pushes them over the top. The Clippers needed toughness and a feisty guard who could play defence and Stephenson excelled in this role in Indiana. He also brings an ability to create his own shot and handle the ball. Although these qualities dwindle during his time with the Hornets if he can re-discover his Pacer form this will be a fantastic move for the Clips, easily the best Doc Rivers has made during his rocky time as Clippers President of Basketball Operations.

It has been made clear that Stephenson wasn't suited to be a top option in an offense but maybe better as a 3rd or 4th and that's what he would be in the Clippers' clear-cut hierarchy. Stephenson's struggles last season were well known. His  production fell to just 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game with 37.6 percent shooting from the field and 17.1 percent from three point range (a decline of 18 percent from the previous season).

Essentially, Stephenson’s career wasn't meant to continue in Charlotte. But it’s not as though his athleticism, versatility and defensive abilities have suddenly disappeared.

If the trade doesn't pay off and Stephen continues with his rough form then due to the fact he has a team option at the end of the season means the Clips can let him go if things go awry. This is a contract year for lance and he needs to play well if he wants a long term, stable contract. It was a move the Clippers needed to make. Lets just hope it pays off.

LA Clippers to Play Raptors in Preseason Game in Vancouver as part of NBA Canada Series

The Los Angeles Clippers will play the Toronto Raptors in a Preseason game on Oct 4th. The game will take place at the Rogers arena in  Vancouver as part of the 4th annual NBA Canada series. This marks the first time the Clippers franchise has taken part in the series and is also the organisations first visit to Vancouver in over 10 years. 

The NBA Canada series will feature 5 teams - Clippers, Raptors, Bulls, Timberwolves and Wizards playing games in various locations all over Canada. It is also worth mentioning the Clippers organisation will be taking part in the NBA global games series in China during the 2015-16 Preseason with them playing the Charlotte Hornets in Shanghai.

Paul Pierce a Clipper?

In the summer of 2014  the Clippers tried to lure Paul Pierce from the Nets to Lob City but ultimately ended up being unsuccessful in their attempts. Pierce ended up signing with the Wizards.

There are now rumours that Pierce will opt out of his Wizards contract and although theirs a chance of his retirement, indications are strong that he may sign with the Clips on a veterans minimum deal. This was reported by nba.com's David Aldridge and is very believable since we know Clippers coach Doc Rivers coached Pierce for nine seasons in Boston.

Clippers lack wing depth and would love to have Pierce's late game shot making, something they haven't had from the wings for a while. Although Matt Barnes performed admirably at SF this season he is not Paul Pierce. If the Clippers do finally do manage land Pierce he could  be the piece that pushes them over the top.

DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul named to NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE first team

The National Basketball Association announced today that Los Angeles Clippers’ Center DeAndre Jordan and point guard Chris Paul have been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. It is Jordan’s first defensive team honour and Paul’s fourth consecutive year on the first team and the fifth overall time in his career. Jordan received 187 points (84 First Team votes, 19 Second Team votes), while Paul garnered a total of 170 points (67 First Team votes, 36 Second Team votes).

joining Jordan and Paul on the NBA All-Defensive First Team are forward Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs (242 points), forward Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors (229 points) and guard Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies (207 points).

Jordan led the NBA in rebounds per game (15.0), defensive rebounds per game (10.1) and was fourth in blocks per game (2.23). His 1,226 rebounds in 2014-15 were the fourth-most rebounds by any player in the NBA in a single season since 1985-86 and is the most in Clippers franchise history.

Paul was second in the NBA in total steals (156) and fifth in steals per game (1.90). He has led the NBA in steals in six of the past eight seasons. According to data from Synergy Sports, Paul ranked first in the NBA this season in isolation situations, allowing only 0.565 points per play in such scenarios. Paul was previously named to the  NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2009 and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2011 and 2008.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (47 First Team votes), Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (44 First Team votes), Warriors center Andrew Bogut (33 First Team votes), Washington Wizards guard John Wall (7 First Team votes) and Spurs forward Tim Duncan (5 First Team votes).

2014-15 NBA All-Defensive First Team

Position Player / Team 1st (2 pts.) 2nd (1 pt.) Total Points Forward Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio 116 10 242 Forward Draymond Green, Golden State 107 15 229 Guard Tony Allen, Memphis 88 31 207 Center DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers 84 19 187 Guard Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers 67 36 170

2014-15 NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Position Player / Team 1st (2 pts.) 2nd (1 pt.) Total Points Forward Anthony Davis, New Orleans 47 61 155 Guard Jimmy Butler, Chicago 44 44 132 Center Andrew Bogut, Golden State 33 36 102 Guard John Wall, Washington 7 53 67 Forward Tim Duncan, San Antonio 5 54 64

(NBA.COM)