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Los Angeles Clippers: Jordan Farmar Agrees To Deal

By Mika Honkasalo

Oct 29, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Darren Collison (2) guards Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jordan Farmar (1) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Lakers won 116-103. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Darren Collison (2) guards Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jordan Farmar (1) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Lakers won 116-103. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, seven-year NBA veteran Jordan Farmar, a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers for a reported two-year deal worth $4.2 million. The Clippers needed another point guard and ball handler when Darren Collison agreed to a three-year, $16 million deal with the Sacramento Kings.

Farmar decided to take the Clippers’ biannual exception, worth $2.077 million in the first year, with a 4.5 percent raise in the second year along with a player option. A move similar to what Collison did the last summer, agreeing to a smaller and shorter deal with a contender to build up his value for a more lucrative deal down the line.

Farmar talked about his desire to play with a contender again with the LA Times in the following words:

"I want to be on a contender again with a chance, that was when I had the most fun. That was when my value was the highest. That was special to me and we won championships here in L.A. I think the Clippers organization is definitely headed in the right direction with the team that they’ve got. They’re young, fun and they are competing and contending."

Feb 28, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Famar (1) reacts in the second half against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Kings 126-122. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Famar (1) reacts in the second half against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Kings 126-122. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Last season Farmar averaged 10.1 points and 4.9 assists while shooting nearly 44 percent from 3 in 22.1 minutes per game. He’s bigger than Collison and can play minutes as the shooting guard alongside Chris Paul.

He’s also a superior outside shooter, which fills a need for the Clippers as they were ranked only 22nd in the league last season in 3-point percentage at 35.2 percent. In last year’s playoffs Collison was absolutely destroyed in the post by the bigger Russell Westbrook, rendering him basically unplayable.

Farmar should be able to hold his ground better against elite point guards and is overall a better defender than Collison.

Per 36 minutes Farmar averaged more points, rebounds and assists than Collison last season, and despite Collison being drafted three years later than Farmar, who was drafted in 2006, Farmar is less than a year older.

Farmar did have some injury issues last season. He missed 41 games with groin and left hamstring problems, but otherwise he has been healthy for most of his career.

If he can stay healthy next year, Farmar should be an upgrade over Collison and gives the Clippers the flexibility to at least consider moving either J.J. Redick or Jamal Crawford in a deal that would bring them a bigger (and better) wing or front court player. Farmar is big and strong enough to battle shooting guards (or at least he won’t do worse than Crawford.

As a sidenote; Redick is an underrated defender, he’s really smart, never misses a rotation and always gives maximum effort) and the Clips are loaded with small backcourt players  in Paul, Crawford, Redick, Farmar, C.J. Wilcox (No. 28 pick in this year’s draft) and Willie Green, who the Clippers are hoping to bring back on a veteran’s minimum deal.

Overall it’s a great pick up for the Clippers, and Farmar should be able to come in, produce and help the team from day one.

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