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Los Angeles Clippers’ Free Agents: Who Should Stay And Who Should Go

By Cameron Stewart

May 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 29, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Hedo Turkoglu (15) reacts with his teammates after a play against the Boston Celtics in the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Hedo Turkoglu (15) reacts with his teammates after a play against the Boston Celtics in the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Hedo Turkoglu

For Hedo Turkoglu‘s sake and for any team with any interest in signing him, it’s in everyone’s best interests for Turkoglu to call it a career. He’ll be 37 at the end of next season and hasn’t been worthy of a rotation spot on a good team since 2012.

I have no interest in taking shots at Turkoglu and he’s had an NBA career that most of the league would be thrilled to have. Turkoglu was criminally underrated during his peak with the Orlando Magic when he was putting up nearly 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game while shooting 40 percent from three-point range and playing a bit of point-forward for the Magic. The Turkish forward has played for six teams in his NBA career, most memorably, his time with the Magic and Kings.

His time with the Clippers has been mostly forgettable. He’s appeared in 100 games over the past two seasons. Turkoglu was brought in to be a savvy veteran who could provide the bench with some spacing. Never a standout defender, his defense was a noticeable weakness as his conditioning was questioned by fans and more importantly, Doc Rivers. After suffering a sprained ankle in the playofs, Rivers quipped, “I didn’t know a guy who moved that slow could sprain his ankle. It shouldn’t slow him down.”

If Turkoglu dedicates this offseason to getting in better shape and committing to defense, he could still be a valuable end-of-the-bench guy, but at his age, it’s hard to imagine him improving. The Clippers should move on without Turkoglu in their plans and if he doesn’t catch on for another team, it’s been a solid career for him.

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