Los Angeles Clippers: Grading The Offseason

Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers players pose with jerseys at press conference at Staples Center. From left: Branden Dawson (22), DeAndre Jordan (6), Austin Rivers (25), coach Doc Rivers and Josh Smith (5), Cole Aldrich (45), Paul Pierce (34) and Wesley Johnson (33). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers players Cole Aldrich (45), Paul Pierce (34) and Wesley Johnson (33) pose with jerseys at press conference at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Signing Cole Aldrich

If you blinked at any point during free agency, you might have missed this one. But by adding Cole Aldrich on a two-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum, the Clippers added some much-needed depth at the center position following the departure of Spencer Hawes.

Last season with the New York Knicks, Aldrich averaged 5.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in a meager 16.0 minutes per game. At 26 years old, he’s not bursting with potential and he’s not a starting-caliber center in this league. But in a pinch, Aldrich can be a defensive big who comes in off the bench, grabs some rebounds, blocks some shots and clogs up the paint in general.

Cole Aldrich is exactly the kind of guy the Clippers should have signed last year instead of giving big $ to Spencer Hawes
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) July 16, 2015

With limited cap space, Doc Rivers needed to find a way to hit a home run at a minimum price. Aldrich won’t move the needle much for most Clippers fans, but he’s the kind of savvy addition Lob City was hoping for in order to upgrade the bench and interior defense when Jordan needs a breather.

Grade: B

Next: A Smoove Signing

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