Los Angeles Clippers: An Early Look At The New Additions

The phrase “small sample size” is thrown around a lot around this time of the year when talking about the NBA, and the phrase is fitting. The season is simply too young to get an accurate read on new additions, but never too early to start looking at how the new guys are fitting in and finding their role with a new team in a new system.

The Los Angeles Clippers made it a priority to upgrade their atrocious bench unit that deserved a chunk of the blame both directly and indirectly for the team’s collapse in the playoffs, blowing a 3-1 lead against the Houston Rockets.

With nothing but a mid-level exception, weak trade pieces and contracts worth the league minimum, Doc Rivers did a lot with a little and added a lot of talent to the team. Rivers signed an old friend in Paul Pierce to provide leadership and a crunch-time specialist. The Clippers added talented but flawed wild cards Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith.

Wesley Johnson moved teams without changing his home arena by leaving the Lakers to sign with the Clippers for the minimum. Cole Aldrich joined the team as backup center after a few quietly successful seasons with the New York Knicks. Veteran point guard Pablo Prigioni joined as an emergency point guard. The Clippers bought a late-round draft pick and took Michigan State senior Branden Dawson.

Let’s take a look at how each of the newcomers has fared so far in their new home.

Next: Born Ready