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How Can Brice Johnson Help The Clippers?

By Brian Saunders

Mar 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) celebrates after dunking the ball against the Providence Friars in the second half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) celebrates after dunking the ball against the Providence Friars in the second half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brice Johnson has the ability to add a punch off the bench for the Los Angeles Clippers, if Doc Rivers is willing to play him.

Former North Carolina Tar Heel Brice Johnson was drafted 25th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers.

The All-American forward had a spectacular senior season, in which he averaged 17 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, garnering him All-ACC honors.

The 6-foot-9 forward from Orangeburg, S.C., finally put together all the intangibles and potential Roy Williams saw in him and it culminated in a North Carolina national championship game berth.

The Clippers starting frontcourt is solidified down low; Blake Griffin (when healthy) and DeAndre Jordan aren’t going anywhere.

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Griffin, in 35 games last season before a litany of injuries, averaged 33.4 minutes per game. When he was out of the game for that 14 or so minutes the Clippers went small.

Johnson was a smart grab for L.A. on a few fronts. He is a seasoned young talent with maturity and experience, he saw it all on the collegiate level, on and off the court.

It’s reasonable to believe Johnson will receive somewhere around 12-15 minutes of game action when in the lineup.

He’s a viable option as the Clippers backup 4 man in a traditional lineup. For his career at UNC Johnson had a PER of 28.1, a true shooting percentage of 59.8 percent, effective field goal percentage of 57.5 percent and a total rebound percentage of 18.2 percent.

Johnson can offer the Clippers a legitimate scoring punch off the bench. He is already an established jump shooter with range that extends to 18 feet.

He’s got a back-to-the-basket game and the ability to finish lobs, something of huge importance for any team Chris Paul is running the show for.

He could also anchor a small-ball lineup at center. Not unlike the Golden State Warriors lineup of death, North Carolina had its own small lineup in which Johnson played the 5 surrounded by perimeter players, a lineup that took Carolina on a dominating postseason run.

Johnson is a fan of being the lone big on the floor according to Inside Carolina back in March Johnson said:

"“But playing with the small lineup is a lot of fun just because I’m the only big in there. Coach is always like, ‘Let’s use it to our advantage, you can post up all of the time down there because you’re the only big in there.’”"

Johnson is not a towering force by any stretch of the imagination but he can also protect the paint on the defensive end. As a senior, he averaged 1.5 blocks per game and 3 per 100 possessions. He attributed 2.6 defensive win shares during that season as well.

Johnson is a leaper and although his frame can’t battle with some of the bigger stronger centers,  he can out jump many of them. Last season he posted a total rebound percentage of 20.4  and defensive rebounding percentage of 28.5.

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He may not be strong enough to box out every big, but not many can out jump him to the ball either.

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