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Los Angeles Clippers: 25 Best Players To Play For The Clippers

By Phil Watson

Apr 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the Los Angeles Clippers logo at midcourt during game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples center. The Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers 102-81 to take a 2-0 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the Los Angeles Clippers logo at midcourt during game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples center. The Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers 102-81 to take a 2-0 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes (22) is defended by Houston Rockets guard Pablo Prigioni (9) in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Rockets 128-95 to take a 3-1 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes (22) is defended by Houston Rockets guard Pablo Prigioni (9) in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Rockets 128-95 to take a 3-1 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Matt Barnes. 17. player. 77. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 10-day contract, Jan. 18, 2004; Free agent, Sept. 14, 2012.. SF. 2004, 2012-15

Matt Barnes had been hanging on the fringe of pro basketball for more than a year when the Los Angeles Clippers came calling in January 2004, signing the combo forward to a 10-day contract.

He had played in the D-League and the U.S. Basketball League before getting a shot with the Clippers. One 10-day deal turned into a second and in February 2004, L.A. signed Barnes to a contract for the rest of the season.

LAC_17_BARNES
LAC_17_BARNES /

Barnes has been bouncing around the NBA ever since.

His stint with the Clippers didn’t last long, but he landed a camp deal with the Sacramento Kings in October 2004 and made the roster.

He returned to the Clippers as a free agent in September 2012 as an established, well-traveled NBA veteran, helping the Clippers to three straight playoff appearances as their starting small forward.

In June 2015, Barnes was traded with Spencer Hawes to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Lance Stephenson.

In parts of four seasons in Los Angeles, Barnes averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per game, shooting .450/.347/.744.

A two-year starter at UCLA, Barnes averaged 13.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as a senior for the Bruins.

He was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft and his rights were swapped to the Cleveland Cavaliers on draft night.

The Cavaliers waived Barnes during the preseason in October 2002 and he spent a season in the D-League and one in the summer USBL before catching on with the Clippers the first time.

It’s been a grand tour of the NBA since. In February 2005,  Barnes was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers and finished the season there before signing as a free agent with the New York Knicks in October 2005.

Waived by the Knicks in December 2005, he returned to Philadelphia six days later.

In October 2006, Barnes caught on with the Golden State Warriors, spending two years there before signing with the Phoenix Suns in July 2008.

Barnes signed with the Orlando Magic in July 2009, playing a single season before signing a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers in July 2010.

Ten days after he was traded to the Hornets, Barnes was traded to Memphis.

In 2015-16, he was one of the few Grizzlies to remain relatively ambulatory, playing in 76 games and starting 45. He averaged 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 28.8 minutes per game on .381/.322/.804 shooting.

He inked a two-year, $12.5 million free-agent deal on July 9, 2016, to return to Sacramento. The contract includes a player option for 2017-18.

Next: Hollywood Made His Way Back From Injury

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