2017 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Ian Clark: 1 year, $1.6 million (New Orleans Pelicans)
Free agent Ian Clark has agreed to a one-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2017
Since the New Orleans Pelicans plan on playing Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday together in the backcourt, signing a backup point guard was a big need for this playoff-hopeful squad, lest they had to resort to rookie Frank Jackson.
With a one-year deal for Ian Clark for the veteran minimum, NOLA is getting a quality reserve whose ceiling was limited with a powerhouse like the Golden State Warriors.
Though this move puts the Pellies near the hard cap, it also provides a backup floor general who averaged 6.8 points in just 14.8 minutes per game last season — all while shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and 37.4 percent from downtown. After last summer’s ill-fated spending spree, New Orleans has done a good job bouncing back with cheap deals for useful free agents.
Bourguet Grade: A-
HoopsHabit Grade: B+