Los Angeles Clippers: The rise of Jamil Wilson
Jamil Wilson signed a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Clippers after a scorching stint in NBA Summer League. He quickly earned a starting spot in the wake of injuries.
The new two-way contracts have already altered the face of the NBA. Quinn Cook of the Golden State Warriors joined the NBA team after some time in the G League and quickly found a spot in the rotation. Torrey Craig of the Denver Nuggets has already started three games for the team on his two-way deal. The Los Angeles Clippers, however, arguably signed the most valuable of these two-way players in Jamil Wilson.
The nature of the two-way contract limits what teams can do with those players. Any player signed to such a deal can only play 45 NBA in a season. However, as with Mike James and the Phoenix Suns, those two-way deals can turn into full NBA contracts.
While Mike James is no longer with the Suns, Jamil Wilson remains an important part of the Clippers’ rotation. Wilson’s solid season thus far, in addition to his fit with the Clippers, may lead to him being the next two-way contract player to earn a long-term NBA deal.
A true stretch-4
The Los Angeles Clippers signed Jamil Wilson after a blistering shooting performance in NBA Summer League. In five games in Las Vegas, Wilson knocked down 78.6 percent of his looks and 62.5 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. The Clippers signed him to a two-way deal four days after their last Summer League game.
Wilson has not kept up his ridiculous pace from Summer League, but his shooting touch continues to be his best NBA skill. He has taken a staggering 76.5 percent of his field goal attempts from deep and has converted 40.4 percent of those looks. Jamil’s 3-point shooting ability from the power forward position forces defenses to make difficult choices when Wilson is on the floor:
Wilson quickly earned his way into the starting lineup due to this ability to stretch the floor. He started his first game in his fourth contest after being called up to the Clippers. After coming off the bench in his next two contests, Wilson has started in seven consecutive games.
The team plays better with Wilson in the game to space the floor. Wilson is one of five Clippers with a positive Net Rating in more than 100 minutes–the team outscores opponents by 1.3 points per possession with Wilson on the floor, well above the team’s overall Net Rating.
Future outlook
The return of Blake Griffin will signal the end of Jamil Wilson’s time in the starting lineup. However, the Los Angeles Clippers would be wise to keep Wilson around even when Griffin is healthy. Wilson’s shooting touch will be just as valuable off the bench. Furthermore, Wilson can play the 4 with Griffin at center in some small-ball lineups.
Wilson’s rise to prominence also showcases the value of the Agua Caliente Clippers. This two-way deal would have been far more difficult if the Clippers had to ship Wilson off to a different NBA team’s G League affiliate.
Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft: End of 2017 edition
The Los Angeles Clippers have struggled with internal talent development since before Doc Rivers took over. Jamil Wilson is old for a rookie, having turned 27 earlier this season. However, Wilson has proven his value for a team that has been looking for a stretch big for quite some time. The Clippers lucked into just that player with Jamil Wilson, and they should convert his two-way deal to a full NBA contract before someone else capitalizes on their new diamond in the rough.