LA Clippers: What does Joakim Noah bring to the table?

NBA veteran Joakim Noah has agreed to a deal with the LA Clippers to bolster their roster. How does the center contribute to the team’s title hopes?

First reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the LA Clippers plan to sign center Joakim Noah to a contract. Shams Charania followed by stating that it would begin as a 10-day contract.

Noah has only played in 49 games throughout the past two NBA seasons as he has battled through numerous injuries. Although the 35-year-old has not played at all this season, he only bolsters this already top-heavy Clippers’ roster.

When he last played in the league as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies last season, Noah did not show much, averaging 7.1 points per game in 42 games. Regardless, Noah’s game has never relied on offense, as his career year in scoring only saw him average 12.6 points per game in 2013-14.

The Clippers already have the best scoring bench in the league at 51.5 points per game, a large portion of that coming from Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell. This move to bring in Noah was clearly more about his defense, as his track record defensively speaks for itself.

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The two-time All-Star has been known for his stellar defensive presence throughout his career, wreaking havoc for other team’s offenses. These efforts have given Noah plenty to add to his resume, including the 2013-14 Defensive Player of the Year, NBA All-Defensive Team Honors on three separate occasions, and a 2013-14 All-NBA selection.

The Clippers currently have the 5th best paint defense in the league, allowing teams to score only 44.9 points per game in that area. Noah’s 6’11” stature provides another big body in the painted area that will likely only help to get the team higher on that list.

Having Noah off the bench, saying Ivica Zubac remains the starter, provides the Clippers with a backup center that is a force on the defensive end. Noah will not check into the game and score double digits every single game but will provide a lethal threat defensively as he always has.

Noah may be on a 10-day contract right now, but it would be hard to imagine if the team does not sign him for the remainder of the season by the time that expires. The 35-year-old will report to the team at the start of next week, and try to make his mark on this already dominant Clippers’ bench.

This 10-day contract allows to Clippers to evaluate Joakim Noah’s play after almost a year off of basketball and will enable Noah to get back into the league. This signing is the definition of low risk, high reward, as the Clippers had an open roster spot available, and if the team does not like what they see, they do not have to bring him back.

Is Noah the kind of player that can put a championship-caliber team over the top no questions asked? At this point in his lengthy career, likely not. However, the 35-year-old has a genuine opportunity to showcase his worth and prove he still has some fuel in the tank playing for a contending team.

On paper, this is an excellent signing for the LA Clippers, who deepen their already fantastic bench with some stellar frontcourt depth.