Clippers sign Ben Simmons

The LA Clippers have signed Ben Simmons, it was announced by Lawrence Frank, President of Basketball Operations.

Simmons, 28, has played in 33 games (24 starts) for the Brooklyn Nets this season, averaging 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and a team-leading 6.9 assists in 25.0 minutes. He is shooting 54.7% (93-170) from the field and has scored in double figures eight times.

Originally selected first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons has appeared in 365 games across seven NBA seasons with Philadelphia and Brooklyn, averaging 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 31.8 minutes. He is a three-time NBA All-Star (2019-21), two-time All-Defensive honoree (2020-21) and was an All-NBA Third Team selection in 2020. Simmons was also voted the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year, following a season in which he posted 12 triple-doubles, the second most by a rookie in league history.

A native of Melbourne, Australia, Simmons played his lone collegiate season at LSU, where he was the consensus National Freshman of the Year while also earning All-SEC First Team recognition.

Hawks trade Bogdan Bogdanovic to Clippers

The LA Clippers yesterday acquired Bogdan Bogdanović and three second-round draft picks in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks for Terance Mann and Bones Hyland, it was announced by Lawrence Frank, President of Basketball Operations.

“Bogdan is a smart, competitive guard who brings shooting, passing and a high basketball IQ,” said Frank. “He has proven, both in the NBA and international play, that he is a terrific connector and a big shot maker.”

Bogdanović, 32, has played in 24 games for the Hawks this season, averaging 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.9 minutes. The 6-foot-5 guard has appeared in 473 games across eight NBA seasons with Sacramento and the Hawks, averaging 14.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 28.6 minutes. Originally selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Bogdanović was named to the 2017-18 All-Rookie Second Team. A native of Belgrade, Serbia, Bogdanović has been a member of the Serbian National Team since 2013, winning silver medals at the 2016 Olympics, 2014 and 2023 FIBA World Cup and 2017 FIBA EuroBasket, as well as a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics.

“I can’t say enough good things about what T Mann has accomplished over the past six years, and what he’s meant to our organization,” said Frank. “We drafted him in 2019 and he became everything we hoped: a selfless, dependable pro who excels on both ends of the court and does whatever it takes to win. Everybody remembers the 39 points he scored against Utah to clinch our first conference finals berth. We’ll also remember his day-to-day consistency and competitiveness. He set a standard for our young players and left an imprint on our team that will live on. We are grateful to him and to Bones, an electric scorer who had some great moments here. Bones wants to play regularly and we’re hoping he gets the opportunity.”

Mann, 28, appeared in 37 games for the Clippers this season, averaging 6.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.8 minutes. The 6-foot-5 guard has played in 382 games across six NBA seasons since being selected by the Clippers with the 48th overall pick in ‘19. He averaged 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 49.8% from the field. Mann also appeared in the sixth-most playoff games in franchise history (43), averaging 6.0 points while shooting 50% from the field and 43.8% from beyond the arc.

Hyland, 24, appeared in 20 games for the Clippers this season, averaging 7.2 points, 1.4 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 11.1 minutes. The 6-foot-2 guard has played in 182 games across four NBA seasons with Denver and the Clippers, averaging 9.7 points, 2.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 17.3 minutes. Originally selected with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Hyland was named to the 2021-22 All-Rookie Second Team.

Jazz trade Drew Eubanks, Patty Mills to Clippers for Mo Bamba, P.J. Tucker, draft pick

The LA Clippers have acquired Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills in a trade with the Utah Jazz for Mo Bamba, P.J. Tucker, a 2030 second-round pick and cash considerations, it was announced by Lawrence Frank, President of Basketball Operations.

Eubanks is in his seventh NBA season and has played in 360 games (75 starts) with averages of 5.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist. He has shot 60.6% from the field in 15.9 minutes with San Antonio, Portland, Phoenix and the Jazz. Eubanks has totaled 13 career double-doubles and scored 20 or more points in six games, posting a career-high 27 against Oklahoma City on March 28, 2022.

Mills, in his 16th NBA season, has appeared in 909 games (112 starts) with Portland, San Antonio, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Miami and the Jazz. He owns career averages of 8.8 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 boards in 20.1 minutes. During the 2013-14 campaign, Mills appeared in 81 games, helping the Spurs to an NBA championship while averaging 10.2 points on 42.5% from 3-point range. He was awarded the 2021-22 NBA Sportsmanship Award and is a native of Canberra, Australia.

Bamba appeared in 28 games for the Clippers this season, averaging 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds. The 7-foot center has appeared in 360 career games with Orlando, the Lakers, Philadelphia and the Clippers, averaging 6.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots. Bamba was originally selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Texas.

Tucker has appeared in 883 games (666 starts) during his 13-year NBA career and has averaged 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals. Originally selected by Toronto in the second round (No. 35 overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft, Tucker has played for the Raptors, Phoenix, Houston, Milwaukee, Miami, Philadelphia and the Clippers. Tucker played collegiately at Texas from 2003-06, earning Big 12 Player of the Year in 2006.

Norman Powell set to return for Clippers

Per the OC Register:

The Clippers left the East Coast on Friday with a 2-2 record in NBA Cup group play and still a slim chance of moving forward. All good news for a team that was missing two of its biggest stars.

Norman Powell sat out all four games, six total, because of a sore left hamstring that he tweaked in a victory against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 18. He was upgraded to questionable on Friday but stayed on the bench for the Clippers’ 93-92 loss in Cup play to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Powell, however, is expected to play when the Clippers (12-9) come home for a four-game homestand, starting with Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets (10-7).

The biggest, and perhaps most anticipated news, was on Kawhi Leonard, who has not played at all this season because of lingering right knee issues. Coach Tyronn Lue offered a positive update on his status.

Clippers will hold 2024-25 training camp in Hawaii

The LA Clippers have announced that they will return to Hawaii to tip-off the 2024-25 preseason, in partnership with The Hawaiian Islands. This marks the fifth training camp on the islands since 2017. Clippers guard Norman Powell will visit Hawaiʻi this week in anticipation for training camp, making stops in Oʻahu and Lahaina for a community event.

Clippers sign Mo Bamba

The LA Clippers recently signed center Mo Bamba.

Bamba, 26, appeared in 57 games for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, averaging 4.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots while shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc. The 7-foot center has appeared in 332 career games with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and 76ers, averaging 7.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots. Originally selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of the University of Texas, Bamba was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, Big 12 All-Defensive Team and Big 12 All-Freshman Team in his lone season with the Longhorns. A native of Harlem, N.Y., Bamba was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2017.

Clippers sign head coach Tyronn Lue to new long-term contract

The LA Clippers have signed Tyronn Lue to a new, long-term contract, it was announced by President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank.

“T Lue is everything we want in a head coach. He’s a brilliant tactician and a natural leader with an extraordinary ability to connect with those around him, both players and staff,” said Frank. “Four years ago, we felt privileged to hire T Lue, and we feel just as fortunate today. There’s no one we’d rather coach our team. T Lue is a pillar of the organization and will be for a very long time.”

“This is where I want to be. I’ve loved coaching this team for the past four years and I’m excited to head into a new era at Intuit Dome,” said Lue. “I’m grateful to Steve, Lawrence and the entire organization for the opportunity. With our ownership, front office, roster, staff and arena, we have all the advantages we need to win in the present and the future, and I’m confident we will.”

Over four seasons as head coach of the Clippers, Lue has amassed a record of 184-134 (.579), leading the organization to the postseason in three of the past four seasons. During the 2023-24 campaign, Lue guided the team to a 51-31 (.622) record, winning the Pacific Division title for the third time in franchise history and becoming the first Clippers’ head coach to win consecutive Coach of the Month awards. Lue has coached the Clippers to four consecutive winning seasons, extending the longest active streak in the NBA to 13 seasons. The third-winningest head coach in franchise history, Lue also led the organization to its first Western Conference Finals in 2021.

Before joining the Clippers, Lue was the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016-18, amassing a 128-83 (.607) record, taking the team to three consecutive NBA Finals, and winning the franchise’s first NBA title in 2016. During the 2015-16 season, Lue became the fourth head coach since 1980 to win an NBA Championship in his first year, and the 14th person to have won a title as a head coach and a player. Prior to Cleveland, Lue worked on the Clippers staff as an assistant coach from 2013-14. He joined the team after spending two years with the Boston Celtics as an assistant coach and director of basketball development.

A native of Mexico, Missouri, Lue played 11 seasons in the NBA, winning championships in 2000 and 2001 with the Lakers. He appeared in 554 career games and averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 assists. Lue attended the University of Nebraska, where he was selected First-Team All-Big 12 in 1998 and had his jersey (No. 10) retired by the school in 2017.

Lakers beat Pacers in 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament championship game

OC Register: Lakers coach Darvin Ham said ahead of Saturday’s In-Season Tournament championship game between his team and the Indiana Pacers that he didn’t want to reveal too much of their strategy. But the way the Lakers attacked the Pacers’ defense said everything that needed to be known about their gameplan: constantly attack the paint against an Indiana team that allows points in the paint at a league-worst rate (62.5 points per game).

OC Register: And the strategy worked, with the Lakers beating the Pacers 123-109 at T-Mobile Arena to win the inaugural Tournament and NBA Cup – and roughly $7.75 million spread throughout the Lakers roster and additional monetary compensation for the coaching staff. The Lakers attacked the heart of the Pacers’ defense repeatedly, scoring 86 points in the paint – more than they have in any other game this season – to make up for their lack of perimeter shooting (2 of 13 on 3-pointers).

ESPN.com: The Los Angeles Lakers are tied with the Boston Celtics for the most championships in NBA history. But after Saturday night, they are the only team in NBA history to have won the NBA Cup. Behind a masterful performance from Anthony Davis, who had 41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks, the Lakers won the inaugural in-season tournament with a 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. LeBron James, who added 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists, was named tournament MVP.

ESPN.com: The NBA Cup may be new, but the lesson it taught was as old as the league itself. To win anything of value, and the in-season tournament seems to have quickly established itself as such an event, you’re going to need superstars. In a way, that future Hall of Famers and champions LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ brilliant play proved to be the deciding factor in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers to claim the first-ever edition of the event verified its consequence. Playing on a neutral floor in December in a single game, it was hard to truly compare Saturday night it to any sort of playoff setting. But one thing was for certain, it was treated like an elimination game. There were aggressive game plans, heavy minutes and intensity. Situations where James has thrived for a long time.

Clippers sign Daniel Theis

The LA Clippers have signed center Daniel Theis, announced Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations.

Theis, 31, has appeared in 314 games with the Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls, averaging 7.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 54.2% from the field. The 6-foot-8 center has also appeared in 40 playoff games, averaging 5.8 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 52.7% from the field. A native of Salzgitter, Germany, Theis won a gold medal with Germany at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where he averaged 10.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in eight games.

Clippers reportedly may bring Russell Westbrook off the bench

Per ESPN.com:

The LA Clippers are expected to make a lineup change with Russell Westbrook coming off the bench to help the team snap a six-game losing streak against the Houston Rockets on Friday, sources confirmed to ESPN.

The Clippers (3-7) have lost six straight games, the last five with James Harden in the lineup. Versatile guard Terance Mann is expected to move into the starting lineup with Westbrook serving as sixth man for the first time in his Clippers tenure. Sources confirmed Westbrook talked to the Clippers coaching staff on Thursday about coming off the bench, a move that was first reported by Bleacher Report. Head coach Ty Lue will meet with reporters later during his pregame news conference on Friday night.

The team has been out of sync since Harden was acquired late at night on Oct. 30. Lue had started Westbrook, Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac and then staggered his four stars by pairing former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates Westbrook and George together with a second unit and Harden and Leonard together.

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