Clippers: Ruben Patterson Signs
The Los Angeles Clippers signed free agent forward Ruben Patterson on Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to add Ruben to our team,” Los Angeles Clippers Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor said. “Ruben plays hard every single night. He is an aggressive defensive player and has a real enthusiasm for the game. He gives 100 percent every game.”
Patterson was one of the few remaining quality free agents still looking for a home. The Los Angeles Clippers still had the majority of their Mid-Level Exception (MLE) available after signing guard Brevin Knight to a reasonable contract earlier in the month.
The details of Patterson's deal haven't leaked yet (years, dollars, etc).
With the injury to Elton Brand (ruptured Achilles' tendon), the Los Angeles Clippers were in desperate need of frontcourt help. Unfortunately replacing Elton Brand is nearly impossible. The remaining power forwards (Chris Webber, PJ Brown) simply weren't the right fit . . . so the Los Angeles Clippers signed the rugged Patterson as the next best option.
Now LA is stacked at small forward with Corey Maggette, rookie Al Thornton, Quinton Ross, Tim Thomas and Patterson (all capable of playing the three).
While there is some speculation that the Los Angeles Clippers may be looking to make a trade to fill in for Elton Brand, the current roster may be enough to tread water until he returns (hopefully in late February). That assumes that everyone else remains healthy, especially Sam Cassell and Corey Maggette
While Corey Maggette is the team's most tradable asset in the last year of his contract, he's also the team's most explosive scorer in Elton Brand's absence.
Expect the Los Angeles Clippers to experiment with players like Thomas, Thornton and Patterson at the four before making any drastic roster moves. Patterson may only be 6'5" but he's strong, tough defender who may surprise out of position.
The signing of Patterson would appear to mean that Yaroslav Korolev will not make the opening night roster. Though the Los Angeles Times reported that he had reached an agreement to return to the club, that contract has yet to be signed. At this point there just doesn't appear to be a roster spot available.
It also means Jared Jordan, the team's second round pick in June's draft, may struggle to find a spot as well. While Guillermo Diaz signed a partially guaranteed, multi-year deal . . . Jordan has yet to ink.
Currently the rotation approximates to the following:
PG Sam Cassell/Brevin Knight/Shaun Livingston (eventually)/Jared Jordan?
SG Cuttino Mobley/Quinton Ross/Guillermo Diaz?
SF Corey Maggette/Al Thornton/Ruben Patterson/Yaroslav Korolev?
PF Tim Thomas/Josh Powell/Elton Brand (eventually)
C Chris Kaman/Aaron Williams/Paul Davis
Coach Mike Dunleavy will have his hands full trying to dole out minutes. Who will be the primary backups for Corey Maggette and Thomas? Only one of Diaz, Jordan and Korolev fit on the roster unless something unexpected happens.
In the meantime the Los Angeles Clippers landed a nice player in Patterson.
“I am really excited by our signing of Ruben Patterson,” Los Angeles Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy said. “He is a great competitor. I have always admired the intensity he brings from game to game. His versatility will help improve our team.”
KEY NEWSLINES
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Yes, Yi Jianlian is following Yao Ming as China's latest import to the National Basketball Association. And the 7-foot power forward indeed will be playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. After Bucks owner Herb Kohl made a trip to Hong Kong to conduct personal negotiations with Yi's representatives, the young Chinese star signed a multiyear deal with the Bucks, ending a saga that began on draft night when he was selected with the sixth overall pick by Milwaukee."
Basketball News: "After months of speculation which had the Sacramento Kings swingman heading to either Miami or New York in an offseason deal, Artest himself put an end to any second guessing to where he will play this coming season. "I don't think a trade's going to happen, " Artest said in an interview with Newsday. "I don't think anybody will give me up the way I've been working out this summer."
Houston Chronicle: "Alston, according to some sources, was not handling the flood of challenges to his job well. He has rarely joined informal workouts at the Toyota Center with his teammates. He claimed that he didn't know any members of Adelman's new coaching staff were in town. Then he simply didn't show up. Sounds like Skip To My Lou is tripping toward the door. The question is: How much harder does this make it to move Alston?"
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