Doc Rivers must upgrade the Clippers’ bench.
Where might he look?
Across the hall.
Wesley Johnson is exactly the type of player the Clippers should pursue. They have a strong core in Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and – they hope – DeAndre Jordan. They need more solid role players, and Johnson fits the bill.
He’s a 3-and-D combo forward – solid at both skills, though spectacular at neither. The Clippers need more help at small forward, but a stretch four would give them helpful versatility.
Johnson had a solid season for the Lakers in 2013-14, and that earned him just a minimum contract. He produced at a similar level this season, though proving his consistency could increase his value.
If the Clippers can get him at the minimum, they should do it. If Johnson costs more, they should evaluate other free-agent options. They’ll be over the cap and without the bi-annual exception (given last year to Jordan Farmar). Johnson would help, but not so much that the Clippers should necessarily use a portion of their mid-level exception on him.