The Clippers have an All-NBA center in DeAndre Jordan.
Behind him?
His primary backup last season, Marreese Speights, remains a free agent. Blake Griffin and Montrezl Harrell can and should play center, especially to get Danilo Gallinari more minutes at power forward. But both Griffin and Harrell are undersized and can’t handle every matchup.
The 6-foot-11 Willie Reed can get the rest
Chris Haynes of ESPN:
Free agent center Willie Reed has reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources tell ESPN. One-year, $1.5 million pact.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 18, 2017
It sounds as if Reed is getting just his minimum salary ($1,471,382), though the Clippers could have offered a little more with the mid-level or bi-annual exception.
That’s good value for a fringe rotation player. Reed is at least solid at all the traditional big-man skills – finishing inside, rebounding, protecting the rim.
It must be disappointing for the 27-year-old – who opted out of a minimum deal with the Heat – to receive his third minimum (or near-minimum) salary in three NBA seasons. Time is running out to cash in, but it’s a tough market for centers.