Despite boasting a top five record entering the latter half of the 2023-24 regular season, there are still question marks looming around Los Angeles. The Clippers are currently 20th in the league in rebounds per game, with OKC being the only top ten team grabbing fewer boards per contest. They [the Thunder] signed veteran big man Bismack Biyombo after the passing of the February 8th trade deadline, attempting to help solve some of their shortcomings on the glass.
The Clippers, meanwhile, failed to make any moves, much to the dismay of P.J. Tucker, who was extremely vocal about his wish to be relocated prior to the deadline. The thirty-eight year old has since remained vocal, posting several passive aggressive Instagram stories in relation to the matter. He’s a negative on the court, and his immature off court behavior can only hinder the Clippers chances of hanging their first banner. His wishes of a contract buyout should be fulfilled, if for no other reason than removing a cancer from the locker room.
At this point, there are few notable names on the buyout market. Available players include, but are not limited to: Juan Toscano-Anderson, Joe Harris, Furkan Korkmaz, Daniel House Jr, Danny Green, and Ish Smith. None of whom provide the size / rebounding the Clippers should be looking to add. Two-way signee Moussa Diabate is currently averaging over eight rebounds a game in the gleague, but has several flaws in his game that would be difficult to hide in a playoff series, the most notable being his limited range offensively.
There is, however, a former Clipper currently playing in the g-league that can provide both rebounding and spacing by the name of Malik Fitts. Fitts is listed anywhere between 6’6 and 6’8, weighing in at 230 lbs with a near 7’ wingspan. Over the course of his NBA career, he averaged 9.7 rebounds per 36 minutes with a total rebound percentage of 14.8. Both of these marks would rank 4th on the team behind just Zubac, Plumlee, and Diabate. Unlike the aforementioned trio, Fitts has an absolute cannon. He shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc in each of his two years at St. Mary’s, and has a conversion rate of 50% for his NBA career (albeit a small sample size). This season with the Cleveland Charge, Fitts is posting averages of 13 points, over 6 rebounds, and nearly 2 assists a night. His wingspan makes him a nightmare matchup defensively, and on the offensive end, is capable of putting the ball on the floor and creating his own shot. At the very least, Fitts is a great locker room guy that not only knows, but embraces his role.
Malik Fitts has the tools and size that the Clippers are so glaringly lacking. In addition, he contributes positive energy and celebrates team success. Those qualities need to be shared from top to bottom within an organization if there’s hopes of hanging a banner in the rafters.
TLDR- P.J Tucker reaches buyout, Malik Fitts resigns
Malik Fitts highlights:
by sp5__
