NBA Rumors: Clippers Could Sign Lakers Alternative

The Los Angeles Clippers are still not done making additions to their squad ahead of training camp and could add one more player – which could come back to bite their city rivals Los Angeles Lakers. Joakim Noah is expected to join the Clippers for workouts this week with the hope of joining the NBA title favorites ahead of the new season.

The 34-year-old center is a free agent after being released by Memphis Grizzlies earlier in the summer. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Noah will join the Clippers for workouts this week after losing out to Dwight Howard in the race to join the Lakers when they were looking for a replacement for DeMarcus Cousins, who is out for the season with an ACL injury.

Noah played 42 games for the Grizzlies last season and was quite impressive off the bench. He averaged 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists playing just 16 minutes per contest while on a veteran’s minimum deal with the team.

The Grizzlies currently have 14 guaranteed contracts and can make one more permanent addition prior to the regular season. They currently have Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell in their rotation to play in the No. 5 position and experts believe that Noah can provide the cover they need against talented big men in the NBA like Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, Karl Anthony-Towns, Rudy Gobert and Kristaps Porzingis among others.

The Lakers were considering Noah as a replacement for Cousins and held workouts with the veteran center, but they eventually chose to sign Howard, who was waived by the Washington Wizards. Now with both teams considered favorites for the NBA title in 2020, he could have a point to prove for being snubbed by the Clippers city rivals.

There is, however, no certainty that the Clippers will add the veteran to the roster for the regular season, but with the team possessing solid depth in every other area, the center could help them with important minutes from the bench.