7:01pm: The signing is now official, per a release from the team.
4:30pm: As expected, the Clippers are now in agreement with Patrick Patterson on a one-year, minimum-salary contract, league sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Wojnarowski first reported two weeks ago when Patterson agreed to a buyout with the Thunder that the veteran forward intended to sign with the Clippers once he cleared waivers. It seems that signing got somewhat delayed, but Woj’s report today confirms that the two sides are still on track to finalize a deal.
Patterson, 30, signed a three-year contract with Oklahoma City in 2017 after serving as a reliable stretch four off the bench for several seasons in Toronto. However, the former lottery pick struggled with injuries and inconsistencies during his two seasons with the Thunder, knocking down just 33.6% of his three-point attempts in 2018/19, well below his career rate of 36.7%.
With Oklahoma City in rebuilding mode and looking to duck under the luxury tax, it made sense for Patterson and the team to work out an agreement that removed his expiring deal from OKC’s books and freed up the veteran to join a contender.
Patterson reportedly gave up $3.5MM of his $5.7MM salary with the Thunder as part of his buyout agreement with the team, though he’ll make back about $2.33MM on a minimum deal with the Clippers. It will count for approximately $1.62MM on L.A.’s cap.
Once Patterson officially signs with the Clippers, the team will have 18 players under contract, including 14 on guaranteed deals and a pair on two-way pacts.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
How the times have changed for fans in OKC. They drafted MVP’s in three straight years but now they’re all gone. Two went to Houston in lop-sided trades and the third will play his twilight years in Brooklyn on an overrated team. Now all they can hope is for the Thunder to draft one MVP over the next few years, if they’re lucky.
You think Westbrook trade was lopsided for Houston?
Bwhahahaha…ok….
Yes.
I saw it as pretty much a wash, once you figure in change of scenery, and peripherals, with it perhaps being better individually for both Lil Russ and CP3.
Of course it is, there’s no doubt about it. Chris Paul has nothing left, he missed 24 games in each of the last two seasons and that number will only rise as he gets even older. His production dropped both years in Houston and he has very little to offer for OKC.
Westbrook is still in his prime averaging 4.5 more PPG than CP3 over his career plus a vast difference in rebounding. And while Westbrick is known for being a terrible 3-point shooter, he won’t be asked to shoot that many with the Rockets. They have plenty of other good shooters like Harden, Gordon, Tucker, Gerald Green, and Danuel House. Austin Rivers has also improved his 3-point shooting so Russ will mostly drive to the basket or pass off to an open shooter on most of his possessions as a the Rockets newest MVP.
so no mention of the 2 first round picks or the pick swaps? or mention of russ 4 year boat anchor contract? just straight comparison of russ vs cp3? excellent analysis….you should be on espn