6:16pm: Primo’s two-way deal is official, the Clippers announced (via Twitter).
3:23pm: The Clippers have reached an agreement to sign free agent guard Joshua Primo to a two-way contract, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
The news comes on the heels of the NBA’s announcement that Primo will be suspended for four games for conduct detrimental to the league. An investigation into the circumstances that led to Primo’s release from the Spurs nearly a year ago found that he “engaged in inappropriate and offensive behavior by exposing himself to women,” per a statement from the NBA.
One of those women, Dr. Hillary Cauthen, was a sports psychologist who was employed by the Spurs at the time. She filed a lawsuit against Primo and the Spurs that accused the team of being “willing to tolerate abhorrent conduct” by prized athletes.
While that lawsuit was settled a few weeks later, a spokesperson from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office tells Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News that it filed an indecent exposure case against Primo with the district attorney’s office in May after having interviewed Cauthen. Indecent exposure is a misdemeanor that is punishable by a maximum of 180 days in a state prison and a maximum fine of up to $2,000, per Orsborn.
According to Wojnarowski, Primo has been undergoing therapy since being cut by the Spurs and that treatment will continue in Los Angeles. Wojnarowski adds (via Twitter) that the Clippers organization was comfortable giving the 20-year-old this opportunity after he was evaluated by specialists who consult with the team.
Primo, the 12th overall pick in 2021, was the youngest player drafted in his class. He averaged 5.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 50 games (16 starts; 19.3 minutes per night) as a rookie, but struggled with efficiency, posting a .374/.307/.746 shooting slash line.
He will be ineligible to play in the first four games of the Clippers’ regular season while he serves his suspension.
He has a lot of talent hopefully he has learned from his mistakes don’t know if the Clippers are right spot for him to develop.
Well. Hopefully he’s actually gotten the therapy and/or medication to deal with whatever made him want to expose himself. I can’t really say much else. He’s still an unknown, and also still just a dumb kid.
News flash there’s no medication that will stop a sexual predator i’m sorry
Just say it was an accident.
“It just slipped out, your honor. You see, I recently lost some weight and tend to wear very loose shorts with no garment beneath them. So when I walked into the room, which just so happened to be filled with beautiful women, BAM. They fell right off!
…why did I have my hand around my private region? To cover myself up, of course!
…why did I, then, proceed to move my wrist in a back-and forth-motion? No, you see, it only appeared that way because the stress of the situation caused a cramp that needed to be stretched out for pain relief. No different than when you see an athlete stretching before games.
….your honor, are you still listening? Hello? Wait, how did these handcuffs end up on my wrists?”
@shea- I actually had an ex tell me she “accidentally” slept with some other ex of hers..twice. Long story short, it ended my thoughts of getting back together with her.
Side note..I was wondering if this was a different type of 2 way contract, where 1/2 is a work release program.
lmao
Kevin Porter, jr. says, “I got next!”
Should get some decent exposure out in LA
Apparently you can be as terrible as you want to women and the NBA will welcome you back with open arms after one season off.
But don’t you dare have a drug/mental health problem that harms no one but yourself! Then you’ll be booted from the league permanently (OJ Mayo, Tyreke Evans)
I’d wager a drug or alcohol problem is potentially more destructive to more people
What world do you live in that someone’s drug and or mental issues don’t affect others 69 ? Magic la la land ?
I wonder if I expose myself to my coworkers if I’ll only be told to take 4 shifts off? What do y’all think?
Only one way to find out…
Much like Primo you’d most likely get terminated and perhaps an indecent exposure charge. If you didn’t have a prior record since it’s a misdemeanor you’d probably get probation and a fine. Then after some time you’d get hired at a different job. The only difference is your old job wouldn’t pay you for a year.
They’d keep paying if you signed a contract and were unionized.
Think it depends on how talented you are… Are there 29 other companies ready to hire and compete for your services?
Ask Jeffery Tubin
Awful decision by the league. He isn’t even good enough to take a chance on he was a bust.
Expecting a 20 year old to light up the stage on the basketball court is like expecting a 4 year old to build you a space rocket. Think it’s a bit early to call them a bust.
He is on his 2nd team already and in a spurs dictionary I’m sure even if he’s somehow able to keep his nba job, he is a bust. Lottery pick that failed miserably with them. There have been some players that come in in their teens and are superstars too. Morant, Luka, Herro is a better comp cause he was drafted closer instead of top 3, but those weren’t 4 year old space scientists or engineers either.
As a Spurs fan, I can tell you Primo showed enough flashes and growth in the preseason to where there was real hope for his future. And he was a drafted as a long-term project. Projects aren’t busts after one season unless they would show you absolutely nothing on the court. He should enough.
But it’s all moot now. I’m glad the organization cut ties with him rather than doing what so many other organizations do in bringing him back after his extended time off. It’s a shame to lose his talent, especially at a position of need, but it is what it is.
Fire silver
So according to Cauthen, the Spurs are willing to tolerate such conduct athleteS(as in plural) yet, only the young black kid is the only one facing repercussions? Hmmmmmmm
All you do on this website is cry racism for everything. If a black person does ANYTHING wrong, it’s an instance of racism and a double standard. You did it with Ja and now Primo. You continually argue for the wrong side. The side that is closer to morally bankrupt, much like you. As someone who is mixed, you sicken me.
The Spurs had to settle with this woman out of court. There are your repercussions.