The Clippers are acquiring free agent center/forward Kai Jones, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The 19th pick in the 2021 draft was waived by the Charlotte Hornets earlier this season. He is finalizing a multi-year deal with the Clippers.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers are waiving Josh Primo to create the roster space for Jones. Primo suffered a season-ending ankle injury. He made two appearances for the Clippers this season, earning a total of five minutes of playing time.
Jones, 23, has played 67 NBA games in his short career. He’s averaging 2.7 points, two rebounds and 0.3 assists on 56.7% shooting.
He will likely not feature in the Clippers’ primary rotation during the playoffs. However, there’s no denying that he has the talent and potential to become an impactful center in the league in the near future.
The Clippers are adding a high-motor rim runner to their roster. His acquisition is a low-risk, high-reward move by the front office as they look to add cost-controlled talent around their expensive star core.
Finding young talent like Jones is essential for second-apron teams under the new Collective Barganing Agreement.
Jones had a brief spell with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this season. He was with the team on a 10-day contract. However, an injury derailed his time with the franchise, leading him to rejoin the free agency pool at the end of his short-term deal.
Ty Lue’s team currently sits fourth in the Western Conference. It will likely begin its postseason with a first-round matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Clippers have needed some additional size within their deep bench rotation. Now, they’ve filled that void and head into the postseason as a more complete team.