Jay Johnson

The LA Clippers have acquired the draft rights to center Daniel Oturu, the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for the Detroit Pistons second-round draft pick in 2023 and the draft rights to Mathias Lessort. The deal was announced by Lawrence Frank, Clippers President of Basketball Operations.

Oturu led the Big Ten with 11.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks to go along with 20.1 points in 33.9 minutes during his sophomore season at Minnesota. The 6-foot-10 center shot 56.3 percent from the field last season, which also led the Big Ten. The Woodbury, Minn., native was named to the 2019-20 Big Ten All-Defense team and 2019-20 All-Big Ten second team for the Gophers.

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LA Clippers Acquire Draft Rights to Daniel Oturu

For the first time since 2014, the LA Clippers are headed back to Las Vegas for Summer League, &amp; today they have announced their official 15-man roster.

After their three day mini-camp in Los Angeles, the team will kick off Summer League on Friday, July 7th vs. the Lakers on ESPN. Click here for the full schedule &amp; broadcast information.

Check out below for a closer look at our full squad that is heading to 2017 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Guard
                            Age: 25
                            Height: 6'6"
                            Weight: 220 lbs

Making his second appearance in the Las Vegas Summer League, Bell averaged 10.5 points &amp; 4.4 rebounds in 2015 while playing internationally in Italy. As a senior at Villanova he was selected first team All-Big East, &amp; was also the first player to be honored with BOTH the Big Five Player of the Year and Most Improved.

Forward
                            Age: 24
                            Height: 6'7"
                            Weight: 211 lbs

Making his third appearance in the Las Vegas Summer League, Brown brings two seasons of NBA experience to the team, with stints on the Pelicans, Magic, &amp; Lakers over the past two seasons. As a senior at Stanford, Brown was an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention pick, &amp; Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year nominee.

Guard
                            Age: 20
                            Height: 6'0"
                            Weight: 190 lbs

Acquired from the 76ers in exchange for cash considerations, Jawun Evans joins the team as the 39th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. In his final season at Oklahoma State he ranked 2nd in the Big 12 in scoring (19.2ppg) &amp; 1st in assists (6.4 apg). His 205 total dishes were 4th best in Cowboys history. Evans also won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the FIBA U19 World Championships.

Forward
                            Age: 22
                            Height: 6'9"
                            Weight: 220 lbs

The 2016 ACC Sixth Man of the Year will be making his first appearance in NBA Summer League. As a senior at UNC last season, Hicks started 39 games and averaged 11.8 points &amp; 5.5 rebounds, while shooting 57.4% from the field. He &amp; fellow Clipper summer leaguer, Brice Johnson, were also teammates at the University of North Carolina.

Forward
                            Age: 23
                            Height: 6'10"
                            Weight: 230 lbs

Brice Johnson will be making his 2nd appearance in NBA Summer League, and averaged 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, &amp; 1.8 assists last summer in Orlando. Johnson appeared in three games for the Clippers last season, after suffering a lower back injury, which sidelined him for much of his rookie year. As a senior, he set a UNC single-season record with 416 rebounds, &amp; was a consensus First Team All-American.

Guard
                            Age: 25
                            Height: 6'6"
                            Weight: 205 lbs

This will be Jaron Johnson’s third appearance at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He brings D-League &amp; International experience to the team, having played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers &amp; in Australia for the Perth Wildcats. In 2016 he led the Vipers in scoring, averaging 18.2 points per game.

Guard
                            Age: 25
                            Height: 6'4"
                            Weight: 200 lbs

Entering his fourth appearance in the Las Vegas Summer League, Marshall brings over 150 games of NBA experience to the roster, having played for the 76ers, Bucks, Lakers, &amp; Suns). In college at UNC, Marshall was the Bob Cousy Award winner in 2012 as the nation’s top point guard. Last season he averaged 15 points, 9.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds, &amp; 1.2 steals for the Reno Bighorns.

Guard
                            Age: 23
                            Height: 6'3"
                            Weight: 180 lbs

Michineau is making his second Summer League appearance for the Clippers, as he averaged 8.2 points, 1.2 rebound, &amp; 4.2 assists over 5 games last summer. The Clippers traded for the rights to Michineau, the 39th overall pick, last summer in the 2016 NBA Draft. He averaged 9.8 points, 2.9 assists, &amp; shot 46.8% from the field while playing internationally in France last season.

Guard
                            Age: 22
                            Height: 6'3"
                            Weight: 190 lbs

The undrafted rookie out of UC Irvine will be making his first appearance at NBA Summer League. As a senior, Nelson was named the Big West Player of the Year, averaging 16.9 points, 3 assists, 3.3 rebounds &amp; 1.7 steals. He led UCI in scoring, steals, three-pointers, &amp; also holds the school record for all-time threes made (258).

Forward
                            Age: 26
                            Height: 6'8"
                            Weight: 206 lbs

Like Kendall Marshall, Thompson brings plenty of NBA experience to the roster, having played in over 250 games for the 76ers &amp; Pelicans. He is making his second appearance in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, &amp; averaged 14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, &amp; 1.3 assists for the Austin Spurs last season. Thompson was a member of the Championship Sixers team during the 2014 NBA Pro Summer League in Orlando.

Center
                            Age: 24
                            Height: 7'0"
                            Weight: 225 lbs

Thompson is making his NBA Summer League debut. As a center for the D-League Erie Bayhawks, he averaged 12.1 points &amp; 7.5 rebounds per game, and also logged five double-doubles in 17 total games. As a junior at George Mason, Thompson led his conference in rebounding.

Guard
                            Age: 22
                            Height: 6'5"
                            Weight: 215 lbs

Acquired from the Bucks in exchange for cash considerations, Thornwell joins the team as the 48th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. As a senior for the University of South Carolina, Thornwell was named the 2017 SEC Player of the Year &amp; averaged career highs in nearly every statistical category. He helped fuel the Gamecocks Final Four run, averaging 23.6 points &amp; 7 rebounds per game in the tournament.

Forward
                            Age: 23
                            Height: 6'7"
                            Weight: 259 lbs

Warney averaged 17.3 points, 8 rebound, 1.4 assists, &amp; shot 57.6% from the field over 44 games for the Texas Legends in the D-League last season. A 2-time Summer League participant &amp; college AP Honorable Mention All-American for Stony Brook.

Forward
                            Age: 26
                            Height: 6'7"
                            Weight: 229 lbs

Another player with both International &amp; D-League experience, Wilson is making his fourth appearance in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Last season he averaged 13 points, 5.9 rebounds, &amp; 1.4 assists over 30 games playing internationally in Italy.

Forward
                            Age: 24
                            Height: 6'10"
                            Weight: 240 lbs

Acquired from the Rockets in the Chris Paul trade, Wiltjer joins the team &amp; will be making his second appearance in the Las Vegas Summer League. He appeared in 22 games for the Rockets last season, &amp; also averaged 20.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, &amp; 1.7 assists for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League.

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Clippers 2017 Summer League Roster Breakdown

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Top Photos of 2016-17 Season

2017 LA Clippers Spirit Pre-Audition Workshops

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LA Clippers Spirit Pre-Audition Workshops

The L.A. Clippers and the NBA Development League today announced that the Clippers have acquired the right to own and operate an NBA D-League team that will begin play in Ontario, Calif. for the 2017-18 season when the league will be called the NBA Gatorade League. The team’s name will be the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario.

The team is named for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, a federally recognized Tribe located in Palm Springs, Calif. The Tribe owns and operates the Agua Caliente Casino Resorts, which includes the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage and Spa Resort Casino in downtown Palm Springs. Agua Caliente Resorts is the Clippers’ Presenting Sponsor as well as the team’s Official Tribal Casino partner.

With 31,500 acres of reservation lands that spread across Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage and into the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains, the Tribe also owns Tahquitz and Indian Canyons recreational areas, and two 18-hole championship golf courses.

With today’s announcement, the NBA D-League grows to a record 26 teams for the 2017-18 season, all of which are owned or operated by an NBA club.

“This is another exciting day for the NBA D-League as we add a record 26th team and continue to move closer to our 30-team vision,” said NBA D-League President Malcolm Turner. “Today’s announcement is the latest example of the value NBA teams place on developing young talent on and off the court. I’m thrilled to welcome Steve Ballmer and the Clippers, in partnership with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, to the NBA D-League family.”

The Clippers’ new D-League affiliate will play its 24 home games at Ontario’s Citizens Business Bank Arena, which is located 40 miles east of Los Angeles. Opened in 2008, Citizens Business Bank Arena is the largest arena in the Inland Empire and is also home to the Ontario Reign AHL ice hockey, concerts and family events.

“This is a great day for the Clippers,” said Clippers President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Doc Rivers. “Having our own development team in the Inland Empire is another example of the dedication and investment to winning and creating a first-class organization that Steve Ballmer brings to this franchise. We now have a place close to home where our young players and staff members have the ability to develop and gain important experience.”

The NBA D-League recently completed a landmark season, establishing records for unique NBA players assigned with 92 and players on end-of-regular-season NBA rosters having NBA D-League experience with 199 (44% of NBA players).

“We are proud to team-up with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to bring highly competitive professional basketball to the Inland Empire,” said Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker. “This region has already demonstrated enormous passion for the Clippers. Locating our team in Ontario allows us to reward that enthusiasm and continue to build a deep connection with these fans by offering affordable, family fun right in their backyard.”

“We’re very excited about this partnership with the Clippers in the formation of a new basketball team,” Tribal Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe said. “Having a sports team named after our people is a great honor that recognizes the relevance of our history and culture as well as our existence today. Naming a team after a Tribe is a first for the NBA and the D-League.”

Season tickets are available for as low as $14 a seat per game, and fans interested in purchasing season tickets can call 909-406-9090 or visit: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/clippers/EN/link/buy/details/17FSO

For ticketing questions, e-mail: tickets@aguacalienteclippers.com

Two current Clippers have NBA D-League experience. Brice Johnson appeared in six games last season for the Salt Lake City Stars over two assignments with averages of 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in 19.3 minutes of action, while Diamond Stone appeared in 13 games with the Stars and Santa Cruz Warriors averaging 16.2 points and 7.0 rebounds in 21.7 minutes of play.

For more information on the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario, visit: https://www.clippers.com/dleague

The Clippers’ new D-League affiliate is currently looking for talent to staff our new team. Please click here to view full-time opportunities with the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario.

The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 22 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2016-17 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time high 38 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2015-16 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs.

About the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Palm Springs, California, with 31,500 acres of reservation lands that spread across Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, and into the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains. The Tribe owns Tahquitz and Indian Canyons recreational areas and operates two 18-hole championship golf courses, and the Agua Caliente Casino Resorts, which includes the Spa Resort Casino in downtown Palm Springs and the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage. For more information about the Tribe, visit www.aguacaliente-nsn.gov.

Citizens Business Bank Arena, built and owned by the City of Ontario, operated by SMG, includes 9,500 fixed seats with additional “portable” seating risers to accommodate capacities of 11,089 for concerts, 9,736 for ice hockey or arena football and 10,832 for basketball. The 225,000 square foot venue features 36 luxury suites located on two levels and a continuous concourse hosting a variety of refreshment stands, merchandise kiosks, a VIP club and other fan amenities. Citizens Business Bank Arena hosts ice hockey, arena soccer, arena football, and a variety of other sporting competitions, concerts, family shows, special events, conventions, school and community activities as well as private events. The Arena is home to Ontario Reign, an AHL Hockey Team and Ontario Fury, a Major Arena Soccer League Team. Citizens Business Bank Arena is the biggest and most modern arena within the Inland Empire, an area with over 4.2 million people. It is located in the City of Ontario, on a 37-acre parcel located between Haven Avenue and Milliken Avenue, Fourth Street and the I-10 Freeway. For more information and future updates please visit: CBBankArena.com.

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L.A. CLIPPERS BRING NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE TEAM TO ONTARIO, CA

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Chris Paul’s Fast Hands and Gruesome Fingers

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Pregame Report: Facing Elimination, Clippers Must Win to Force Game 7

SALT LAKE CITY - Following the Clippers Game 5 loss to the Jazz in the STAPLES Center, point guard Chris Paul decided to gaze in the past to provide comfort for the future.

“Fortunately we've got a lot of guys in the locker room who had to do this a couple years ago,” said Paul. “We had to go into a tough environment, win a game, come back home and win Game 7.”

Paul is referencing the 2015 playoff series against the Spurs, where the Clippers found themselves in the same situation as they are in now against Utah, down 3-2, heading to the visitors’ home court.

In that series, the Clippers traveled to San Antonio for Game 6 and defeated the reigning champions, overcoming a shallow bench using defensive grit and strong second half performances between Paul and Blake Griffin. The two teams then traveled back to Los Angeles for Game 7, the biggest game in Clipper franchise history.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, tied at 109 with five seconds left. After injuring his hamstring in the first half, Paul hit an off-balance, odd angled floater not only to win the game, but to silence outspoken critics questioning the team. The Clippers became the second team since 1999 to defeat the defending champions in the first round.

The current roster holdovers from the Clippers that season include Paul, Jamal Crawford, Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, J.J. Redick and Austin Rivers. All except the injured Griffin will play against Utah, barring unforeseen circumstances.

When asked if the team could take anything away from the 2015 San Antonio series, Paul said, “composure.”

Friday’s Game 6 is an elimination game for the Clippers, a team that is 4-4 in such games since Paul was traded to the Clippers. In those games, Paul has averaged an absurd 24 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. Throughout NBA history, the team with a 3-2 lead wins the series 84-percent of the time, a statistic many of the Clippers have been on the lesser side of.

“Jamal and I earlier were counting the times in our career we’ve been down 3-2 and won a series,” said Redick. “The mentality is, you can’t go to Utah and win two games.”

Luckily, the Clippers only need to win one game in Utah, where they won Game 3. If needed, Game 7 would be in Los Angeles.

To force a Game 7, the Clippers need to play their own style of game and quicken the pace. Since Rudy Gobert returned from injury, the Clippers have lost two straight, while Utah’s slower and bruting style has taken over.

“They’ve dictated the style of play,” said coach Doc Rivers.

Basically, the entire Clippers team has won playoff series before, using past experience to guide them this post-season, but Utah has a chance to win a playoff series for the first time since 2010, thanks in a large part to veterans Boris Diaw, George Hill, and Joe Johnson.

“I think, pretty simply, adding Joe and Boris and George has given some confidence to our group,” said Jazz coach Quin Snyder. “That didn't just happen in the Playoffs, that happened throughout the course of the year.”

The Jazz were one of the youngest teams in the league last year, narrowly missing the playoffs. During the offseason, Snyder added the three vets with hopes of them helping teach his young team. In the playoffs this year, the post-season inexperienced have deferred to the veterans for advice and big plays, especially Johnson, who has shot 80-percent in “clutch” situations.

“This is way different than a lot of us have been a part of, and so we're trying to soak up the experiences, lean on some of the veterans, Joe, G, Boris, let them guide us a little bit,” said Gordon Hayward.

Heading into the spirited Vivint Smart Home Arena for Game 6, according to Rivers, both the Clippers and the Jazz are in a must-win scenario. If the Clippers are to come back from another 3-2 deficit, they’ll rely on veteran know-how, just as the Jazz are depending on theirs. Once again, the Clippers have a chance to silence national critics, however, Rivers believes focusing on the outcome is detrimental.

“If you do think about the results, or what’s going to happen before, and not the process, you lose,” said Rivers. “If you go into something thinking what happens if this happens, you’ve lost.”