Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES – The Clippers trimmed the roster to 15 players with Sunday’s release of Chuck Hayes.
Head coach Doc Rivers made clear Sunday it’ll stay at that number for the time being.
“We’re going to carry the 15 for a while and see how that works,” Rivers said. “Chuck’s tough, because I would’ve liked him on the team. He’s a pro and a great guy to have on your team.”
The belief was it was a two-man race for the 15th roster spot between Hayes and recent signing Luc Mbah a Moute, if the Clippers decided to keep 15 players at all.
The latest news appears good for Mbah a Moute.
“I just show up for work,” Mbah a Moute joked. “They didn’t tell me I can’t be here anymore, so I’m here.”
And it’s where he’d like to stay after his peculiar situation with the Kings, which is still getting resolved. A grievance was filed and lawyers on both sides are still talking after Sacramento voided Mbah a Moute’s contract for a failed physical because of an alleged shoulder injury Mbah a Moute says has never been a limitation for him.
The end result was Mbah a Moute landing in Los Angeles, fighting to make a team. It’s not a situation he’d like to repeat, but he’s glad he fell where he did, and he’s just trying to enjoy it. He said even as the Clippers were set to make a cut, it wasn’t something he was thinking about.
“I’ve never been in this situation,” Mbah a Moute said. “I didn’t look at it like I have to make the team. I looked at it as getting back to playing basketball.”
After training at home during the summer, he’s just glad to be back on the court. He said he’s moved on from the Sacramento situation, and he doesn’t want to stay caught up in the past.
Instead, he’s looking forward.
“I’m just glad for the opportunity to be on this team,” Mbah a Moute said. “This team has a chance to be something special and to be a part of it would be special. I’m glad it worked out for me.”
Mbah a Moute said whatever Rivers wants from him, he’ll be ready to contribute. But Mbah a Moute and Rivers both know the side of the floor he needs to excel on.
“He’s one of those guys that can be a great team defender,” Rivers said. “It all goes back to defense. He’s just one of those guys that can guard multiple positions. He’s also a good vet to have in the locker room.”
Crawford Update
While speaking from the Clippers’ Feed the Community event Sunday, Crawford said he was feeling much better and should be fine for the regular season opener after missing the preseason finale with a triceps injury.
Crawford said he was able to work out hard Saturday and felt fine, and he was back on the court for Sunday’s practice. The injury occurred in a previous practice.
“It was funny, because I felt like it was a funny bone at first,” Crawford said. “At practice at USC, went through it, everything was fine, but later that night I was getting some water at the store and … I looked and it was swollen and I’m like, ‘Woah.’ Got some treatment that night. I’ll be fine. No problems.”
Rivers said with Crawford back, everyone now appears healthy.
“It’s been good so far,” Rivers said of the injury situation. “It’s all luck. Anybody who tells you they can prevent injuries are not telling the truth.”
A Nod To Pop
It was going to take someone special to follow Mike Krzyzewski at Team USA.
The Clippers, who have three players in Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan who practiced with Team USA this summer, had only positive things to say about Team USA’s decision to make Gregg Popovich the country’s next head coach.
“Pop is amazing,” Paul said. “I was surprised, obviously, because that’s a big commitment. But I think it’s huge for USA basketball. I couldn’t imagine replacing Coach K with anybody other than somebody like Coach Popovich.”
Paul isn’t thinking beyond next summer, and Popovich won’t take over until 2017, but he knows from talking to players such as Tony Parker and Tim Duncan the kind of respect Popovich has from his players. It also means something to Paul that Team USA has a strong figurehead for the future.
“I think it gives it a lot of credibility,” Paul said. “It shows you’re playing for a coach who’s going to teach you and try to make you better.”
Head coach Doc Rivers also liked the decision.
“They got it right,” Rivers said. “I think it was the only choice."