The Clippers have placed forward Bobby Simmons on the injured list today with a severely sprained left hip and signed free agent small forward Matt Barnes to a 10-day contract. Barnes joins the Clippers after averaging 18.9 points per game with the Long Beach Jam of the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Simmons suffered his injury on January 16 versus Miami and a timetable has not been set for his return to action. Simmons is enjoying the most productive season of his young career, averaging 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Barnes was drafted by Memphis with 43rd overall selection in the 2002 NBA Draft and was traded on draft night along with Nick Anderson to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Wesley Person. Barnes was waived by Cleveland on October 18, 2002 and played last season for the Fayetteville Patriots of the NBDL.
A four-year player at UCLA, Barnes finished his collegiate career as the 43rd player in UCLA history to top 1000 career points. He helped lead the Bruins to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including three consecutive trips to the regional semifinals.