The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent forward Matt Barnes, guard Darren Collison, center Ryan Hollins and guard Chris Paul. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not announced.
Barnes, 33, returns to the Clippers after having a career year in Los Angeles last season. The 10-year NBA veteran averaged a career-high 10.3 points in 2012-13 to go along with 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 25.7 minutes in 80 games (four starts). The UCLA product has played for eight NBA teams in his career and holds career averages of 7.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.7 steals in 640 games (182 starts).
Collison, 25, is another former UCLA star and a native of Rancho Cucamonga, CA where he attended Etiwanda High School. Collison joins the Clippers after appearing in 81 games (47 starts) for the Dallas Mavericks last season, averaging 12.0 points, 5.1 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 29.3 minutes. The four-year veteran started his NBA career in New Orleans where he was teammates with current Clipper Chris Paul. Collison brings career averages of 12.1 points, 5.2 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 296 games (219 starts) with the Mavericks, Indiana Pacers and Hornets.
Hollins, 28, returns to the Clippers after posting averages of 3.4 points and 2.3 rebounds over 11.1 minutes while playing in 60 games. A Pasadena, CA native and former standout at UCLA, Hollins owns career averages of 4.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 374 games (55 starts) with the Clippers, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Bobcats over his six-year career.
Paul, 28, re-signs with the Clippers after two scintillating seasons in L.A. The North Carolina native enjoyed another successful season in 2012-13, earning First Team All-NBA honors for the second straight season and his fifth overall All-NBA honor. Paul was the MVP of the 2013 All-Star Game and was also named a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the second straight season. Paul appeared in 70 games (all starts) and averaged 16.9 points, 9.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.41 steals in 33.4 minutes. He led the league in steals per game and assists-to-turnover ratio while finishing second in the NBA in assists per game while leading the Clippers in assists, steals and free throws made. Paul earned the NBA Western Conference Player of the Month award for December after helping the Clippers to a 16-0 month and became the fourth player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points and 5,000 career assists before his 28th birthday.
A six-time NBA All-Star, Paul played the first six seasons of his career in New Orleans and was the 2005-06 NBA Rookie of the Year. The former Wake Forest star owns career averages of 18.3 points, 9.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 555 career games.