Our exit interview series on the 2023 Clippers continues with a look at backup center Mason Plumlee.
Basic Information
Height: 6’11
Weight: 254 pounds
Position: Center
Age: 33
Years in NBA: 10
Key Regular Season Stats: 7.5 points, 1.7 assists, 6.9 rebounds, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1.3 turnovers in 19.9 minutes per game across 23 games played (four starts) on 72.7/77.2 (2.5 FTA) shooting splits.
Postseason Stats: 8.2 points, 1.8 assists, 6.8 rebounds, 0.4 steals, 0.4 blocks, 0.6 turnovers in 18.2 minutes per game across five games played (zero starts) on 87.5/92.9 (2.8 FTA) shooting splits.
Expectations
It a was huge sigh of relief for Clippers fans when Mason Plumlee was acquired at the trade deadline. Fans had been clamoring for a backup center since the offseason when Isaiah Hartenstein signed with the New York Knicks. Throughout the first half of the season the lack of a true backup showed. The Clippers routinely got hammered on the boards with small lineups and had no real rim protection in the second unit.
Plumlee had been having a solid season on a bad Charlotte Hornets team and was a prime candidate to be moved to a contender. He was one of the top centers available on the trade market.
Reality
Overall, Plumlee did his job. During the first few games of his Clippers tenure, he showed precisely why the team needed a backup center in the worst way. In fact, fans on social media often wondered what the Clippers record would have looked like had they had a competent backup center from the beginning of the season.
Plumlee brought a lot of energy to the second unit on both ends of the court. His activity on the boards and penchant for diving after loose balls kept a lot of possessions alive for the Clippers. He was efficient offensively too. He’s a strong finisher at the basket and his teammates looked for him.
There were times when Plumlee tried to do a little too much, especially when it came to him handling the ball and being a playmaker. But he has that ability as long as it’s harnessed in spurts. He’s almost like a Hartenstein-lite in that regard. Plumlee’s best playmaking came when he was passing out of the post or at the top of the key/high post/elbow areas. He was less efficient trying to handle the ball and initiate.
Future with Clippers
Plumlee heads into the 2023 offseason as an unrestricted free agent. The Clippers find themselves in the same situation they were a year ago with Isaiah Hartenstein. Plumlee played well enough that he will most definitely have other suitors on the free agent market.
The Clippers saw what happened at the beginning of last season when they lacked a real backup center. They should not make that mistake again. As long as it doesn’t break the bank, the Clippers should re-sign Plumlee this offseason.
