Our exit interview series on the 2023 Clippers nears its close with a look at two-way guard Xavier Moon.
Basic Information
Height: 6’2
Weight: 170 pounds
Position: Point Guard
Age: 28
Years in NBA: 2
NBA Stats: 1.8 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 5.0 minutes per game across 4 games played (0 starts) on 33.3/33.3/0 (0.8 3PA, 0 FTA attempts) shooting splits (38.9 True Shooting)
G-League Stats: 20.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.6 turnovers in 31.0 minutes per game across 48 games played (regular season + showcase cup) on 52.3/38.9/82.3 shooting splits (4.4 3PA, 1.8 FTA attempts) shooting splits
Expectations
There really weren’t any expectations from Clippers’ fans for Xavier Moon going into the 2023 season, as he wasn’t on the roster. Knowing that he was back with the Ontario Clippers raised the chance that he would get called up for a 10-day deal, but with both two-way spots filled and no real roster room for Moon, it seemed improbable he’d really play for the Clippers in 2023.
Reality
Xavier Moon signed a two-way deal on March 1, 2023 after the Clippers had waived Moses Brown, but stayed in Ontario for most of the season. He played in just four games for the LA Clippers, all garbage time, and just hit the 20-minute mark for the NBA season.
Moon’s G-League numbers were quite impressive, earning him an All G-League Third Team nod. However, considering he won multiple Canadian League MVPs, we all knew he could excel in non-NBA levels. He’s a good, highly efficient scorer, with a low free throw rate made up for by excellent midrange shooting and solid three-point shooting. Moon is also a steady-ish ballhandler, with an assist to turnover ratio of over 2:1, and contributes at least a bit on the glass as well. Though undersized, he’s a feisty defender and good at forcing turnovers. In short, he’s a good, competent basketball player, but the questions of what he’d add to an NBA roster as a below-the-rim guard who isn’t really *great* at anything remain. He would be fine in a third point guard type role, I just don’t know if teams would sign a 28-year-old without NBA pedigree for that type of spot.
Future with Clippers
Moon is a 28-year-old journeyman who has had two small cups of coffee in the NBA and thrived at lower levels. While it seems like the Clippers love having him in their organization due to his vibes and his steady presence in Ontario, he can almost certainly get more money overseas. Maybe he loves living in Southern California and doesn’t want to do the international circuit, but it wouldn’t be shocking if he went elsewhere. As for the NBA, it just seems unlikely that any team (even the Clippers) will give him much of a shot considering his age and size. If he’s in Ontario again next year, there’s a decent chance he gets a 10 day contract at some point, but I think odds are higher he’ll be elsewhere next season.