According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the L.A. Clippers are signing veteran free agent center Joakim Noah.
Noah, who turned 35 last month, had rebounded from a miserable late-career stint with the New York Knicks by being an effective backup center for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018-19. Playing 16 minutes a night in 42 appearances after being picked up mid-season, Noah averaged 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, looking more like himself than he ever did in New York.
However, Noah reportedly suffered a career-threatening injury this summer, and his ability to return to the NBA was in question.
But for a Clippers team that needs another option to close games at center besides Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell, the former defensive player of the year gives Doc Rivers a trustworthy situational center on the bench.
Noah fills the Clippers’ final roster spot–and if he contributes as much as fellow mid-season signee Reggie Jackson, the team will have addressed their roster weaknesses better than we could have hoped.