Our exit interview series on the 2024 Clippers moves on with two-way guard Xavier Moon.

Basic Information

Height: 6’2

Weight: 170 pounds

Position: Point Guard

Age: 29

Years in NBA: 3

NBA Stats: 2.4 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 8.5 minutes per game across 14 games played (1 start) on 32.6/11.8/50 (1.2 3PA, 0.1 FTA attempts) shooting splits (35.2 True Shooting)

Expectations

Xavier Moon was not on the Clippers’ NBA roster when the season began, but as he was once again back with the Ontario Clippers in the G-League, most fans of the team expected Moon to make an appearance for the Clips in the NBA at some point. The expectations for Moon were strong G-League play and good bench vibes in the NBA.

Reality

For the third year in a row Xavier Moon started as a regular G-League player for the Ontario Clippers before getting signed by the Clippers to a two-way deal. This season, however, the signing was much earlier than previous years, as the Clippers brought in Moon as a two-way in November after promoting Josh Primo from a two-way to the full roster. Even more than prior years, the Moon signing was odd, as the Clippers were probably deeper at point guard than any other position.

As always, Moon mostly just played in garbage time, appearing twice in mid-December and then not appearing for the Clippers (in the NBA) until mid-March. Moon then appeared in quite a few more games, but didn’t get sustained run until the final three games of the year when the Clippers were sitting nearly all of their veterans. It was an opportunity for Moon, but the basketball was less than pleasant.

Overall, it was a very similar season to Moon’s prior two campaigns, with most of his time spent as the starting point guard in Ontario and just deep bench duty in Los Angeles.

Future with Clippers

The Clippers (or any other team) can no longer sign Xavier Moon to two-way deals, as he would have more than three years of NBA experience. Moon is now 29.5 years old, and while he’s clearly an awesome G-League player, small guards with no dominant skills are just incredibly unlikely to be signed to full NBA deals. The Clippers clearly love Moon for who he is and his ability to organize the G-League Clips, but one has to think they won’t sign him to a full deal. Maybe Xavier is happy staying in the G-League and getting the odd 10-day contract here or there, or maybe he goes back overseas. But it’s hard to see him getting signed to a “real” deal by the Clippers from here on out.

2024 Clippers Exit Interview: Xavier Moon
Robert Flom

Per Shams Charania of the Athletic, the Clippers plan to sign current two-way player Josh Primo to a full deal, and then sign Xavier Moon to the vacant two way spot.

The “plan to” component is key, as Andrew Greif of the LA Times then said shortly thereafter that “nothing appears imminent” regarding end of roster moves. The Clippers had two weeks to sign a 14th player to their roster after the Harden deal, giving them another 9 days or so to make something happen. Maybe the Clippers sign someone else if they become available, but this seems to be the “plan” right now.

Quite frankly, I don’t understand it. I already wrote about my feelings on Primo at length, and don’t want to re-hash. But even from a basketball perspective, this doesn’t make much sense.

The Clippers depleted their veteran forward depth in the Harden deal, and are loaded at guards. The logical move would be to sign a veteran forward, preferably more at the 4, to supplement PJ Tucker and provide backup depth. The Clippers moving to sign Primo and Moon does none of that.

Primo, while 6’5, is absolutely more of a guard than a true wing, much less a forward. He’s also extremely young and more of a long-term prospect than any kind of win-now player. That sort of signing makes basketball sense as a two-way, not as a full-time roster player. Even if you think Primo is capable of providing depth minutes for a playoff contender (and nothing in his first year plus in the NBA indicates that), the depth he provides is at the positions the Clippers are deepest at.

The Clippers love Xavier Moon. He brings great vibes, is a terrific leader for the Ontario Clippers, and is a capable enough third string point guard in a pinch. However, with the Harden signing, the Clippers have tons of depth at point guard as well, with Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Bones Hyland all playing that spot, and guys like Terance Mann and even Amir Coffey being able to pick up the slack as needed. This seems like a move just to reward Moon and keep him in the system, which is fine – but doesn’t help the LA Clippers on their championship pursuit.

All of the reporting is that the Clippers are more or less happy with the top of their roster now, and any other big moves won’t be done until much closer to the trade deadline. I’m a little more skeptical of that, but even still would have liked to have seen a veteran forward (Wenyen Gabriel, Darius Bazley, JaMychal Green) added for depth at the back of the roster.

These are not make or break moves, and may not even happen. They are just a bit puzzling for the Clippers with their current roster and aspirations.

Shams: Clippers to Sign Josh Primo to Full Deal, Xavier Moon to two-way
Robert Flom

In the first piece of real Clippers’ news in a while, Michael Scotto of Hoopshype says they will sign guard Xavier Moon to an Exhibit 10 contract. Scotto, a fairly reliable NBA reporter, also says that Moon will have the opportunity to compete for the team’s remaining two-way deal (Moussa Diabate and Jordan Miller have the other two). An Exhibit 10 deal is essentially just a training camp invite that can be converted to a two-way and provides $50K as a bonus if the player is waived and joins the G-League team of that NBA organization.

Xavier Moon has, of course, spent the last two years in the Clippers’ organization, joining them on a variety of 10 day contracts, training camp deals, and two-way deals. He hasn’t played much in the NBA, just 157 minutes (nearly all in garbage time) across 14 games, but has been a mainstay for the Ontario Clippers. At 28.5 years old, Moon has no upside, but he’s a competent 3rd string point guard and the Clippers love him in the locker room and as a leader of the G-League squad.

It seemed like the Clippers let him test the free agency market to see if any NBA team would offer him guaranteed money and/or more of a role, but unfortunately that didn’t happen, so Moon is back again. I’d wager he could get more money overseas, but maybe he just prefers being in the US or having a better chance at a mid-season NBA call-up. Who knows.

Moon’s chances of making that last two-way spot are anyone’s guess. I’d personally prefer someone younger and with more long-term upside get that deal, but it’s low stakes and the Clippers like having him around, so he has a decent shot at it probably. The only other reported training camp signing is rookie guard Xavier Castaneda, which our friend Law Murray reported all the way back in July, but its quite possible that has changed over the past few months. If the Clippers do make a deal for Harden or another star and lose some of their depth, having a more experienced and ready player like Moon on a two-way could also be more valuable.

Regardless, welcome back to the Clippers, Xavier!

Clippers sign Xavier Moon to Exhibit 10 Deal
Robert Flom

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.

2023 Clippers Exit Interview: Xavier Moon
Robert Flom

Our exit interview series at 213 Hoops continues with a look at the 2022 season of Xavier Moon, who was signed as an injury replacement player before inking a two-way deal late in the year.

Basic Information

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 165lb

Position: Guard

Age: 27

Years in the NBA: 1

Key Stats: 5.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 13.7 minutes per game with shooting splits of 49.0/35.7/60.0

Expectations

There weren’t any expectations at all for Xavier Moon at the start of the 2021-22 season, as he wasn’t even on the Clippers roster. He was a late addition to the Agua Caliente Clippers in the G League after fleshing out a solid career in the CEBL in Canada.

When the league got hit with a COVID wave in late winter, Moon was one of the players called up to a hardship contract. Even then, not much was expected of him. He was simply around to give some spot minutes amid the Clippers’ revolving roster. He did show some flashes during his initial go-round with the team, though. In one of the last games he played on his hardship deal against the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 13, he had one his best games as a Clipper with 10 points and four assists.

It was his play in the G League after his hardship contract expired that perhaps gave fans more of a look into how he could possibly fit on the roster.

Reality

From January until March when the Clippers brought Moon back, this time on a two-way contract, he established himself as one of the best point guards in the G League. He was able to find a perfect balance between scoring and playmaking. 

When Eric Bledsoe was traded and with Jason Preston out all season with an injury, the Clippers had no real point guard behind Reggie Jackson. Amir Coffey’s brilliant play put him in line to have his two-way contract converted to a standard deal, and Moon seemed an obvious candidate for the team’s suddenly vacant two-way spot.

For the remainder of the season, Moon did exactly what was asked of him. He provided spot minutes when necessary while learning the ins and outs of the NBA game. On the final night of the regular season against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Moon had his best game as a Clipper with 17 points on 8-11 shooting, seven assists and three rebounds.

Future with Clippers

Moon isn’t under contract with the Clippers for next season. It’s a safe bet that he probably will be on their summer league roster looking to earn another two-way deal. As decent of a player as Moon is, there doesn’t appear to be much room in the rotation for him. Preston should be healthy and ready to earn some minutes with players such as Coffey and Mann providing backup point guard minutes.

He’s not a bad player though to have around on a two-way deal. He’s already familiar with the team and he’s old enough to where he doesn’t have to be babysat and developed. He’s shown he can contribute if necessary. If he’s okay with accepting that role again then by all means the Clippers should bring him back. But if another team is willing to give him more of an opportunity, it would certainly be in his best interest to take it.

Clippers 2022 Season Exit Interview: Xavier Moon
David Yapkowitz

Xavier Moon is standing in the lobby of the UCLA Health Training Center postgame on Mar. 27. He had just put up 21 points, dished out eight assists and pulled down seven rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the South Bay Lakers as the Agua Caliente Clippers slipped into third place in the Western Conference in the G League playoff standings.

It’s been a heavy week for Moon. This was his first game back for Agua Caliente after having missed the previous two due to the death of a family member. It was also his first game after officially signing a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.

His teammate Emmitt Williams comes strolling into the lobby from the locker room, sees Moon, and proclaims that he is the, “best point guard in the G League.” Moon laughs and continues with the interview.

Williams may have a point. Moon’s G League numbers may not be popping off the stat sheet. He’s averaging 18.7 points per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three-point range, 4.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists. Except for his assist numbers, none of his other stats place him in the top ten in the G League for those categories.

But between his presence on the court, his ability to run the offense, find open teammates, get scoring opportunities when he needs to, and lock up on the defensive end while helping lead his team to a top seed, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more impactful point guard in the G League.

That impact is what led the Clippers to bring him aboard on a two-way contract. Earlier in the day, the team had announced that they were converting Amir Coffey’s two-way deal into a standard NBA contract. To free up the roster spot, they waived Semi Ojeleye, a seldom-used forward who arrived in the Serge Ibaka trade, and in turn, they had a vacant two-way spot.

For Moon, this is the culmination of all the work he’s put in in his professional career thus far.

“It’s all the hard work you’ve put in to get to this point. I’m here and I want to stay,” Moon told 213Hoops. “I’m just going to be who I am. I’m not trying to go in and do something that I don’t do. They know me well, I played with them a couple of games before. I’m going in there and whatever they need me to do, I’m doing it.”

And Moon has certainly worked hard to get to the NBA. After high school, he didn’t have many offers save for a couple of community colleges. He ended up signing with Northwest Florida State College. In his two years of junior college eligibility, Moon averaged 6.1 points per game and during his sophomore season, he was named Sixth Man of the Year as Northwest Florida State won the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championship.

He ultimately played Division 1 college basketball when he transferred to Morehead State for his junior and senior seasons. As a junior, he became the first player in school history to get a triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in Dec. 2016 against Central Arkansas. As a senior, he was named to the Ohio Valley State Conference First Team and led the Eagles in scoring at 16.0 points per game.

Although he managed to make it to the D1 level, he looks back fondly on his junior college years and believes it’s an option more young players should take a serious look at.

“I think people look down on Juco. . .I had a different vision for myself. I knew I needed to get stronger. I had the game at the time but I knew that was the right decision for me,” Moon said. “I don’t regret the decision that I made to go to junior college. I tell a lot of people that Division 1 is not for everybody. You might have to go to Division 2 or Division 3. But if you’re good, you’ll be found.”

Since becoming a professional basketball player in 2017, Moon’s journey has taken him to France and Israel, but he got most of his pro experience playing in Canada. During the 2018-19 season, he signed with the London Lightning of the National Basketball League (NBL) Canada. He played in 40 games for the Lightning and put up 13.7 points per game, 4.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists.

The following season, he switched over to the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) with the Edmonton Stingers. He was named league MVP that season while averaging 19.3 points per game and 5.7 assists. It was then that he first tried his luck with the G League and the Raptors 905, but ended up being one of their final roster cuts.

He had a couple more stints with both the Lighting and the Stingers before finally breaking through and sticking with Agua Caliente at the beginning of this season. He left Canada as a two-time CEBL champion, two-time CEBL Finals MVP and three-time CEBL MVP. For Moon, the competition in Canada was on par with what he’s seen in the G League, and it definitely helped with his development as a player.

“I’ve been playing in Canada for the last three years. My fanbase grew significantly, I’ve always enjoyed playing there,” Moon said. “The competition was pretty much the same as here. You got a lot of guys that are under the radar because they come from Canada or they go bouncing around from country to country. Everybody’s trying to get their opportunity and there’s a lot of talent in Canada.”

That opportunity for Moon has finally come. It wasn’t a complete surprise that the Clippers decided to use their vacant two-way spot on Moon. When they traded Eric Bledsoe to the Portland Trail Blazers, there was no clear-cut pure point guard on the roster aside from Reggie Jackson. It seemed like extra insurance at the point was something the Clippers might look into especially with neither Ojeleye nor Rodney Hood expected to factor into the rotation.

Since the trade deadline, the Clippers have used that time to get Coffey and Terance Mann more experience running point guard and getting to have the ball in their hands, but they finally pulled the trigger last weekend by bringing in Moon.

He arrives with a little bit of familiarity too. Back in December, the Clippers were not spared when the entire league was hit with positive COVID-19 cases. As a result of so many depleted rosters, the NBA allowed teams to sign G League players to hardship contracts to get up to the minimum number of healthy players needed to play a game.

Moon was one of those the Clippers called up and he spent a little less than a month with the team. They signed him to a 10-day contract on Dec. 26, a second 10-day contract on Jan. 4 and a third 10-day contract on Jan. 14. By the end of his last 10-day, the Clippers roster had begun to get healthy and he was reacquired by Agua Caliente.

Now back with the Clippers on an official contract, Moon has a leg up in that he’s already familiar with what the team needs from him and he’s ready and willing to do just that should he get the chance.

“I can bring energy, speed, quickness, being a smart player and just the way that I distribute the ball,” Moon said. “But I can also score. Whatever it is they need me to do, I’m willing to do it. I’m really looking forward to this.”

The Clippers only have a handful of games left in the regular season and as a two-way contract player, Moon is not eligible to appear in any playoff games. He appeared in six games for the Clippers earlier this year and depending on how far Agua Caliente gets in the postseason, the final days of the NBA regular season might be spent in the G League.

Moon’s signing appears to be a move for next season. He’ll be able to go through an entire offseason, summer league, and full training camp while they bring him along and develop him as an NBA player. But how much development Moon will need might vary. After all, he isn’t your typical NBA rookie.

“I’m soaking up as much information as I can. It’s crazy that I’m a rookie at 27, but I’m not really a rookie cause I’ve been playing, this is my sixth year as a pro,” Moon said. “So I have the experience on my bill even though it’s not in the league. I know how to play the game, I know how to get guys involved, I know how to run the team. I think I can bring that and I’m just enjoying the moment.”

Xavier Moon Gets His Opportunity With The Clippers
David Yapkowitz