The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent forward Brandon Bass, league sources told Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Lakers free agent Brandon Bass has reached agreement on a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 17, 2016
Bass joins a Clippers team in need of frontcourt depth after the recent departure of Cole Aldrich. After spending the entire last season with the Lakers off the bench, Bass will likely once again come off the bench in his new role with the Clippers as a back up to Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan. He’ll sign for the veteran’s minimum price, as that’s all Los Angeles is able to give at the moment.
Bass joins fellow big man Marreese Speights as the two biggest Clippers additions so far this offseason.
Clippers head coach Doc Rivers had coached Bass years ago with the Boston Celtics, likely helping push for a reunion to bring Bass to the team over the past few days. Bass thrived under Rivers, averaging career-highs in points and minutes per game.
Aside from the Clippers, the San Antonio Spurs had expressed serious interest in Bass, according to Shams Charania. Bass ultimately chose between San Antonio and Los Angeles for his final decision, opting to stay in the Los Angeles area and sign with the Clippers. The Minnesota Timberwolves had also expressed interest in Bass this summer, according to reports. Talks never got serious, and the Wolves opted to pursue center Jordan Hill instead. This helped put the Clippers in prime position to sign Bass, a player who still had interest in playing in Los Angeles.
In 66 appearances with the Lakers last season, Bass averaged 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game.
Bass was selected No. 33 overall by New Orleans in the 2005 draft.
