Los Angeles Clippers center Cole Aldrich will opt out of his contract with the team to become a free agent, a league source tells Brad Turner of the L.A. Times:
Clippers reserve center Cole Aldrich will opt out of his contract that will pay him $1.2 million next season, per source.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 2, 2016
Cole Aldrich spent most of the Clippers’ season serving as the main back-up center to DeAndre Jordan. Aldrich, 27, is arguably coming off of his best season yet as a pro. In just 13.3 minutes, he averaged 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game for the Clippers this season.
Once Blake Griffin was ruled out for the rest of the Playoffs, Aldrich saw his minutes increase and was called upon to help make up for his absence.
Despite struggling towards the end of the Playoffs, Aldrich showed flashes of improvement throughout the season with the Clippers, including a 21-point, 18-rebound game against the Jazz in April.
Before joining the Clippers, Aldrich was with the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks for brief stints.
Cole Aldrich was selected #11 overall in the 2010 Draft. Teams in need of an upgrade at center will certainly give Cole Aldrich a look come July. One of those teams will likely be the Clippers, who can re-sign him to a new deal on July 1st.
