After a couple of down years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, forward Patrick Patterson and the Thunder have reportedly agreed to a contract buyout. Once Patterson clears waivers, the veteran intends to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Oklahoma City and forward Patrick Patterson have agreed to a buyout on the final season of his contract, allowing him to become a free agent, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 1, 2019
Once his $5.7 million salary clears waivers, Patterson’s intention is to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources tell ESPN https://t.co/0uIDF7EYJx
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 1, 2019
Patterson had seen his role diminish over the past couple of years in Oklahoma City and is now headed to a revamped Los Angeles Clippers team. Already one of the favorites to win the NBA title next season, the Clippers have added another serviceable option to their bench in Patterson.
While Patterson’s tenure in OKC was underwhelming, to say the least, he was a promising stretch big during the early portions of his career when he was a member of the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. Patterson is a stretch big capable of expanding all the way out to the three-point line, an important trait for many frontcourt pieces in today’s league.
While Patrick Patterson isn’t expected to come to LA and be the piece that pushes them over the edge, he is certainly still capable of contributing off the bench. The Clippers already have a frontcourt rotation consisting of Montrezl Harrell, JaMychal Green, Wilson Chandler and Ivica Zubac, so it may be difficult for Patterson to earn consistent minutes again in LA.
