With the NBA season now nearly upon us and teams scrambling to trim their rosters down, the Los Angeles Clippers pulled off a trade to help them do just that.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Clippers have traded forward Wesley Johnson to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for veteran center Alexis Ajinca.
The Clippers have traded Wes Johnson to the Pelicans for Alexis Ajinca, per league sources. @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 15, 2018
Though the trade was just a one-player swap, this will aid them in trimming their roster down to 15 players. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers will waive Ajinca upon the trade being finalized.
New Orleans is acquiring Clippers forward Wesley Johnson in a trade for center Alexis Ajinca, league sources tell ESPN. Clippers will waive Ajinca and guard Juwan Evans to get to 15 for opening night.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 15, 2018
The two teams officially announced the deal on Monday afternoon.
The L.A. Clippers have acquired center Alexis Ajinca from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for forward Wesley Johnson, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank. In a subsequent transaction, the Clippers have waived Ajinca.
Thank you, Wes. pic.twitter.com/De9odYw9Q9
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 15, 2018
Wesley Johnson has been a longtime Clipper and was one of few options on the wing for years in LA. Now over 30 years of age, Johnson has undoubtedly lost some of his exciting athleticism but was still an important piece of the Clippers’ rotation last season. Johnson started nearly half of LA’s regular-season games at small forward last year and averaged over 20 minutes of playing time per night.
Now in New Orleans, Johnson will be added to the Pels’ growing stable of serviceable wings. Still one of the thinner positions on the roster, Johnson should see plenty of run as one of the few, true small forwards on the team.
As for Alexis Ajinca, the veteran center appears set to be waived after a frustrating four-year stint with the Pelicans. Ajinca has had massive problems staying healthy in recent seasons and may struggle to find another landing spot in the NBA, though the market is wide for a cheap, reserve big.
