Clippers Only Carrying 14 Players On Standard Contracts
With Baldwin’s 10-day contract, the Clippers are carrying 14 players on standard deals. This is problematic for the Clippers due to the NBA’s “under 15” rule.
“The Under-15 counter has started again with the LA Clippers, as Patrick Baldwin Jr’s 10 Day deal expired,” Keith Smith of Sportac said. “That puts LA back to just 14 players on standard contracts. LA has just five games left where both Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders can be active for the same game.”
The Clippers could re-sign Baldwin to another 10-day deal or someone else to extend the clock. If they don’t, the Clippers won’t have Miller or Sanders available after their February 6th game against Sacramento, both of whom are on two-way deals.
Baldwin played pretty well in the two games that he appeared in with the Clippers. The 23-year-old, who has 95 games of NBA experience, totalled 10 points on 3 of 4 shooting from the field, including 2of 3 from deep, and one rebound in 12 total minutes.
Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders
Miller and Sanders are both expected to get promoted. The problem is the Clippers won’t have enough room under the salary cap unless a trade is made later in the season, even if Paul is waived. They can sign one of the players immediately, based on their projected prorated salaries. Sanders is eligible to be signed using the NBA’s lower-cost second-round exception.
Miller has only appeared in 25 games and has been active for 26. Therefore, Miller can appear in 25 more games before his two-way eligibility is exhausted. The 26-year-old is having the best season of his young career and has been very efficient, averaging 8.8 points and 3.2 rebounds with shooting splits of 51.7/37.5/81.5. He has recorded one double-double and 11 double-figure scoring games, including two 20-point efforts.
Sanders, who can appear in just 12 more games on a two-way deal, has had his ups and downs this season. But the 23-year-old demonstrated enough consistency in his eight starts and as a 3-point shooter. Overall, he averages 6.8 points and 2.5 boards with shooting splits of 44.5/38.6/84.6. He has scored in double figures 11 times with one 20-point game.
