LA Clippers Sign Two-Way Player Nate Darling 2023

The Clippers have made yet another preseason move by signing sharpshooter Nate Darling to their G-League affiliate in Ontario, marking another step forward as they prepare for the 2022/23 NBA season. A native of Nova Scotia, Darling became the first player from that country to play an NBA game last season for Charlotte.

Signing a Two-Way Player

Basketball's two-way players are superstar athletes who excel both offensive and defensively. Many of the NBA's top two-way players have earned accolades such as Defensive Player of the Year or MVP awards during their careers.

Amir Coffey is a veteran center currently on the Clippers roster. As an undrafted free agent, Coffey impressed enough to earn himself a two-way contract with the team and prove that he deserves an NBA contract. Throughout this past season, Coffey was given numerous chances to demonstrate his worthiness for an NBA contract.

Due to COVID protocols, the Clippers were without their best players for much of the 2018-19 season. Nonetheless, Coffey managed to put up impressive numbers in both the G League and NBA, earning him a place on the 2022-2023 roster for Los Angeles.

Though the Clippers boast a number of young players on their roster, they cannot ignore the need for assistance with larger positions. To meet this need, the team is expected to add either a two-way player through free agency or during training camp.

There are several players who could be considered for the team's final two-way roster spot. Moses Brown has averaged 6.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in 92 games with the Blazers, Thunder, and Mavs over three seasons.

Robert Covington is another option; he spent the past year in the NBA's G League after being selected with the 28th pick in 2017. During that time, Covington posted impressive statistics: 15.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 44.8% from the field and 35.2% from three-point range.

Other potential options include Carmelo Anthony, who was a teammate of Covington and Powell when they played for the Portland Trail Blazers. Anthony has experience playing both guard and power forward positions, making him an ideal fit in coach Lue's system.

Addition of another two-way player would be beneficial to the team and could help them win more games next season, relieving some of the pressure fans felt after losing so many talented members from Lob City Era. It could also ease some of their tension that fans felt after they lost so many talented individuals from that era.

Waiving a Two-Way Player

Law Murray of The Athletic reports that the LA Clippers have waived two-way player Nate Darling in order to free up an extra roster spot for them. Although they won't need to use this additional two-way spot, they could still convert one of their existing two-way players to a standard contract at the end of this season, according to Murray's report.

The two-way contract offers teams the chance to acquire an experienced player without committing full time. It allows teams to assess a player's performance in the NBA G League or overseas before offering them a full-time deal. Furthermore, it gives young players an opportunity to prove themselves before long-term commitment.

Though this route carries more risk, it could be a beneficial option for teams searching to acquire veteran players who can assist them in the future. The Bird rights two-way contract players earn allow teams to go over their cap and retain them if they prove essential components in their long term success.

Undrafted Canadians who signed two-way contracts and converted them into multi-year guaranteed deals include Luguentz Dort, Chris Boucher and Mychal Mulder.

Darling, a 6-foot-5 center from Nova Scotia, boasts an impressive skill set that includes the ability to take defenders off the dribble and demonstrate high-IQ situational awareness. Additionally, he's an accurate knock-down shooter who is currently honing his shooting range by developing pump-fakes from outside.

Though not considered an impact player, he has shown potential to be a role player for the Clippers this season. In 34 games played this season with Agua Caliente Clippers, he averaged 4.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Darling, a native of Bedford, N.S., is expected to compete for a roster spot among training camp invitees this season. He'll likely serve as backup center on the Clippers bench this season but could make an impact down the stretch as they aim to make some improvements this year. With Darling joining their ranks at such an ideal time, expect great things from him this season!

Waiving a Non-Roster Player

In the 48-hour waiver window, teams can waive non-roster players to allow other teams to claim them. If no team claims the player, he becomes a free agent and can sign with any team.

Many people are unfamiliar with waivers, yet they can be immensely beneficial in certain scenarios. Not only do they increase safety and access better facilities and equipment, but they may also enable you to save on insurance premiums. Furthermore, waivers may help retain certain rights in certain scenarios.

Take for instance, you have a contract with your client that requires payment by the first of each month. While you value working together and want to ensure they pay on time, you anticipate some lateness from them in some of the coming months and decide not to charge them any fees in anticipation.

As a result, you end up with more money than expected. This could prove highly advantageous for your business.

As an example, let us consider the Philadelphia 76ers. They entered training camp over 15-man roster limit and needed to create space on their books in order to avoid a luxury tax penalty. By waiving Trevelin Queen, Charles Bassey and Isaiah Joe this week, the Sixers created more than $5.5 million in space under their apron for the remainder of the season.

According to the CBA, teams have the option of waiving non-roster players for important life events like weddings or funerals. While it's unclear if this rule applies in all circumstances, it seems reasonable to consider it when appropriate.

Teams have the option to waive non-roster players in exchange for signing free agents with another team during a trade. This is usually done to alleviate their own salary cap situation, but it could also be done to secure an outstanding free agent contract.

In addition to signing a two-way player, the Clippers also signed a non-roster player this offseason: Jay Scrubb. With this agreement, Scrubb can play in both the NBA and G League as needed. By cutting their training camp roster down to 20 players, Lawrence Frank and his staff should have more room to make other changes as they attempt to resolve their roster crunch.

Signing a Non-Roster Player

In the event a player is injured and not on his team's roster, the NBA allows for non-roster status. However, this designation should only be given in certain circumstances - like when someone needs time away for family reasons. With this designation, they would still be permitted to play.

This season, the Clippers have been able to sign a variety of non-roster players. One notable name was Isaiah Hartenstein, a backup center who had impressive defensive numbers.

This year, the Clippers signed Robert Covington, a highly-skilled wing with an impressive history of making three-pointers. Additionally, he's an impressive switch player and top defender for their unit.

He is an ideal addition to the Clippers roster as they look to build a deep bench in the coming years. After next season, he will become a restricted free agent and could sign a contract extension with them this offseason.

Other non-roster players the Clippers could potentially sign include Carmelo Anthony and Bryce Russell. Both former teammates of Griffin, these players possess exceptional offensive and defensive capabilities.

Despite having a difficult season this year, the Clippers have proven they can be an elite team. Currently ranked fourth in the Western Conference, they have won four of their last six games.

If the Clippers were to re-sign Batum and Covington this summer, they would possess some of the strongest wing depth in the league. Plus, with their cap space available, they could add a star player such as Paul George or Kawhi Leonard.

They would then be in a great position to win the West over the next several years. Additionally, they can continue adding players and increasing their payroll through trades, giving them even greater depth at their disposal.

The Clippers must ensure they have enough backups and players who can play both ends of the court if they hope to stay competitive with other top teams in the Western Conference. That will be no easy feat considering they only possess four guards who are proficient shooters from beyond three points.