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Los Angeles Clippers: Two candidates to miss the final roster

By Jason Reed

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally altered) Jawun Evans of the Los Angeles Clippers poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally altered) Jawun Evans of the Los Angeles Clippers poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Clippers decided to offer New Orleans’ offer sheet for Tyrone Wallace and now have two players too many on the roster.

The Los Angeles Clippers may not have any superstars on the roster but the team certainly has one of the deepest rosters in basketball; so deep that the Clippers are going to need to trim it down for the regular season.

On Wednesday, the Clippers opted to match the two-year offer sheet that the New Orleans Pelicans agreed to with forward Tyrone Wallace. This was a very surprising move to some considering the two sides did not agree to a deal after two months and the Clippers were already over the roster limit.

With Wallace now back on the roster, the Clippers have a roster of 17 players, two players over the maximum of 15. Thus, the team is going to have to select two players to sit out that will still get a paycheck from the Clippers.

It is certainly good to have depth, however, this much depth is only going to cost the Clippers an unnecessary amount of salary. Thus, the most logical move for the Clippers is going to be to try and work out a move.

However, this may include trading some draft picks. The Clippers are stacked with three second-round picks in the 2019 NBA Draft so the team does have the ammunition to make this happen.

The Los Angeles Clippers are going to have to choose the two players to miss the roster wisely; here are the two best candidates, at least in our eyes.

1. Wesley Johnson

The signing of Tyrone Wallace opens the door to remove a shooting guard/small forward from the roster. After evaluating the options, Wesley Johnson becomes the best option of these players for Wallace to replace next season.

Johnson has been far from great for the Clippers and had a minimal impact on the team last season. In 20.1 minutes per game, Johnson averaged just 5.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists.

With the re-signing of Wallace and the drafting of Jerome Robinson, the Clippers really have not need for Wesley Johnson.

2. Jawun Evans

This one was a harder choice to make but at the end of the day, I think the guard that will miss the roster is Jawun Evans. Personally, I think the Clippers would be better off trading either Patrick Beverley or Milos Teodosic as they both have just one more year under contract.

However, NBA teams have a tendency to be stubborn and the Clippers brought in both guys last offseason to try and soften the blow of losing Chris Paul. It is hard to see the Clippers’ front office give up on those moves and go with a second-year guard that is unproven in the league.

Thus, Evans will be the man to go as he did not have much of a role last season, anyway, and will have a lesser role with rookie point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Next. Are the Clippers a playoff team?. dark

At the end of the day, it might not be the right move but it will be the move the Los Angeles Clippers make. If Teodosic or Beverley get traded, it will be at the deadline once the team realizes that this is not a playoff team.

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