With three point guards now on the team, the Clippers are basically saying goodbye to Shaun Livingston.
They could still add another player to the roster, but probably not at the price Livingston's agent is seeking.
The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent guard Jason Williams, according to Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.
A veteran of 10 NBA seasons, Williams joins the Clippers after playing the last three years for Miami, where he helped the Heat to the 2006 NBA Championship. Williams, 32, has played in 679 career regular season games and averaged 11.4 points, 6.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds for a total of three teams. The six-foot-one, 180 pound point guard has also started and played in 53 career playoff contests, averaging 9.8 points, 3.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 0.9 steals.
“Jason is an experienced and proven player,” Baylor said. “He is a terrific ball handler with great passing ability and court vision.”
Playing alongside new Clippers teammate Ricky Davis with the Heat last season, Williams averaged 8.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 28.1 minutes while appearing in 67 games. The West Virginia native finished eighth in the league with a 3.37 assists per turnover ratio and 12th with a 0.91 steals per turnover ratio.
“We are excited to add Jason to our squad,” Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy said. “He brings added veteran leadership and playoff experience to our backcourt.”
Drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 1998 following his junior year at the University of Florida, Williams was named to the 1999 NBA All-Rookie Team following an electrifying first season that saw him average 12.8 points and 6.0 assists. Over the next nine seasons, Williams has emerged as one of the most dependable point guards in the NBA, averaging double-figures in scoring and at least five assists per game in eight of his ten years in the league.
Williams moved to Memphis for the 2001-02 season and over the next four seasons became the Grizzlies all-time assists leader and all-time leader in three-point field goals attempted. Williams joined Miami prior to the 2005-06 season that ended with an NBA Championship.
The Clippers new-look roster now stands at 14 players as Los Angeles has revamped its roster by adding a total of 10 new faces for the 2008-09 season.
Below is an update of the Clippers off-season transactions:
June 26: Drafted G Eric Gordon from Indiana University with the 7th pick in the NBA Draft
June 26: Drafted C DeAndre Jordan from Texas A&M with the 35th pick in the NBA Draft
June 26: Acquired the draft rights to G Mike Taylor from Portland in exchange for a 2009 second Round NBA Draft pick.
June 30: Extended qualifying offers to F Nick Fazekas and F Marcus Williams
July 2: Signed G Eric Gordon
July 9: Renounced rights to free agents G Dan Dickau, G Shaun Livingston, F Boniface Ndong, G Smush Parker, F James Singleton
July 10: Signed free agent G Baron Davis
July 15: Acquired F/C Marcus Camby from Denver in exchange for Denver to have the option to exchange second round picks in 2010
July 15: Signed C DeAndre Jordan and G Mike Taylor
July 16: Withdrew qualifying offer to F Marcus Williams; Renounced rights to free agents F Quinton Ross and C Paul Davis
July 23: Acquired G Jason Hart from Utah in exchange for G Brevin Knight
July 28: Signed free agent G/F Ricky Davis
July 30: Waived F Josh Powell
July 31: Signed free agent F Brian Skinner
August 1: Withdrew qualifying offer to F Nick Fazekas
August 6: Acquired F Steve Novak from Houston in exchange for Houston to have the option to exchange second round picks in 2011
August 7: Signed free agent G Jason Williams
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