Just a few weeks ago, before NBA free agency began, [former Kansas standout Cole Aldrich really had no idea which team he might play for][1] in the 2015-16 season.
At the time, re-signing with New York, which finished with the worst record in the Eastern Conference (17-65), seemed like a legitimate possibility.
The open market, however, led the 6-foot-11 Aldrich to a much better situation. On Monday, the five-year veteran officially joined his fifth NBA team and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. The new contract moves Aldrich from one of the worst teams in the league to a franchise that earned the No. 3 seed in the loaded Western Conference.
Get to know Cole Aldrich, follow the big man on Instagram and Twitter: @colea45 ???? pic.twitter.com/Q97ucd0Ta5
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 14, 2015
[The Los Angeles Times’ Ben Bolch reported][2] Aldrich’s two-year contract has a player option for the second year, meaning he can opt out and test free agency next summer if he so desires. The center signed for the veteran’s minimum, and will earn $1.1 million this coming season.
After achieving new career-highs of 5.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 16.6 minutes last season with the woeful Knicks, Aldrich figures to become the Clippers’ backup center, playing behind DeAndre Jordan. L.A. just re-signed Jordan to a max contract after nearly losing him to Dallas in free agency, and the SportsCenter Top-10 regular is one of the faces of the franchise, along with point guard Chris Paul and power forward Blake Griffin.
Even as a substitute, though, Aldrich will get playing time the Clippers. Coach Doc Rivers often is forced to sub out his star center, because Jordan is an atrocious free-throw shooter (41.7% for his career, 39.7% last season). Aldrich made 78.1% of his free throws in 2014-15, which is right at his career mark of 78%. So Rivers won’t have to worry about Aldrich costing the team easy points at the foul line.
Between regular reserve minutes in the rotation and helping L.A. avoid Hack-a-DeAndre situations, Aldrich will get a chance to contribute to one of the West’s top teams, as the Clippers try to contend for an NBA title, along with Golden State, San Antonio, Houston, Memphis and Oklahoma City.
Aldrich became the second Jayhawk to sign with the Clippers this offseason, [joining 17-year veteran Paul Pierce][3].
Done deal! ????
LA native Paul Pierce is officially a member of the LA Clippers. pic.twitter.com/OddmKUb3NA
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 10, 2015
The move westward also teams the former KU center [with a fellow member of the 2008-09 All-Big 12 Team, Griffin][4] — Oklahoma’s conference player of the year that season.
Aldrich’s time at KU made him a lottery pick in 2011. He failed to catch on as a valued contributor with Oklahoma City, Houston or Sacramento in his first three seasons in the league. His past two years with the Knicks — last season in particular — set him up for what will be the most interesting stretch of his career to date.
The 26-year-old Bloomington, Minnesota native took to Twitter to thank the Knicks organization and its supporters for his time there.
“Always have love for you guys,” he wrote.
Can't thank @nyknicks and the fans in NY enough for your support the past 2 years. Always have love for you guys!
— Cole Aldrich (@colea45) July 13, 2015
Even so, chasing a championship with the Clippers should increase his on-the-court enjoyment by an incalculable amount.
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[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/jun/20/knick-time-free-agent-cole-aldrich-ponders-his-fut/?hawks_in_nba
[2]: http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-20150714-story.html
[3]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/jul/02/pierce-clippers-agree-10m-deal/?hawks_in_nba
[4]: http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=3687666
[5]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/mens_basketball/hawks_nba/
[6]: https://twitter.com/BentonASmith
