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Clippers Sign Young Point Guard for Depth

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Aleksandar Mishkov | Last updated Jul 26, 2025 4:34 PM ET

There are two ways to look at the latest signing by the Los Angeles Clippers. Some would say they are picking up scraps from the Phoenix Suns, a team that was not that good last season. Others could say they have one of the deepest teams in the league. With the latest move, the Clippers added depth at the point guard position. Considering the ages of James Harden and Chris Paul, they need some young legs to get through the regular season.

Clippers Sign Young Point Guard for Depth

According to Shams Charania, the Clippers signed free agent guard TyTy Washington Jr. to a one-year deal. He was a first-round pick in the 2022 NBA draft and is entering his fourth NBA season.

Washington hasn’t seen much playing time so far in the league. Through three seasons, he played in only 58 games, averaging 3.3 points, but he is still a young player who has the potential to be a good backup. Last season, he was put in a messy situation in Phoenix. With proper coaching, which the Clippers have in Ty Lue, he can be a valuable player. It is worth mentioning that in his rookie year with the Houston Rockets, he averaged 4.7 points in 14 minutes of action per game.

Clippers fans can also look at his G-League stats and be happier about the signing. TyTy has potential. Last season, he averaged 22.3 points per game on 47.8 shooting from the floor and 42.6 from three-point range. His perimeter shooting has improved since his first season in the G-League. The irony is that he averaged 26.6 points then, yet he shot only 25.7% from three.

Apr 13, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard TyTy Washington Jr. (14) dribbles against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images

Did the Clippers Sign the Wrong Guard?

The Clippers had a great guard on their roster, but they let him go. Amir Coffey was great for them last season, but they didn’t offer him a new contract. Last season, Coffey was one of the best shooters from behind the arc. He averaged 3.4 attempts per game and shot them at 40.9% efficiency. One might say the Clippers could use Coffey more than they could use Washington Jr. But it is more likely that Coffey asked for more playing time, and with the depth they have right now, minutes will be scarce in Los Angeles.

Will Washington help the Clippers?

The Clippers could certainly use some point guard depth. Harden and Paul will benefit from playing fewer minutes during the regular season. They also have Kris Dunn on their roster, but he is more of a defensive guard who doesn’t have a good shot.

In the worst-case scenario, Washington will spend plenty of time playing for the San Diego Clippers, the G-League affiliate. If they like what they see from him, they can always call him for backup minutes. Yes, last season CP3 played 82 games, but he will be 40 years old when the season begins. Even if he is healthy, the Clippers need Paul for the playoff run, not for the regular season.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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