Matt Barnes: Spencer Hawes gives team another hard-nosed player

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Spencer Hawes

Spencer Hawes/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

Matt Barnes is a hard-nosed player. Dirty, perhaps, at times. Apparently, that’s one of the things he likes about his new teammate – 7-foot post Spencer Hawes.

Hawes had 12 technical fouls, two flagrants and one ejection last season with Philadelphia and Cleveland.

“I think the biggest (addition) is going to be Spencer,” Barnes said. “Someone 7-foot who can shoot the ball, pass the ball, playmaker,  a dirty guy, a tough guy, probably one of the biggest free-agent pickups of the summer that people really aren’t talking about as much as they should.”

Barnes was speaking at Clippers Media Day on Monday. When it was time for Hawes to take the dais, he was told of Barnes’ comments about his style of play and agreed they were on the money.

“I think so,” Hawes said. “I think as I’ve gotten a little older I’ve been able to contain a little more. But I think that’s just kind of my personality and I think with a guy like Matt, there are some similarities there. And I think that’s what kind of makes me good and sometimes what draws me back, so there’s a fine line there.”

Hawes has career scoring and rebounding averages of 9.7 and 6.4, respectively. He has seven seasons under his belt even though he is just 26 because he was in the league at age 19.

J.J. Redick to host camp for kids at Veterans Sports Complex in Carson

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J.J. Redick

J.J. Redick/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

Clippers guard J.J. Redick and several area high school and college basketball coaches on Saturday will lead a basketball camp for kids grades 1 through 12 at Veterans Sports Complex in Carson.

The J.J. Redick Basketball ProCamp works with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Carson to provide camp scholarships for disadvantaged children.

Blake Griffin to be featured in October issue of GQ magazine

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Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

All-Star forward Blake Griffin will be featured as the cover story in the October issue of GQ magazine, which will hit newsstands Tuesday in Los Angeles and New York; it will hit the rest of the country on Sept. 30.

Griffin will discuss a variety of issues. Included therein are Donald Sterling, religion, dating in Los Angeles and life after basketball.

Griffin and the Clippers open the 2014-15 regular season on Oct. 30 when they play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Clippers re-sign veteran forward Hedo Turkoglu

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Hedo Turkoglu

Hedo Turkoglu/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

The Clippers have re-signed forward Hedo Turkoglu, the team announced, without providing terms of the deal.

“We are happy to welcome Hedo back to the Clippers,” coach Doc Rivers said. “Hedo is a versatile, veteran presence who contributed to the championship culture we are building in Los Angeles.”

Turkoglu last season appeared in 38 games for the Clippers. He averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds while averaging 10.3 minutes.

Turkoglu, 35, is 6-foot-10. He has a career scoring average of 11.5.

 

 

Clippers to hold five-day training camp at Nevada Las Vegas

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Chris Paul

Chris Paul/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

Chris Paul and the Clippers will make their training-camp headquarters for the 2014-15 season at University of Nevada Las Vegas, the team announced Monday.

The five-day camp will take place Sept. 30-Oct. 4 and will  include two-a-day practices the first four days with a single practice on Oct. 4.

“Getting away for training camp offers our team a unique opportunity to bond and focus solely on basketball as we prepare for the season,” Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said. “UNLV has first-class facilities and we are excited about starting the season in Las Vegas.”

The Clippers will play an eight-game exhibition schedule with the first game slated for Oct. 7 against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center.

The regular season begins Oct. 30 when the Clippers play host to Oklahoma City.