Spencer Hawes/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

Even though newly acquired backup post Spencer Hawes and sixth-man Jamal Crawford are eight years apart – Hawes is 26, Crawford 34 – they are both from Seattle, so they know each other well.

Hawes believes that is helping him get acclimated to his new team.

“I’m becoming more comfortable with the first unit, more comfortable with the second unit,” Hawes said. “It’s fun playing with Jamal. We’ve been playing every summer for the last decade, and now I’m finally on his actual team. So it’s fun developing that chemistry and actually getting to put it to use in real games.

“It makes you more comfortable all-around coming to a new situation, on the court, off the court. (Jamal) is a guy that’s been one of my mentors and looked out for me since I was in high school. So it definitely makes things easier.”

Hawes is averaging 12 points and 5.6 rebounds off the bench in five exhibition games He has a high point total of 24 and a high in rebounds of eight.