Amir Coffey will re-sign with Clippers to be their essential luxury again

The LA Clippers agreed to terms with forward Amir Coffey, the team’s second move of the moratorium period in free agency. Coffey is set to return to LA on a three-year, $11 million deal, a source confirmed to The Athletic.

Coffey’s new contract comes after he began his first three NBA seasons on two-way deals. Coffey, who went undrafted out of Minnesota in 2019, signed a two-way last season to compete for the standard roster spot that went to center Isaiah Hartenstein. Coffey became an everyday player for the Clippers following Paul George’s elbow injury, ultimately starting 30 of 69 games.

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In late March, the Clippers waived midseason trade acquisition Semi Ojeleye and promoted Coffey to the standard roster, retaining his Bird rights. Now, after receiving a qualifying offer to become a restricted free agent, the Clippers have rewarded Coffey with a fully guaranteed contract through the 2024-25 season.

Coffey’s return, paired with Nicolas Batum also agreeing to terms on a new contract on Thursday, means the Clippers will bring back their top-seven players in total minutes played from a season ago. Despite his initial two-way contract status, Coffey logged 1,567 minutes played last season, behind only point guard Reggie Jackson, small forward Terance Mann, shooting guard Luke Kennard and center Ivica Zubac. (George finished 10th in total minutes, while Leonard did not play at all).

With Coffey back, the Clippers will return 13 of the 15 players who ended the season on the standard roster. The only omissions are Hartenstein, who agreed to terms with the New York Knicks, and unrestricted free agent Rodney Hood.

How Coffey fits

We have seen the Clippers play Coffey everywhere except at center. Given the state of LA’s center position without Hartenstein, we shouldn’t rule Coffey out there next season.

The best thing Coffey does at this stage of his career is shoot the ball. That’s no small feat, considering the progression of his perimeter shot from college (30.4 percent 3s, 74.0 percent free throws as a junior in 2018-19 at Minnesota), to his rookie season (31.6 percent 3s, 54.5 percent free throws in 2019-20) to now (37.8 percent 3s, 86.3 percent free throws in 2021-22). Only Kennard, Jackson, Batum and Morris made more 3s last season than Coffey’s 96, and Coffey’s percentage was better than Jackson’s and Morris’. It was even better as a starter, as Coffey knocked down 42.5 percent from downtown in those 30 games. He’s come a long way there.

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The rest of Coffey’s counting numbers aren’t spectacular, but the Clippers have spent the last few seasons cross-training him across multiple positions. Coffey was a small forward in his final season at Minnesota, one with an unimpressive wingspan (he measured 6-8 in shoes with a 6-7 1/2 wingspan at the 2019 G League Elite camp), which limited his stock. But Coffey is a smart and engaged defender.

In the 2021 G League bubble, the Clippers had Coffey play point guard, giving him reps as a primary playmaker. In seven G League games in 2020-21, Coffey averaged 4.4 assists and only 2.0 turnovers. Now, Coffey is a decent pick-and-roll ballhandler who had more than twice as many assists as turnovers last season.

And even though Coffey is not a good rebounder, the Clippers tried to make him a power forward over the summer last year. He is strong in transition, a sore spot for the Clippers as a team. Mann was the only Clipper to score more fast-break points than Coffey last season.

2022-23 Impact

Coffey ended last season with a bang. He scored 32 points on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 1 to go with six rebounds, seven rebounds, four steals, and five 3s. In the regular-season finale against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Coffey reset his career high by dropping 35 points to go with 13 rebounds, five assists, a block and seven 3s.

But Coffey barely saw the floor in the two Play-In Tournament games, despite an injury to Kennard and Paul George entering health and safety protocols before the second game. It’s a reminder that while Coffey will be ready to play, he is locked in as a third-string player on one of the deepest teams in the league.

Possible Clippers depth chart

That depth is necessary due to the age and durability concerns of the Clippers’ stars, both of whom play Coffey’s primary position. Coffey has shown that he can be deployed in multiple roles with a variety of players on the Clippers. Even as a third-string power forward, Coffey can help the Clippers retain their level of play on both ends of the floor whenever someone like George, Leonard, Powell, Mann, Kennard, Morris, Covington or Batum has to miss time.

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Some teams have to rely on neophytes or twilight veterans in those roles. Coffey just turned 25 years old and is entering the prime of his career and has already demonstrated strong 3-point shooting. Having a player like Coffey is a luxury for the Clippers.

What’s next for the Clippers?

Besides finding another big man, the Clippers are expected to win the John Wall sweepstakes after the point guard was bought out of his contract this week by the Houston Rockets. Wall plus a backup center for Zubac would put the Clippers at 15 standard contracts and lock up their offseason, barring a trade.

Last year, the Clippers did not make a consolidation trade until the end of summer league, when they sent Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Coffey’s Minnesota teammate Daniel Oturu to Memphis for Eric Bledsoe. The Clippers also had a training-camp battle for the last roster spot, which featured Coffey. So, the Clippers could choose to keep their flexibility and wait things out over the next few months, or they could just get it all done by Independence Day.

(Photo: Richard Mackson / USA TODAY Sports)

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