Clips to sign Nate Robinson again
Robinson was signed to a 10-day contract on March 7 to help the second unit ease the loss of Crawford who is out indefinitely with a right calf contusion. Crawford will miss at least the next 10 days before he is able to return to practice, which would seemingly make the decision to extend Robinson an easy one for now. Robinson’s status on the team for the rest of the season has not yet been determined.
The Clippers had also planned to sign forward Jordan Hamilton for the rest of the season on Monday but put those plans were momentarily put on hold as they monitor his sprained right ankle. Hamilton was walking around the team facility on Monday but did not participate in practice.
Hamilton, whose second 10-day contract expired Monday, sprained his right ankle in Sunday’s loss to the Houston Rockets and had to be helped off the court in the third quarter and did not return to the game. X-rays on his ankle came back negative and he was on the Clippers’ roster and officially listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets as of Monday night.
When Doc Rivers was asked Sunday if Hamilton’s ankle would prevent him from earning a contract for the rest of the season Rivers said, “No,” and when he was asked if he would be re-signed for the season he said, “Most likely, yes.” Rivers echoed those same sentiments on Monday, making the decision not to re-sign him a surprise.
The Clippers, however, will monitor Hamilton’s progress in the coming days and if he is cleared to play could re-sign him for the rest of the season later this week, sources said.
Robinson is averaging 4.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.4 rebounds in five games for the Clippers. Hamilton is averaging 4.6 points and 1.6 rebounds in eight games for the Clippers this month, but the past two games, he has combined for 19 points and has hit five of seven 3-pointers.