The LA Clippers had an open two-way spot, and there were plenty of directions they could have gone. They could have aimed for a player who deserved another shot, added more depth at center, or even circled back to a familiar name like Yuki Kawamura.
Instead, the front office went back to Cam Christie.
According to Shams Charania, Christie is back with LA after being waived on a two-way contract, and that decision is hard to view as anything but a wasted opportunity. The Clippers have chosen to keep the experiment going with a player who has already struggled to carve out a place for himself, and the move raises the same question it always has: why would this time be different?
Christie’s stint with the Clippers has been defined by inconsistency and underwhelming production. In 68 games across two seasons, he posted 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game while shooting 38.1% from the field and 24.5% from three.
Those numbers weren’t encouraging in the regular season, and his recent preseason only reinforced the concern. Christie appeared in two of the Clippers’ three games, got waived before the final one, and finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 turnovers while shooting 4-for-11 from the field.
The summer league didn’t offer much relief either. In 28.7 minutes over two games in the 2026 summer league, Christie averaged 11.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.0 turnovers while shooting 22.2% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
For a player entering his third professional season, that kind of output is tough to justify, especially for someone who once stood out at Minnesota. But the Clippers are still holding onto him, even after repeated evidence that the fit hasn’t worked.
For now, LA is sticking with Christie. Whether that turns out to be a useful gamble or just another misfire on the roster will become clear once the regular season begins.
In Other News...
Clippers Could Pounce If Orlando Hesitates On Rising Young Guard
Anthony Blacks next contract is already shaping up as one of the more interesting subplot in Orlando, and it has a potential ripple effect for teams watching from the sidelines. Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that the Magic have not yet been willing to put a deal in front of the young guard that matches the kind of money Brandin Podziemski recently landed, which keeps the situation fluid as Black continues to build value.
For the Clippers, that uncertainty matters because they are in position to use their available cap space if Orlando decides to slow-play the process. Black is still viewed as a player whose size, defensive versatility and long-term upside could fit on a team looking to add young talent without sacrificing flexibility, and if the market opens up at the right time, Los Angeles is one of the clubs set up to make a run. [Read more 🡒]
Blake Griffin Just Hit On What Clippers Fans Are Feeling
The Clippers are dealing with the kind of fallout that can reshape a franchise for years, and former star Blake Griffin recently put a familiar face on what that feels like from the outside. After the NBA penalized the team for cap circumvention tied to Kawhi Leonard, the organization entered a bruising stretch that included discipline for owner Steve Ballmer, executive suspensions and a painful reset after Leonard was later moved to Toronto.
Griffin said he feels for the fans who now have to live through a difficult rebuilding period, which is hardly a comforting thought for a group that has already seen plenty of turbulence. He also weighed in on the Bradley Beal jersey discussion, bringing up the debate over Chris Pauls old No. 3 in a way that shows how much the franchises past still hangs over its present. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Preseason Left Cam Christie In A Tough Early Fight
The Clippers got some useful answers in preseason, and a few of them came from unexpected places. Darius Garland looked comfortable steering the group, mixing efficient scoring with the kind of steady leadership that can settle a second unit, while Baba Miller carved out a real lane for himself by giving the bench frontcourt some needed substance.
Cam Christie, though, was left in a tougher spot. In limited chances, he never got his shot going and the ball security issues added to the pressure around him, which is exactly the sort of early preseason stumble that can make the battle for a roster spot feel even tighter. [Read more 🡒]