With the Oct. 19 opening night roster deadline closing in, the Clippers have already started making the kind of moves teams across the league are scrambling to finish. One of the more surprising ones came on Oct. 14, when Los Angeles waived Cam Christie.
That decision raised eyebrows because Christie, 21, has flashed enough developmental upside to look like more than just a disposable camp body. His 2025-26 production was modest - 2.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game while shooting 38.1% from the field - but the Clippers still seemed to see something worth keeping an eye on.
Now there’s a path for him to stay in the building. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Clippers would be open to bringing Christie back if he is willing to accept a two-way contract. If that happens, Los Angeles could use its remaining two-way spot to keep him around without giving up roster flexibility for future moves.
That setup would work well for the Clippers. Christie could be active for up to 50 regular-season games, and the team would still be able to send him to the G League’s San Diego Clippers to keep his development moving.
For Christie, the question is whether that route is worth taking. A two-way deal can look like a step down on paper, but for a young player trying to stay connected to the NBA, it can also be the difference between being in the conversation and being out of it entirely.
So far, Christie has not carved out a real rotation role in Los Angeles. Across two seasons with the franchise, he has played in 68 games and averaged 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.3 steals while shooting 36.8% from the field.
The upside is still there, and the comparison to his brother, Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie, only adds to the sense that there’s more talent to work with than the box scores suggest. But the Clippers haven’t had enough from him yet to treat him like a locked-in piece, especially with a playoff push in mind.
His preseason numbers at least give Los Angeles something to think about. Christie averaged 8.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.5 steals per game in the preseason, which helps explain why the door may not be fully closed.
At the moment, he has three possible paths. He can test free agency, though with the deadline just three days away, there may not be much of a market waiting for him.
He can also join the Clippers’ G League affiliate and become eligible for a bonus of up to $91,000 after spending six months with the team. That would keep the developmental track open, but it could also push him further from the NBA spotlight.
The most practical option, though, is the one Fischer laid out: a two-way deal with the Clippers. It would not put Christie on the main roster, but it would keep him in the organization, give him a chance to work in the G League, and leave him positioned with Los Angeles heading into the 2026-27 season.
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Dunns fit becomes even more interesting because the Clippers are short on scoring help with Brandon Ingram sidelined by a partially torn Achilles. In that kind of setup, every half-court possession matters a little more, and the pressure shifts toward the backcourt to manufacture enough offense to keep the group afloat. However Lue sorts out the rest of the rotation, the opening-night lineup already looks like a test of how much margin this team can afford to give away. [Read more 🡒]