LA Clippers sign Austin Rivers, add big man Cole Aldrich

The Los Angeles Clippers made two moves to solidify their bench today, as the team announced that it had signed guard Austin Rivers and center Cole Aldrich.  Other outlets have reported that Rivers' deal was for $6.4 million over two years.

Rivers, 22, returns to the Clippers after appearing in 41 regular season games (two starts) with the team last season, averaging 7.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists following a January 15, 2015, trade from the Boston Celtics.

Rivers proved to be an upgrade at the backup point guard position over Jordan Farmar, as his size, versatility, defense, and occasional offensive hot streaks helped the team in several key games.

In the first playoff action of his career, Rivers played in all of the Clippers' 14 postseason games, averaging 8.4 points and 1.1 assists while providing 16 points in a crucial Game 4 win over San Antonio.  He later led the team with 25 points, six rebounds, and two assists in a Game 3 victory over Houston.

The 10th selection in the 2012 NBA Draft by New Orleans, Rivers appeared in 165 career games for the Pelicans (33 starts), averaging 6.9 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 21.4 minutes before being traded to Boston on Jan. 12.

A stand-out at Duke University for one season in 2011-12, Rivers averaged 15.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 34 games.

Aldrich, 26, joins the Clippers after spending the last two seasons with the New York Knicks. Last season he averaged 5.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 61 games (16 starts). The 6-foot-11 center has appeared in 196 total games with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Knicks and has career averages of 3.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in 196 games.

With Spencer Hawes now off the roster, Aldrich will be center DeAndre Jordan's backup.

Originally drafted with the 11th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets, Aldrich spent three seasons at the University of Kansas. The Bloomington, Minnesota, native was a perfect 55-0 as a Jayhawk at home and was named the 2009 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus Second-Team All American in 2010.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services