Breaking: Utah Jazz draftee Tyrone Wallace won’t be retained by Clippers
By Ryan Aston
After parting ways with the Utah Jazz, Tyrone Wallace was resurgent with the LA Clippers. But he now finds himself without a spot on their roster.
The advent of two-way contracts has really changed the game for players on the fringes of NBA rosters. Not only are they more financially rewarding than standard G-League deals, but they give players a better shot at sticking in the league as well. Two-way players can spend time on an NBA roster; working, learning systems and making the case for a spot.
The only catch is that the time they have is finite — 45 days to be exact. And one former Utah Jazz player, who had arguably been a model for two-way success, just ran out of time.
According to reports, former Jazz draftee Tyrone Wallace will not remain with the LA Clippers beyond the scope of his two-way deal. He’s set to return to their G-League affiliate, the Agua Caliente Clippers, but they can’t recall him without shelling out some major dough for a full NBA contract.
In other words, he’s essentially a free agent. It’s a surprising development given his strong play.
Sources: The Clippers have chosen not to use their contractual right to unilaterally convert Tyrone Wallace's contract to a regular rest of season contract. He will not play for the Clippers
— Justin Jett (@JustinJett_) March 1, 2018
League sources confirm this report. Wallace will be a free agent https://t.co/OmIjgADzyp
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) March 1, 2018
Wallace found his way to the Clippers after parting ways with the Jazz organization during the offseason. Eventually, he signed a two-way deal with the club; a move that proved fruitful for both parties.
Less than a day before this news broke, he scored 16 points and dished out five assists to help the Clippers steal a win from the Nuggets in Denver.
In 21 games with the club, the former Jazzman averaged 10 points, three rebounds and three assists per game. Wallace also made 12 starts, during which the Clippers went 8-4. Without question, he’s helped the team remain in the playoff hunt.
After a four-year run at Cal, the Jazz selected Wallace with the 60th and final pick of the 2016 NBA Draft. Despite his late selection and questions about his offensive prowess, there was a lot to like about him as a prospect. More than anything, though, it was his measurables that stood out.
At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Wallace has elite size and length at the point guard (his college position) and still rates well on the wing.
More from The J-Notes
- With the FIBA World Cup over for Simone Fontecchio, it’s clear he deserves minutes for the Utah Jazz
- Best, Worst and Most likely scenarios for the Utah Jazz this season
- Hoops Hype downplays the significance of the Utah Jazz’s valuable assets
- 3 Utah Jazz players who have the most to gain or lose this season
- Former Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay is a free agent still and it shouldn’t surprise anyone
He struggled over the course of two summer leagues with the Jazz. Between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, he shot just 27 percent from the floor and 15 percent from 3-point range in 14 total games. He was much better last season for the Salt Lake City Stars, but the Jazz ultimately decided to go another direction.
Despite Wallace’s failure to catch on in Utah at that time, his later run with the Clippers leads one to believe that he’s a legitimate NBA player. His shot remains a work in progress, but he was able to finish at a 70 percent clip within three feet of the hoop. That’s a really strong number and speaks well to his ability to hang with the Association’s size and athleticism.
He also managed to knock down 8-of-26 from deep. Granted, that’s good for 31 percent, which isn’t a great number. We’re also talking about a pretty small sample size. Nevertheless, it could be a sign that some small level of progress is being made on that front.
In any event, the Clippers’ surprising loss here could mean a big-time gain for another team.