INGLEWOOD — Signing center Brook Lopez gives the Clippers more than just another 7-footer who can back up starter Ivica Zubac. His ability to knock down 3-point shots allows the Clippers to create offensive opportunities for others at any time.
“That’s a shooting five,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said Tuesday before the team headed to Sacramento for its third of four preseason games. “We haven’t seen that in a long time. A real shooting five, not a small-ball five. It’s totally different.”
While Lopez presents a different look for the Clippers, he is giving Lue flashbacks to his days as coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Back to my Channing Frye days, Kevin Love days,” he said.
Frye, a 7-foot center/forward, shot 37.3% from 3-point range over two-plus seasons in Cleveland under Lue, including 40.9% in 2016, helping the Cavs win the NBA championship.
Love was a teammate of Frye’s on the 2016 team, shooting 36% from behind the arc during the Cavs’ championship season.
“Brook gives us just a lot of stuff that we can run that I’m comfortable with and he’s getting comfortable with now,” said Lue, who admitted he has dusted off a few of the schemes he used with the Cavs during their title run.
John Collins, too, is getting more comfortable with the Clippers’ offense after spending the past two seasons with the Utah Jazz, while maintaining a certain level of excellence. A 54.6% career shooter overall, Collins said he is looking to his new teammates to hold him to a high standard.
“That’s what I need,” Collins said. “I feel like we’re always only as good as the people around us or the people we keep in our circles. And (Chris Paul) is obviously not shy. Kawhi (Leonard) has been great as well. James (Harden), Brook (Lopez), all my OGs just tapping in and trying to help me be great.
“I appreciate them the utmost and that’s been big for me. Trying to just keep to that standard.”
Collins, who started in Sunday’s preseason loss to the Denver Nuggets, will not start against the Jazz, according to Lue but is expected to get minutes with the second unit, which includes Lopez.
“(His shooting) helps me roll, dunk, attack a basket and it really just, it is spacing,” Collins said. “It allows us to almost do whatever we want because our five man is away from the rim and it just again opens the court for everybody.
“Brook’s going to be amazing for us as well with his versatility and his size and strength.”
BEAL, BOGDANOVIC LIMITED
Neither Bradley Beal nor Bogdanovic took part in Tuesday’s scrimmages and both guards are uncertain to play Wednesday, according to Lue.
While Beal continues to rehab a knee issue, Bogdanovic, who tweaked his back in the first two minutes of the first preseason game, did “a little bit” on the court, Lue said.
FLOWERS IS WAIVED
Two-way forward Trentyn Flowers reportedly is being waived after two seasons with the Clippers and their G League team.
Flowers, 20, appeared in six games for the Clippers last season, averaging 1.8 points. The athletic forward spent the majority of the season with the Oceanside-based San Diego Clippers, where he averaged 17.7 points on 48% shooting from the field and 39% from 3-point range, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 40 games.
CLIPPERS AT KINGS
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
Radio: 570 AM