Clippers news: Harry Giles agrees to non-guaranteed training camp deal

Free agent center Harry Giles has agreed to a non-guaranteed training camp deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. In the 2020-21 NBA season, the center averaged 2.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and nearly one assist per game in 38 games played. Giles shot 43.3 percent from the field last season and 34.8 percent from three-point range. The 22-year-old center regressed due to a history of knee injuries throughout his college years at Duke.

The North Carolina native sat out for the 2017-18 NBA season because he wanted to focus more on developing muscle strength, flexibility and ACL injury prevention. However, in his rookie season, Giles averaged seven points and 3.8 rebounds per game in the 2018-19 season. The Clippers are likely signing the player because they have two injury-prone centers: Ivica Zubac and Serge Ibaka. Giles has to earn the final roster spot—hence the organization’s non-guaranteed deal offer.

Free agent C/F Harry Giles is signing a non-guaranteed deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Giles was the No. 20 pick in 2017 Draft and played for Portland last season.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 7, 2021

Harry Giles’ statistics, salary and accomplishments

While playing as a power forward in his first season, in his NBA debut with the Sacramento Kings on October 17, 2018, he scored just two points in nine minutes played. The Kings lost 123-117 against the Utah jazz. Throughout 2018, Giles spent time playing for the NBA G League’s Stockton Kings.

The 2018-19 Stockton Kings finished 30-20 that season, ranking second in the G League Pacific Division. He averaged a team-high 22.8 points per game in the G League, along with 7.3 rebounds and three assists. Nevertheless, he only appeared in four games.

Additionally, in the Kings’ 135-113 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, he scored a career-high 20 points and seven rebounds on January 31, 2019. Then, he averaged 6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in the following 2019-20 season. On November 22, 2020, as a free agent, he signed a one-year, $1..7 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.

On April 4, 2021, in Portland’s 133-85 blowout win versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, the center finished his performance with 12 points and two rebounds. Plus, he was selected 20th overall by the Trail Blazers in the 2017 NBA Draft. Though, his draft rights were quickly traded to the Sacramento Kings on draft night.

While playing basketball in the Olympics, he won a gold medal in the 2013 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship with Uruguay. A few years later, Giles competed in the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship and won another gold medal; this time it was with Greece.