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Free agent guard Ian Clark and the New Orleans Pelicans have come to terms on a contract.
As first reported by the Vertical’s Shams Charania, Clark and New Orleans have agreed to a one-year contract. It is reported that the deal is for nearly $1.6 million, the veteran’s minimum.
Free agent Ian Clark has agreed to a one-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2017
Clark’s coming off a career year in Golden State after averaging nearly seven points a game in just 14 minutes of playing time. On a per 36 minute basis, Clark averaged 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Most importantly, Clark is a respectable shooter from three-point range, coming off a career high 37 percent this past season.
Signing players to improve the team’s three point shooting was a stated priority of Alvin Gentry’s and the Pelicans had, frustratingly, not addressed that need. Quinn Cook was released, Dante Cunningham has still not been signed and players like Rajon Rondo and Darius Miller hardly count as proven threats from behind the arc. The Clark addition, finally, addresses that need as Dell Demps inked one of the top remaining free agents on the market.
Looking ahead, the Pelicans now have a trio of guards that will have no problem feeding Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins in Clark, Rondo and Jrue Holiday. Like Rondo, Clark has an NBA championship ring to his name and could prove to be a valuable locker room presence in such a critical season coming up for the Pelicans.