The Most Important Free Agent for Los Angeles Clippers to Land This Offseason

This might not be a name that excites the fanbase, but the Los Angeles Clippers' most important free-agent target this summer is the San Antonio Spurs' Cory Joseph.

The fourth-year guard from the University of Texas has been a staple of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's rotation this year, playing a career-high 1,444 minutes. 

Popovich explained why Joseph has been vital to the team's success, per Jeff Caplan of Fox Sports Southwest:

"

He comes in and he makes it tougher for the other team to score. He gets loose balls. He rebounds. He does everything that helps the team, all the blue-collar kinds of things.

But hardly anyone notices it.

"

Although Joseph's nightly averages of 6.8 points, 2.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds will not jump off the page, his work ethic and willingness to make hustle plays will.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, he is one of 13 guards to record an assist percentage of at least 19, steal percentage of 1.5 and block percentage of 0.8 while playing at least 1,400 minutes.

His commitment to improving has been on display since he entered the league. During his second season, Joseph famously made a call to Popovich asking to be sent back down to the Spurs' D-League affiliate, the Austin Toros (now the Austin Spurs).

According to Spurs.com's Ken Rodriguez, Popovich granted his request.

"

Joseph packed and practiced the next morning with the Toros. 'I could be sitting on the bench in San Antonio,' Joseph explains, 'or I could be getting better.'

That was the big picture perspective of a 21-year-old point guard. Pop marveled. Kid wants to play at a lower level to improve his game for the next level? 'Usually,' Pop says, 'you don't get that kind of a request.'

"

Joseph was recalled a month later and played in 68 games the following season, starting in 19. Obviously, his willingness to work on his game paid off.

Joseph's Fit with the Clippers

The Clippers struggled to find an adequate replacement for Darren Collison at point guard after losing him to the Sacramento Kings via free agency. Head coach Doc Rivers used Jamal Crawford, Jordan Farmar, Nate Robinson, Austin Rivers and Lester Hudson to spell starter Chris Paul this season. 

The team needs to address the position this summer and might have to use the entire mid-level exception to do so. Unfortunately, the bi-annual exception was used last summer on Farmar, and the Clippers will only have minimum contracts to offer outside the mid-level.

To make matters more complicated, Joseph is a restricted free agent.

The Spurs can match any offer he receives. However, are the Spurs willing to spend $5 million per season on Joseph, considering they are paying him $2.02 million this year, according to sportrac? The Clippers will need to offer a substantial contract, likely the full mid-level exception, to pry him away.

Even so, the price would be worth it. Joseph has the ability to back up Paul but also play off the ball next to Crawford.

Joseph attempted 56.8 percent of his threes this season from the corner and connected on 36 percent of them. His ability to play off the ball while still spacing the floor is an ideal fit for Rivers' spread offense.

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Watching Joseph play, you'll immediately notice that he has a penchant for attacking the basket. He can either kick the ball out to his shooters or finish at the rim. 

During the regular season, he shot 60.2 percent within three feet of the basket, down from his blistering 65.8 percent last season. Additionally, Joseph is shooting 52 percent from two and 36.4 from three.

Factor in his offensive efficiency as well as his ability to attack off the dribble and shoot the corner three, and he rates as a valuable reserve guard. 

Defensively, Joseph has improved since entering the league and turned into a solid team and individual defender.

According to ESPN, he ranks sixth among all point guards in defensive real plus-minus. He isn't the quickest laterally or overly imposing physically, but he plays smart defense. He jumps passing lanes, is ready to help and doesn't commit lazy fouls.

Overall, Joseph looks the part of a legitimate backup point guard, but with upside. The Clippers definitely need help behind Paul. They also could use an influx of young talent capable of developing into a core member of the roster.

Paul played the entire 82-game regular season for the first time in his career, but that is something the team shouldn't be banking on in the future. The Clippers need a reserve point guard like Joseph not only to spell Paul, but also to improve the bench.

Luckily, or unluckily, fans will have a chance to see Joseph first hand as the Clippers play the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

All statistics are from Basketball-Reference.com and updated through April 16, unless otherwise indicated.

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