The LA Clippers retained their core this summer when they re-signed Kawhi Leonard, Reggie Jackson, and Nicolas Batum. Just days prior to the start of the season, they went a step further in securing Terance Mann as a part of their future.
On Tuesday, the Clippers announced the signing of Mann to a contract extension. Mann, who turns 25 on October 18th, reportedly signed a two-year, $22 million deal, according to ESPN's Marc Spears.
“Terance personifies many of the qualities we value,” said Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. “He is a giving teammate and an unrelenting worker who improves himself and those around him every day. In only two seasons, we’ve watched him grow from a second-round pick to a key contributor on a playoff team. We want him to be a big part of our future, and we’re glad he wants the same. We’re thrilled for Terance and excited for what’s to come.”
Terance Mann is entering the third year of his NBA career. His breakout sophomore campaign, which included an overall spectacular postseason performance, helped lead to the deal he signed today.
“This is the team that drafted me, so they believed in me from the beginning,” Mann explained in his first media availability since signing the extension. “And then the run we had last year, we didn’t go where we wanted to go, so it left a bitter taste. So just wanting to keep that up, making deep runs in the playoffs, trying to get a ring, staying with these guys. These guys helped me out. If it wasn’t for them, like I said last night, I wouldn’t be here so just being around these guys for a longer period of time, I couldn’t turn that down.”
“This is the team that drafted me, so they believed in me from the beginning. The run we had last year, we didn’t go where we wanted to go, so it left a bitter taste. Just being around these guys for a long time, I couldn’t turn that down.”
– Terance Mann on extension. pic.twitter.com/GZpJvtE2dN
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 12, 2021
Tyronn Lue, Terance Mann's head coach, echoed sentiments similar to Frank's when speaking of Mann and his extension for the first time.
“It feels good,” Lue said. “Just happy for him, all the work he has put in has paid off. He deserves it. When you get a guy like Terance who grinds his way to where he is at today, all the hard work he put in from being a point guard his first year to playing the five last year, making seven 3’s in a close-out game, you’re just happy for guys when they get paid, they get a chance and opportunity to play in this league for a long time. He definitely deserves it.”
Mann, the 48th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, is now signed through the 2024-25 season. He's essentially signed to Los Angeles for the next four years, and he'll be a free agent heading into the season he turns 28 years of age.
. @Farbod_E – “GM’s voted you among those likely to have a breakout year. What’s that like?”
Terance Mann – “You said GM’s? The ones that didn’t draft me? 48th pick? I don’t care about that shit.” pic.twitter.com/0UPm9Avfdm
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 7, 2021
Mann played sparingly in his rookie year under head coach Doc Rivers, but displayed the versatility necessary on both ends to become a rotation player. He played well in the regular season of his second year, his first under Ty Lue. Once the playoffs came around, he struggled to find consistent playing time in the first 11 games as the Clippers fought their way past the Mavs to face the Jazz in the second round.
That's when Lue made the decision to insert Mann into the rotation. In the final eight games, six of which were starts, Mann averaged 12.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.0 steal per game on 55.7 percent shooting from the field and 44.8 percent from three.
No game showed more about Terance Mann than the 39-point explosion in Game 6 of the second round. Down 25 early in the third quarter, Mann scored 20 of his 39 points in the period to get the Clippers within three. The rest was history as the rest of his Clippers teammates fed off the overflow of energy to complete the comeback, win Game 6, and advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Terance Mann had himself a night ♨️
He dropped a career-high 39 PTS as the Clippers eliminated the Jazz. pic.twitter.com/6GEk4l7PqI
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 19, 2021
Even with the incredible highs of the postseason, the Clippers fell short. The goal for Terance Mann remains clear.
“I just want to win a championship,” Mann said. “That’s my grand goal and that’s what I’m here to do.”
As the 48th pick, Mann had a lot of work to do to prove himself. Not only was he a late pick, but he was joining a championship contending team that just landed Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Just like others before him have shown to be possible, Mann wants to become a source of motivation for other players who aren't highly touted and don't get drafted high.
“I hope I’m definitely motivation for people that are in my position in the future. And those people before me, like Draymond Green, guys who got drafted later and ended up proving a lot people wrong. So it happens. And it’s going to happen again and again and again. But yeah, I would say I hope I’m motivation for guys in the future.”
The Clippers finished their preseason with a 1-3 record, winning the first and dropping three consecutive games. Guys like Paul George and Reggie Jackson played sparingly throughout the preseason, as did Nicolas Batum. Marcus Morris didn't play any games and is just starting to take full contact at practice. Kawhi Leonard is still a ways away from a return, and Serge Ibaka is still working his way back from back surgery late last season.
Despite the things going against them early on, Terance Mann likes what he sees from his Clippers.
“I like this team a lot, we got a lot of weapons. We haven't had everybody to really see what we're capable of, but we know what we're capable of because everybody that's out, we've played before, in the playoffs last year and Serge gave us a great run in the regular season last year also, so I'm excited for what this team has to offer this year. And we're out our best player, but I'm sure we'll be okay.”
The Clippers will officially begin their 2021-22 NBA season on Thursday, October 21st against the Golden State Warriors. Tyronn Lue's starters are expected to be Eric Bledsoe, Reggie Jackson, Paul George, Marcus Morris, and Ivica Zubac. Terance Mann, at least to start the season, is expected to be the first man off the bench akin to a Sixth Man role, where he'll provide, scoring, playmaking, defense, and energy for the Clippers.
Follow Us
Subscribe