Clippers signing former first-round pick

The Clippers are signing center/forward Kai Jones to a multiyear contract, allowing him to join their playoff roster, according to Shams Charania and Law Murray of The Athletic. Jones recently completed a 10-day contract with the Sixers. In order to make space on the roster for Jones, the Clippers are waiving Joshua Primo, per Charania and Murray.

As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ohm Youngmisuk observe, Primo suffered a season-ending ankle injury that’s expected to sideline him through the summer.

Jones, the 19th overall pick in the 2021 draft, played two seasons for the Hornets, averaging 2.7 points in 67 games. He signed with the Sixers on a 10-day deal but didn’t appear in a game for them. He’s been more productive in the G League through the course of his career, averaging 16.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 48 career regular-season and Showcase Cup G League games.

Jones made a series of unusual social media posts before this season. A report ahead of training camp indicated that the big man wouldn’t be reporting to the Hornets for personal reasons. He subsequently requested a trade and then was waived by the club shortly thereafter.

The Clippers previously brought Jones in for a visit in November, and Charania recently sat down with the former first-round pick to discuss how he’d been working on himself on and off the court.

Primo was the 12th overall pick by the Spurs in 2021. He appeared in two games with the Clippers this season after they signed following him being waived by San Antonio last year for engaging in “inappropriate and offensive behavior by exposing himself to women.” The NBA imposed a four-game suspension after Primo’s behavior, which allegedly included multiple incidents with a longtime sports psychologist who worked for the Spurs during his time with the organization.