Terance Mann is the surprise of NBA Summer League

The Los Angeles Clippers snatched up Terance Mann in the 2nd round of the NBA Draft because he was a high character stat stuffer. A few weeks later, that is looking like an awfully smart decision.

They’ve thrust Mann into a point guard role. The assumption was that he would be spending the season in Ontario on the Clippers’ G-League squad developing his on-ball skills. But now we’re not so sure.

A good contract for a 2nd round pick is usually the 2-way option. In that format, Mann would get paid as an NBA player when he was with the parent club, and as a G-League player when he was in the developmental league. Yesterday, however, Mann signed a much better contract, which has been reported at $6.3 million over four years, with the first two guaranteed. This provides Mann with legit NBA money, while giving the club a potential medium-term bargain on a young player.

After he signed the contract he went out and nearly recorded his first triple double. Displaying all the skills that were routinely on display at the Tuck, Mann put up 15 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists against the Wizards in an NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas. This came on the heels of a six point, 14 rebound performance two nights earlier.

He’s playing alongside Mfiondu Kabengele, who also has a guaranteed contract due to his status as a 1st round draft pick. Fi has shown flashes of brilliant play - as expected - along with a bunch of head-scratching fouls.

Your next chance to view Mann and Fi with the Clippers comes Thursday night at 10 PM, when they play the Kings on ESPN3.