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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Forward Danny Granger has signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, adding more veteran depth for the club's playoff push.
The former All-Star joined the Clippers on Friday after his contract was bought out by the Philadelphia 76ers, who acquired him in a trade with Indiana last week. Granger cleared waivers shortly before Los Angeles announced the deal.
Granger could play significant minutes for the Clippers (40-20), who lead the Pacific Division by four games over Golden State. He is coach Doc Rivers' second major free-agent addition to the Clippers in the past week along with veteran big man Glen Davis.
Despite the Clippers' stellar record, they're eager to add depth after several significant injury problems this season. Most recently, guard J.J. Redick has been out for nine games with a bulging disk in his lower back, and his status for the regular-season stretch is uncertain.
The Pacers traded Granger to Philadelphia along with a second-round pick for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen. Granger had spent his entire nine-season NBA career in Indiana, becoming an All-Star in 2009 while averaging 25.8 points per game.
Granger led the Pacers in scoring for five straight years, but he played in just five games last season while struggling with a knee injury. He then missed nearly the first two months of the current season with a strained left calf before returning to average 8.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 29 games.
Paul George's emergence in Indiana made Granger expendable, but he could be a key contributor to the Clippers, who need depth and secondary scoring. Granger chose Los Angeles over several suitors, including Miami, Houston and San Antonio.
Granger could make his debut for the Clippers at home on Saturday against New Orleans.
The Clippers traded Antawn Jamison and Byron Mullens last week to clear roster spots for veteran additions for the stretch run, and Rivers has filled them with two of the biggest prizes available.
Davis joined Los Angeles on Monday after his contract was bought out by the Orlando Magic. Davis, who played for Rivers in Boston, was averaging 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 45 games this season.
Davis made his Clippers debut on Wednesday in a victory over Houston, and the energetic big man got a standing ovation from the Staples Center crowd.
The Clippers also added veteran Hedo Turkoglu last month.
Los Angeles got good news Thursday on guard Jamal Crawford. The Clippers' top reserve has no major structural damage in his strained left calf, and he hopes to miss only two games before returning next week.
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