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When the Clippers finally come together for the start of training camp, they’ll need balls, socks, jerseys, shoes, and a whole lot of those “Hello, My Name Is _____________” stickers, because outside of a couple players, the 2008-09 version of the red, white, and blue will bear little resemblance to the squad that took the floor last season. (Given their 23-59 record, that may not be a bad thing, but I digress). The latest adjustment to the roster comes in the form of sharpshooting forward Steve Novak, who, as it’s being reported by the Houston Chronicle, is on his way to LA in exchange for draft considerations, likely a swapping of second rounders at some point down the road. (UPDATE: According to the official release, Houston will have the chance to sap picks in 2011.) Mostly because defensively he’s neither strong enough to guard big forwards nor quick enough to man up on smaller ones, Novak has had little chance to establish himself with the Rockets, a team whose devotion to bruising, burly D is well established.

Still, in the 35 games in which he did manage to get some run, Novak drilled nearly 48% of his threes, and on a more wide open team like the Clippers ought to be this season, he could fill a valuable niche for a team that finished second to last in three point percentage last year (32.4%), and third from the bottom in triples made a game (4.3). At worst, Novak sits on the bench, just like he did in Houston. At best, he becomes a valuable role player for the LAC.

Solid no-harm, no-foul move to continue filling out an ever changing roster.

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