Clippers Sign 7-Foot Center Wallace Bryant, Put Derek Smith on Injured Reserve List

The Clippers placed guard Derek Smith on the injured reserved list Sunday, enabling them to sign 7-foot, 245-pound center Wallace Bryant to a 10-day contract.

Smith still has soreness in his left knee after arthroscopic surgery on a severely torn cartilage almost eight weeks ago and will miss a minimum of five games.

The Clippers have five games remaining on their current trip. They play the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday night, which will be Bryant’s first game. He joined the team Sunday in time for practice. Bryant was waived by Dallas in late November, after the Mavericks acquired James Donaldson in a trade with the Clippers.

Clipper Coach Don Chaney, desperate after Saturday night’s embarrassing 29-point loss to Indiana, said Sunday Bryant will play Tuesday night. He will likely split time with starting center Kurt Nimphius and rookie Benoit Benjamin.

“We needed another big body,” Chaney said. “Anybody.”