Clippers officially sign free agent Hedo Turkoglu

As expected, the Clippers on Thursday signed free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu for the rest of the season, with the contract believed to be for a prorated portion of the veteran’s minimum of about $1.4 million.

Turkoglu, who turns 35 in March, will give the Clippers a 6-foot-10 veteran with excellent ball-handling skills and shooting touch. He also has extensive playoff experience, having reached the NBA Finals in 2009 with the Orlando Magic.

“He’s another shooter,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said Wednesday before his team’s come-from-behind 129-127 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center. “He can space the floor.”

The Clippers released guard Maalik Wayns to clear a roster spot for Turkoglu, and signed guard Darius Morris to a second consecutive 10-day contract.

Turkoglu became a free agent earlier this month after the Magic waived him in a move that saved the team $6 million. He played in only 11 games last season because of injuries, a 20-game suspension for testing positive for an anabolic steroid and an agreement with the Magic late in the season to stay away from the team while it used younger players.

Turkoglu could make his Clippers debut Friday when the team plays the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on the start of a seven-game, 11-day trip.

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