Wesley Johnson may be considered for the Clippers' starting small forward role in 2015-16, the Orange County Register reports.

Johnson may be considered for the Clippers' starting small forward role in 2015-16, the Orange County Register reports.

Analysis:

Signed in the offseason at the veteran minimum, Johnson is coming off back-to-back seasons with the Lakers in which he started 121 of his 155 appearances. Standing in his way on the other Staples Center tenant is Paul Pierce, who inked a more lucrative three-year deal with the Clippers this summer. Paychecks aside, coach Doc Rivers may base his decision on preservation of Pierce for the postseason, as long as Johnson acclimates well to an otherwise unchanged starting five. Whoever earns the job will have the luxury of little resistance from three-point range, as Matt Barnes did the past few seasons. Per NBA.com, Johnson knocked down a proficient 42.5 percent from beyond the arc in 2014-15 when he was afforded six-plus feet from the nearest defender, which could translate nicely in an offense helmed by Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Perhaps Johnson's greatest challenge will be taking on the top opposing wing, which he'll have the chance to prove in his initial outings with the Clippers.