| Los Angeles Clippers Draft Preview (8th, 54th Overall Picks) Authored by Christopher Reina - June 18, 2010 - 3:24 pm
Picks Owned: 8th, 54th
Areas Of Need
The Clippers biggest area of need, a wing scorer with size, is logically what they will also target in free agency. While we can expect with a high degree of certainty that other teams will manage to use their cap space, I don't think this franchise can be categorized as such. I believe they would actually be in a better position a year from now after Blake Griffin's rookie season to be a substantial player in the 2011 class, particularly if the Clippers clear additional space by way of dealing away Baron Davis for an expiring contract.
A potential trade of Davis, which must be considered assuming they don't find themselves in a win-now mentality after this summer's free agency, makes drafting a point guard a possibility as well.
Scoring easy buckets has been a struggle for the Clippers ever since the departure of Elton Brand. There won't be an offensive answer to that dilemma, however, with the eighth overall pick.
Draft Targets
This is of course a deep draft at power forward and center, but also two positions the Clippers are settled at with Griffin, Chris Kaman and DeAndre Jordan to a lesser extent. Kaman has good trade value in acquiring a wing, which would open things up for a Cole Aldrich or Hassan Whiteside, but every indication from what I've heard is the Clippers are completely uninterested in dealing him.
Even though he is a slight reach, picking Xavier Henry would be the safest, most logical direction for the Clippers. He should be able to defend both wing positions with ease and offsets the shorter Eric Gordon at shooting guard. He is a high character player and projects to being a solid complementary guy for the next decade.
If he slides, Al-Farouq Aminu would be the absolute higher upside option since he will be able to play small forward, which is currently a position of need. He undoubtedly is a tweener, but he should develop enough of a jumper to spread the floor and his ability inside is very impressive.
Draft History
2009: Blake Griffin, 1st
2008: Eric Gordon, 7th / DeAndre Jordan, 35th
2007: Al Thornton, 14th
2006: Paul Davis, 34th
2005: Yaroslav Korolev, 12th / Daniel Ewing, 32nd
2004: Shaun Livingston, 4th
2003: Chris Kaman, 6th
2002: Chris Wilcox, 8th / Melvin Ely, 12th / Mario Kasun, 40th
2001: None
2000: Darius Miles, 3rd / Quentin Richardson, 18th / Marko Jaric, 30th
*Only notable second round picks listed
The Clippers collected enough high picks in the years before and after acquiring Elton Brand where they should have more than just the one playoff run in 2006 to show for it.
The 11th and 12th picks of the 2005 NBA Draft have combined for 39 points in their careers.
The Shaun Livingston pick was blatant misfortune and the 2000 Draft was actually really good for the Clippers in hindsight and with what else was available.
History of the 8th Overall Pick
2009: Jordan Hill, Knicks, 15.0
2008: Joe Alexander, Bucks, 9.9
2007: Brandan Wright, 18.2
2006: Rudy Gay, Grizzlies/Rockets, 15.6
2005: Channing Frye, Knicks, 14.0
2004: Rafael Araujo, Raptors, 6.3
2003: T.J. Ford, Bucks, 15.6
2002: Chris Wilcox, Clippers, 15.4
2001: DeSagana Diop, Cavaliers, 10.1
2000: Jamal Crawford, Bulls/Cavaliers, 15.4
Average career PER: 13.5
Chris Reina is the executive editor of RealGM. Follow him on Twitter at @CR_Reina. |
