Clippers NBA Draft: What does Diamond Stone offer L.A.?

The Los Angeles Clippers made a great addition to their frontcourt in the 2016 NBA Draft with Brice Johnson, but what kind of skill set does the 40th pick Diamond Stone have to offer?

The Los Angeles Clippers certainly addressed their frontcourt in the 2016 NBA Draft. A power forward was their target all along with the 25th pick in the first round, and with Brice Johnson, they got the guy loved. Rather than a wing like Taurean Prince or DeAndre Bembry (both were snatched up by the Atlanta Hawks within the top 21 picks), it was all about Johnson, and Diamond Stone followed at center to add even more promising rookie talent to the frontcourt.

Besides the great name that sounds like it belongs to the kind of guy you didn’t want to know in a sleazy 1990s bar, Stone has a lot of intrigue. Widely considered as a talent to be taken at the very end of the first round in most mock drafts, the Clippers did well to land him at 40 as they traded back from the 33rd pick to earn the 39th and 40th selections.

At only 19 years old with a 6’11”, 255 lbs frame and 7″3″ wingspan, Stone is massive. He has a powerful build and immediately bolsters the Clippers’ level of physicality. After seeing so many super small rotations and only having Cole Aldrich to bring any real size off the bench, that should be a welcome presence for Clippers fans.

More from Clippers News

On offense, Stone is an old-fashioned, back-to-the-basket center, averaging 21.6 points per 40 minutes last season. He has a bunch of moves on the low block and finds deep positioning consistently in order to set himself up for easier opportunities as much as possible. It’s where he’s at his best, and even though he can’t pass out of the post too well at this point and his range will need expanding over time, he can still be an option for the Clippers’ bench lineups whenever he gets a few minutes on the court.

Along with solid effectiveness in the pick-and-roll and the rate at which he attacks the offensive glass when he looks to grab his own miss or clean up for others, Stone brings a lot more inside to a second unit that typically relies on tough, mid-range pull-ups (aka Jamal Crawford) and perimeter play.

must read: Clippers one of few teams with upcoming Kevin Durant meeting

Defensively, it’s interior play again where Stone can help most.

He blocked 2.7 blocks per 40 minutes as a freshman at Maryland last season and certainly has enough athleticism and length to help at the rim and prevent some easy drives. Again, this is an attribute the Clippers only found in their bench from Aldrich, so any help will certainly make his life easier.

More from Clipperholics

For the time being, though, that’s what Stone’s impact will be limited to. His defensive rebounding was relatively weak, and with offensive rebounding accounting for 2.2 of his 5.4 total rebounds per game (in 23.1 minutes), it’s clear which end of the court he’s best suited to. Nevertheless, while he may not be an elite athlete, his positioning and timing can be worked upon.

Finally, that lack of high-end speed holds Stone back near the perimeter. He’ll struggle against NBA pick-and-rolls to hedge and cover more talented, explosive big men as they roll to the basket, and he lacks the speed to keep up with wings or guards on switches to the perimeter.

Thankfully, this is where the far more athletic and mobile Brice Johnson comes into play.

Behind Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, possibly Aldrich (or any other big who’s signed) and Johnson, there really won’t be many minutes left for Stone in a talented frontcourt rotation. It’ll take hard work and energetic minutes to ensure he can keep some playing time.

Next: Clippers wanted Guerschon Yabusele in 2016 Draft, too

However, he’s ready to score in the post once he gets started in the NBA, and with that skill and the solid rim protection he provides, he’s a sound pick at No. 40. He certainly starts addressing some of the issues with the Clippers’ bench.

Home/Clippers News