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LA Clippers: “Re-Drafting” the 2018 Lottery

By Ryan Snellings

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver poses with (L-R) Donte DiVincenzo, Jerome Robinson, Mikal Bridges, Kevin Knox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Wendell Carter Jr., Collin Sexton, Marvin Bagley III, Trae Young, Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic, Miles Bridges, Michael Porter Jr., Lonnie Walker IV, Jaren Jackson, Aaron Holiday, Chandler Hutchison and Zhaire Smith pose for a photo before the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver poses with (L-R) Donte DiVincenzo, Jerome Robinson, Mikal Bridges, Kevin Knox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Wendell Carter Jr., Collin Sexton, Marvin Bagley III, Trae Young, Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic, Miles Bridges, Michael Porter Jr., Lonnie Walker IV, Jaren Jackson, Aaron Holiday, Chandler Hutchison and Zhaire Smith pose for a photo before the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 8: Landry Shamet #20 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 8, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 8: Landry Shamet #20 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 8, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /

With one season behind them all, let’s take a look to see what order the 2018-19 rookies should have been drafted and who the LA Clippers would have taken.

With one season under their belts and the new draft class currently at the combine, it’s time to take a look back at last year’s draft lottery and see how much it would have changed had teams had the advantage of foresight.

This rookie class had some real talent at the top, but there were still plenty of rookies who came in and had an immediate impact on their respective teams.

Would the LA Clippers still have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Landry Shamet (although they didn’t draft him) and Jerome Robinson? Probably not.

For this exercise, we’ll be ignoring the teams that were in the lottery and their position of need at the time and instead will just be ranking who the best 15 rookies ended up being.

15. De’Anthony Melton – PG

2018-19 Stats: 5.0 PTS, 39% FG, 2.7 REB, 3.2 AST, 1.4 STL

Not a bad season for the guy taken 46th overall by the Houston Rockets. Traded to the Phoenix Suns, Melton had the opportunity to show his abilities to a team that desperately needed a point guard. No, he hasn’t filled that hole entirely, but he did show promise given his position in the draft.

Melton is a solid defender, evidenced by his 1.4 steals per game. Despite being only 6’3″, he has a huge 6’8″ wingspan. He’s not the best offensive player by any means, but he is capable of scoring at times and had a season-high 21 point output versus the Sacramento Kings.

Patrick Beverley might be Melton’s ceiling, but that’s not a bad thing. He could be the perfect pest for teams while still being capable of hitting shots if the ball is swung to him.

14. Landry Shamet – SG

2018-19 Stats: 9.1 PTS, 42% FG, 2.1 3PM, 1.7 REB, 1.4 AST

Landry Shamet jumps into the lottery! Taken 26th by the Philadelphia 76ers, he may have been one of the best steals of the draft. Thankfully for us in Clipper Nation, he was dealt to LA as part of the trade package for Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott.

Shamet is already a knock down shooter, hitting on 42.2% of his shots from deep on just over two attempts per game. His defense was originally a big knock, but Shamet is a smart player and there were signs of improvement as the season went on, especially during the Clippers’ series against the Golden State Warriors.

The young guard doesn’t shy away from the big stage either, as he knocked down arguably the biggest shot of the year during the Clippers historic Game 2 comeback versus the Warriors.

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