2015 NBA Draft: Breaking down the Clippers’ top targets
By Tom West
March 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes forward Aaron White (30) controls the ball against Davidson Wildcats during the second half of the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Power forward Aaron White of Iowa
White may not be as strong defensively as Richaun Holmes or Branden Dawson, but he’s still a talented power forward. Weighing in at 6’9″ and 228 lbs, White has a good combination of speed and agility that allow him to break into passing lanes on defense or rush to the basket on offense with his attentive off-ball movement along the baseline.
He recorded 16.4 points on 52.1 percent shooting, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks per game this season. And whilst those aren’t show-stopping numbers, his ability to intercept passes and create fast break opportunities would be a welcome addition alongside the far slower play of Glen “Big Baby” Davis.
White constantly plays with intensity, and the way he runs the floor and plays at a high tempo is one of his best traits. He’s a good athlete with his quickness and 35 inch vertical, and looks to attack the rim with authority or rise up for an alley-oop whenever he gets the chance.
He does have a reasonable mid range jumper, too, but White’s ball handling and athleticism make him more of a threat in transition or under the basket. Which, again in contrast to Davis’ game, would give the Clippers’ frontcourt far more energy off the bench.
That being said, offense isn’t what the Clippers need. They already had the league’s best offense this year with 109.8 points per 100 possessions, whilst only ranking 16th in defensive efficiency. Which is why power forwards such as Holmes or Dawson are better options for Doc Rivers to go after in the 2015 NBA draft.