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Clippers: 5 big names who could fall to L.A. in 2016 NBA Draft

By Tom West

Mar 18, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) looks to pass around Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders forward Reggie Upshaw (30) during the first half of the first round in the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) looks to pass around Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders forward Reggie Upshaw (30) during the first half of the first round in the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 26, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Tyler Ulis (3) looks for an open player during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at Rupp Arena. Kentucky won 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Tyler Ulis (3) looks for an open player during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at Rupp Arena. Kentucky won 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports /

Tyler Ulis, PG, Kentucky

Tyler Ulis is easily one of the top few floor generals in this draft class, overcoming his size at 5’10” to run one of the most efficient offenses in college at Kentucky. He averaged 17.3 points, three rebounds, seven assists and 1.5 steals per game, finishing last season with a solid true shooting percentage of 57 to go along with his knack for moving the ball.

Along with the way he can drive and kick to teammates or run effective pick-and-rolls, his 37.1 percent three-point shot and ability to create off the dribble with jumpers or floaters has made him a decent scorer, too.

Even if he only develops into a backup point guard in his NBA career, he has the potential to be a valuable role player or sixth man and certainly makes up for his lack of size with skill.

That lack of size is something that always hurts a prospect’s draft stock, though, as not every point guard can be the next Chris Paul or Isaiah Thomas. That alone has many estimating Ulis to at least drop to the late teens in the first round.

Furthermore, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders has reported that a fairly serious issue could require surgery in the future:

"Kentucky guard Tyler Ulis is said to have a pretty significant hip issue, which some believe may require surgery down the line. A medical red flag combined with his size, Ulis could slide deep into the first round or even over into the second depending on how team medical staffs view his situation."

It’s unlikely that the Clippers will look to take a point guard in the first round, given their need for a new wing that has many projecting small forward DeAndre Bembry (who I root for to be their selection) going to them with the 25th pick. Nevertheless, if Ulis falls enough into the second round as Kyler says could be a possibility (DraftExpress now have Ulis at 34th overall), Doc may be more interested in a top talent if he wants to deepen the backcourt.

Next: The high-flying French wing

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