LA Clippers: Can Brice Johnson, Diamond Stone contribute?
By Tom West
Diamond Stone’s potential
There’s a reason many projected Diamond Stone to be drafted in the last few picks of the first round this year. At 6’10” with a 7’3″ wingspan, the 19-year-old center has an excellent physical profile. For someone so young, he already has great size, and there’s always a chance he may grow a little in his already impressive frame.
He used that length to average 1.6 blocks in his 23.1 minutes per game as a freshman last season at Maryland, and it’s one of the biggest elements of his skill set that would have caught the attention of Doc and the Clippers. Stone shifts his feet fairly well for a man of his size, and the length gives him an immediate asset to help defensively.
As we saw in Summer League, though, knowing how to use that length, where to be on defense, how to rotate and help effectively, and how to avoid fouling are all things that will take time.
Offensively, Stone will also need work. He thrived as post player in college, possessing an array of moves on the low block and strong finishing inside. It’s the element of his game that’s most NBA ready, and he has real promise for what he can do before he’s even reached his 20th birthday. Again, there’s a reason why many pegged him as a first-round prospect. It’s developing consistent range and learning how to effectively roll to the basket that’s key.
Stone has had limited range for his basketball career so far, although Dan Woike reported a comment from Doc that favored Stone over Brice Johnson from the three-point line:
"“Diamond can really shoot the ball. He was on the post in college, but when you watch him shoot, he wins more of the shooting drills. He can shoot the ball. They both have the chance. … I think Diamond shoots it better from the 3 than Brice does.”"
Hitting threes in training camp is a little different to making them in a game. And as someone who attempted no threes at all in college, it’s safe to say living beyond the arc, or frequently much further than the elbow, is something Stone will do.
Even still, it doesn’t hurt that Doc is keen on what Stone can do so far and that the rookie has expanded his range.
At only 19, with need to develop his fairly raw game at both ends of the floor and build up muscle, Stone is a work in progress right now. Someone in his position isn’t the kind of player that can crack a Clippers’ big man rotation of Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Marreese Speights and Brandon Bass right now. A few spells in the D-League and time to hone and transition his skills to the professional level would help.
With footage from practice showing Stone’s finishing near the rim, ability in the post, improving range, and the high praise from his coach and teammates, his impressive start has been one of the best surprises of training camp. The future looks bright for Stone.
Next, there’s Brice Johnson.