Diamond Stone
The Clippers acquired the 254 pound Maryland product as somewhat of a project at no. 40 after swapping picks with the New Orleans Pelicans. Diamond Stone was one of Maryland’s highest recruited players. He proved himself worthy by earning a nod on the Big Ten’s All Conference Third team as well as their All-Freshman team with averages of 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks on the season.
With elite strength and a big body, Stone has the power to battle against NBA physiques. However, his lack of athleticism and height (he measured 6’9 without shoes at the 2016 draft combine) make him a liability on defense at the center position.
Similar to Johnson, Stone was never going to slide into the front court rotation this season, and was sent to the D-league in search of experience. Following a 31 point explosion in his debut, Stone averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and one block in four games with the Santa Cruz Warriors. He was eventually recalled and sent back down to the Salt Lake City Stars where he put up 16.9 points and 8.1 rebounds over nine games.
While he isn’t nearly as explosive as Griffin or Jordan, his excellent footwork and soft touch can make him an offensive threat with his back to the basket. He needs to develop a consistent mid-range jump shot and improve his passing ability to justify a regular role in the rotation. On the defensive end, his lack of athleticism and height will certainly show, especially against hyper athletic opponents, but his impressive 7’3 wingspan may help make up for those shortcomings.