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LA Clippers Roundtable: Getting Involved in the NBA Draft

By Ryan Snellings

Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the Los Angeles Clippers logo that will be unveiled during the 2015-16 season at press conference at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the Los Angeles Clippers logo that will be unveiled during the 2015-16 season at press conference at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Brice Johnson (North Carolina) walks off stage after being selected as the number twenty-five overall pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Brice Johnson (North Carolina) walks off stage after being selected as the number twenty-five overall pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Noah Shatzer (@NoahShatzer)

  1. Without a doubt. Austin Rivers is our only proven young player right now (even though I am high on Diamond Stone and Brice Johnson, they haven’t proven anything yet) and if Griffin and CP3 leave, the team is left in a rough spot. There’s even more reason for us to attempt to get into the draft now that we finally have a G-League team of our own for whomever we’d draft to develop on.
  2. It would be great if the Clippers could find a way to get into the first round but the team doesn’t have that many assets to offer for a pick. Realistically, I think the team will end up gunning for and purchasing a mid to late second round pick in the 35-50 range. The team’s best bet would be to try and purchase the pick from either the Sixers, who have Nos. 36, 37, 46, & 50 or the Celtics, who have Nos. 37, 53, and 56.
  3. With the team going big and drafting a power forward and center in last years draft and expecting French point guard David Michineau (whom they drafted last year with the 39th pick) to join the team now that the Clippers have their own G-League affiliate, I’d like to see the team go after a developable small forward or a young backcourt player. 22-year-old SG/SF Sterling Brown, who is the brother of former NBA player Shannon Brown, is a player who could be an excellent sleeper pickup for the Clips. Brown is an intriguing 3 and D style wing player who shot 45 percent on three pointers during his senior season while attempt 4.8 per game. Sophomore P.J. Dozier from the University of South Carolina is another wing prospect who would be a smart and sensible pick for the Clippers. The 6’6 shooting guard has a 6’11 wingspan and could continue to grow since he’s only 20-years-old. His combination of size and athleticism makes him an intriguing defensive prospect (he averaged 2.3 steals per 40 minutes) even with his offensive struggles. His perimeter and free throw shooting is a concern, but we saw how much the Clippers coaching staff, especially Sam Cassell, helped Austin Rivers turn his shot into a weapon. And even though we have two young big men prospects already, I wouldn’t be upset if the team managed to snag power forward Jordan Bell out of Oregon if he slipped far enough. Bell’s athleticism and shot blocking ability should translate well and could make him a solid backup for DeAndre Jordan.