2010 NBA Draft
Selections: Al-Farouq Aminu (8th), Eric Bledsoe (18th), Willie Warren (54th)
Notable players still available: Gordon Hayward (9th), Paul George (10th), Avery Bradley (19th), Hassan Whiteside (33rd)
The Clippers made some good selections in the first round, but unfortunately, the 2010 NBA Draft will always be known as The Draft That Could Have Been.
LA took Al-Farouq Aminu with the 8th overall selection, leaving future All-Stars Gordon Hayward and Paul George for the Jazz and the Pacers, respectively. Aminu played just one season for the Clippers before he was included in the Chris Paul trade. In his lone season in LA, he averaged 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds.
Eric Bledsoe was a bright spot in the middle of the first round. He never amounted to much statistically for the LA Clippers, but he fulfilled his role perfectly. Behind Chris Paul, Bledsoe was a sparkplug off the bench thanks to his crazy athleticism and tenacity. He burst onto the scene when he went to Phoenix, prompting “All-Star snub” conversations year after year. I wonder what would have happened if the Clippers selected Avery Bradley instead?
The Clippers finished their draft by selecting Willie Warren with the 54th pick. He would appear in just 19 games that season before being sent to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA D-League. He averaged 1.9 points and never appeared in the NBA again.
LA missed out on some big-time players in this draft, and that’s the biggest reason why the Clippers get knocked hard for it.