The LA Clippers are reportedly targeting a number of point guards with their 12th pick, including Trae Young and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The long-awaited NBA Draft is finally happening tonight. Months of questions will be answered in just a few more hours. One of those questions, however, could be answered already.
According to a report from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the Clippers are targeting a slew of point guards with their No. 12 pick. Included in that list are Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Collin Sexton, and Jerome Robinson.
Profiles
Young, a standout at Oklahoma, was college basketball’s top scorer last season. Averaging 27.4 points and 8.7 assists per game, he has as much superstar potential as any in this class. There are some concerns about his consistency and small frame, but if he’s still available at 12, it’d be tough to pass on him.
Alexander, a long, versatile guard, will impress with his size alone. Standing 6-6 with a 7-0 wingspan, he’s got all the tools necessary to become a pesky perimeter defender. In his lone season at Kentucky, he averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 assists per game. His jump shot will need some work if he wants to become a starting-caliber guard, but Alexander is a confident player, and it should be an easy fix. Shaun Livingston is a solid comparison.
Sexton was a one-man show for the Alabama Crimson Tide last season, putting up nearly 20 points per game. He gets to the line with ease, and is also a solid rebounder despite his 6-1 frame. However, Sexton will need to become a better facilitator to make a real impact with the Clippers. LA is in need of a playmaker, and while Sexton will accomplish that, his teammates may not get a chance to.
Lastly we have Robinson, a wild-card that could be taken as high as the lottery and as low as the second round. Like Young and Sexton, he has a smaller frame, and is a much more offensive-minded player. In three seasons at Boston College, Robinson shot nearly 40% from three and dropped nearly 18 points per game. He’s more of a combo guard than a true point guard though, so it’ll be interesting to see how he gets used at the NBA level.