Can Daniel Oturu or Jay Scrubb find a role in the LA Clippers’ rotation?
Last month’s draft landed center Daniel Oturu and swingman Jay Scrubb in Southern California after Lawrence Frank executed trades that secured the services of the two college standouts.
Oturu and Scrubb will be facing an uphill battle to prove that they can be key pieces for a Clippers squad with genuine title aspirations, as they will be fighting against an already dependable bench unit for any significant minutes. There does remain, however, NBA-ready aspects of each player’s game that, if given the opportunity, could emerge as hidden treasures for Lue.
Oturu registered 20.1 points and 11.3 rebounds per game of his sophomore year with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, displaying the high energy rim running and shot-blocking presence of an immense value in NBA circles. The 21-year-old’s 3.7 offensive rebounds and 2.5 blocks each outing of his final year in the Twin Cities will help mitigate the void left by Montrezl Harrell’s crosstown departure, who can offer the similar relentlessness once exhibited by the reigning Sixth Man of the Year in a Clippers uniform.
Scrubb begins his NBA journey as the first Junior College draftee since Donta Smith in 2004, earning the 55th selection after posting 21.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists each game of his second campaign at Illinois’ John A. Logan College. Scrubb begins his professional career with an NBA-ready body will allow the 20-year-old possibilities to grow into an immediate role under Lue.
Scrubb’s perimeter shooting may be the key for the Kentucky native to unlock a role for the Clippers. Scrubb completed 39.5 percent of his three-point attempts at the collegiate level and will be hoping that his sharpshooting will translate to the NBA three-point line. An ability to spread the floor is fundamental to any metric of success for a modern wing, and it seems that Scrubb already has all the tools to prosper in Southern California.
Whilst both prospects bear attributes that could secure them an important role for the upcoming season, Oturu and Scrubb promise to thrive from assignments to Ontario with the G League’s Agua Caliente Clippers. In the minor leagues, the two rookies will be afforded larger playing time to understand the professional game while making strides to achieving NBA minutes. But as for the present, Oturu and Scrubb will be asked to prove their worth on an established roster primed for silverware in 2021.