Heading into the 2021 NBA Draft with only the 25th overall pick, the LA Clippers weren’t expected to make many waves.
By the end of the night, they ended up with three promising rookies who could all end up paying off in the long run.
Given the absence of Kawhi Leonard for potentially the whole season, L.A. will need all the help they can get to reach their ultimate goal of winning an NBA crown.
While rotation minutes will be scarce or non-existent for their three new rookies at the outset, the newest Clippers have already all shown promise and potential to grow quickly.
It was clear the Clippers had their eyes on Keon Johnson on draft night, giving up two picks for one to move up and take him 21st overall. His athleticism has been obvious from the jump, but he didn’t impress as much as expected in the Summer League. Still, he did have some standout moments, notably his 17-point, six-rebound game in a win over the Jazz — one in which he buried 3-of-5 from downtown.
Although he hasn’t done much in the preseason, he’s definitely a project player with raw skills that can be refined by the coaching staff and with the help of the man he modeled his game after, Kawhi Leonard.
LA Clippers’ Brandon Boston has been a revelation in the preseason
It’s not often a 51st overall pick makes an immediate impact, but Brandon Boston Jr has done just that so far for the Clippers. After a successful Summer League highlighted by a 20-point performance on 8-of-14 shooting, the 6-7 forward has continued impressing in the preseason.
Boston has scored in double figures in all three preseason games so far, including another 20-piece against the Sacramento Kings that was accompanied by seven boards. Not bad at all for someone picked at the end of the draft.
BOSTON TO THE 🏠🔥 #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/30UaDD29oJ
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 5, 2021
Boston still has some work to do, as expected — mainly his defense off the ball and shot selection — but all things considered, he’s shaping up to be quite a steal for the Clippers.
Although he suffered an unfortunate foot injury that will cause him to miss much of the season, Jason Preston could end up being an underrated pick for LA, too. The 33rd pick in the NBA Draft, Preston had a three-game stretch in the Summer League in which he averaged 14.3 points and 4.6 assists per game and shooting 6-of-9 from downtown.
The Clippers ended up turning one pick into three prospects who all could become important players down the road. Not bad for a day’s work.