Along with injuries and a discombobulated roster, the LA Clippers’ season thus far has been a roller coaster. While the ultimate goal may be to win a championship, it is safe to say the franchise still has work to do. Additionally, the Clippers’ front office gave up numerous first-round picks through the trade that sent Paul George to LA.
That said, the LA Clippers have typically found their foundational pieces in free agency. Still, few of their draft selections have flipped the script into an all-star. Especially within the last two decades, the only players to find their footing in the NBA have been Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and Chris Kaman.
Furthermore, this leaves countless players in the picture for potential draft bust selections. This was certainly different from how things had been planned, but the reality is that the Clippers have not found much success in the NBA draft.
LA Clippers draft bust point guard: Shaun Livingston
One of the most questionable players in LA Clippers history has been the crafty point guard Shaun Livingston. Though he may be a beloved Clipper for many years to come, his tenure in LA took a drastic hit the moment he suffered one of the most threatening knee injuries in all of sports.
Moreover, Livingston not only tore his ACL but also damaged ligaments in his PCL and MCL, essentially placing the rest of his career in question. Fortunately, he recovered and developed into one of the best role players the Golden State Warriors have ever had.
However, the LA Clippers selected Livingston fourth overall in a draft where they missed out on quality all-stars in Devin Harris, Josh Smith, and Andre Iguodala. Though his career in LA would’ve likely taken a turn had he not hurt his knee, the outcome is that he is a draft bust for the Clippers.
LA Clippers draft bust shooting guard: Jerome Robinson
On top of trading for an all-star in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on draft night, the LA Clippers selected Jerome Robinson with the 13th overall pick. Through the summer league and training camp, it seemed the front office had made an unprecedented decision with their rookies.
Though, as the season progressed, Gilgeous-Alexander flashed signs of superstar potential, and Robinson was far from his expectations. Not only was he struggling offensively, but he could not stay in front of his defender on the other end. This paved the way for his time in the G-League.
Furthermore, Robinson averaged 3.4 points in his rookie season while shooting 40.0% from the field and 31.6% from three. Through his sophomore year, Robinson’s numbers dropped despite the slight increase in minutes. He posted 2.9 points per game on the atrocious shooting splits of 33.8% from the field and 28.4% from a distance.
After an atrocious second season in LA, the front office concluded that Robinson was not the answer to the future. He was extremely inefficient and could not contribute in other ways to increase his value.
Moreover, the Clippers’ front office selected Robinson in a draft class where they missed out on potential all-stars in Anfernee Simons, Kevin Huerter, and Michael Porter Jr. This selection is, without a doubt, one of the worst choices in the history of the LA Clippers.
That said, Robinson was supposed to become one of the brightest young stars in the NBA. In reality, his three-level scoring could not transfer from Boston College. Hence the fact that he is currently on the Golden State Warriors G-League roster.
LA Clippers draft bust small forward: Yaroslav Korolev
After selecting Shaun Livingston the year before, the LA Clippers drafted Yaroslav Korolev, one of the best forwards in the 2005 NBA draft. His game revolved around his size and ability to maneuver through the paint and get a bucket. Korolev was also a great defender, using his length on the perimeter and around the rim.
At the time, it appeared as if the LA Clippers made the right selection. Korolev was not only 18 years old, but he measured at six-foot-nine, ultimately showing the front office how high his potential could be. He possessed all the tools necessary to thrive at the highest level.
However, Korolev’s touch around the rim did not translate to the NBA. The coaching staff was also part of the reason he did not pan out, as they decided to ease him into his role. While this decision was reasonable with his young age, he was being held back from his true potential.
Furthermore, Korolev’s career only lasted 34 games with the LA Clippers. Throughout his time in the NBA, he averaged 1.1 points while shooting 28.3% from the field and 25.0% from three. These numbers clearly indicate that Korolev was arguably the biggest draft bust in the history of the LA Clippers.
Moreover, the LA Clippers selected Korolev over players like Nate Robinson, David Lee, and even Danny Granger. Had they made the right decision, the roster at the time could have been better positioned to compete with the best teams in the NBA.
LA Clippers draft bust power forward: Chris Wilcox
With the eighth pick in the 2002 NBA draft, the LA Clippers selected the former NCAA champion, Chris Wilcox. This was a great selection, primarily because Wilcox was a dominant force in the paint who fit the criteria of what the Clippers were searching for.
During Wilcox’s run to the NCAA championship, he averaged 12.0 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 50.4% from the field in 24.1 minutes per contest. His numbers, along with his size, gave the front office all they needed to select him in the lottery.
Despite his collegiate success, Wilcox could not find a rhythm in his rookie season. He averaged 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds over 46 games for the LA Clippers. Although his minutes were held at a limit, Wilcox could not shine in the opportunities he was given.
Throughout the next few years, his numbers saw an increase before dropping in 2005-06. This forced the front office to trade him by any means possible. In the end, Wilcox was dealt at the trade deadline to the Seattle Supersonics for Vladimir Radmanović. This trade was a win-win for both parties involved, as Radmanović played phenomenally under the bright lights of LA.
Moreover, by selecting Wilcox with the eighth overall pick, the LA Clippers missed out on a potential Hall-of-Famer in Amar’e Stoudemire, as well as other stars such as Caron Butler and Tayshaun Prince. This draft choice was easily one of the worst in franchise history, solely because Wilcox had a short tenure with the Clippers.
LA Clippers draft bust center: Melvin Ely
With their second lottery pick in the 2002 NBA draft, the LA Clippers chose the star big man out of Fresno State, Melvin Ely. Initially, this pick was seen as the steal of the draft. Although Ely spent all four years in college, he was a polished center with the potential to dominate in his rookie season.
This was not the case, as Ely averaged 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 52 games during his rookie year. At this point, the front office was almost certain they had made the wrong decision by drafting Ely with the 12th overall pick. However, he still had a chance to prove himself in his sophomore year.
Furthermore, Ely disappointed once again by averaging 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds during his second season. What’s more, he shot 43.1% from the field as a center. These numbers are atrocious, giving the Clippers a variety of reasons as to why they need to move on.
Ely’s game was minimal, along with his inability to shoot the three-ball. As he was expected to be a dominant force in the paint, he lost his finishing ability and mobility on defense. These factors backed up why he couldn’t find his way at the professional level.
Not to mention, the LA Clippers could have made several other choices that turned out to make the all-star teams, as well as other accomplishments. At first, it seemed impossible that a team could find a way to make two wrong selections in the same lottery. Still, the Clippers’ front office showed otherwise by drafting Ely and Chris Wilcox in 2002.