In this year's NBA Draft, the second round is just as crucial as the first, as the LA Clippers have an underlying hole in missing promising young talent. The summer league and training camp will reveal which players are most ready, including undrafted free agents, but regardless, the team needs a player with some sort of star potential for its future.
The Clippers are hoping to find this presence from Yanic Konan Niederhauser, the team's 30th overall pick, but it may be a bit more challenging to see as he will first have to earn the bench role, and if he does, his minutes will still be limited as Ivica Zubac will occupy between 30-35 per night.
Moreover, the Clippers had already made a crucial mistake in the first round, and most fans hoped that another disaster would not be followed up in the second. This did not end up being the case, and the front office will find themselves regretting how everything played out in the near future.
Nonetheless, Frank and his committee finally traded up, but it was a pick too soon for Kobe Sanders when the front office should have been targeting Tyrese Proctor, a talented guard who played for the Duke Blue Devils.
The LA Clippers made a disastrous mistake by trading up a second too late and missing the name of Tyrese Proctor
With the second round nearing pick number 59, the LA Clippers had the opportunity to trade their pick, number 51, to the Cleveland Cavaliers or another team ahead, with some cash to draft Tyrese Proctor out of Duke University.
Rather, the front office dealt the pick to the New York Knicks and drafted Kobe Sanders. LA believes they found their guard, and this allowed the Knicks to draft Mohammed Diawara at 51.
The Knicks moved Kobe Sanders to the Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Knicks now have No. 51.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2025
This will be viewed as a regretful move, as Proctor has the tangibles to become an All-Star. He was a standout at Duke and proved himself despite playing alongside numerous lottery picks. Yet, his averages of 12.4 points, on an efficient 45.2% from the field and 40.5% from three-point range in his senior season, did not convince LA enough that they should be adamant about pursuing him, even after he fell as far as he did.
Sanders could be a great pick, as he drew comparisons to the Milwaukee Bucks' forward, Kyle Kuzma. Bleacher Report made this comparison, and though Kuzma is solid, his playstyle does not elevate the Clippers' current position as Proctor's would.