Among the teams in the NBA Draft that have it hard in terms of who to take, the LA Clippers are certainly near the top, if they hold on to the fifth overall pick. Why? Well, once the expected top four are gone, there are too many options to select from. This is obviously a risky territory to be in, leaving Lawrence Frank with a tough decision, as it’ll be tricky narrowing down which prospect will live up to the hype the most.
Then, of course, there’s the fear that the Clippers will make the wrong decision and settle on a talent that doesn’t pan out, similar to Jerome Robinson in 2018, while a player snagged after, Michael Porter Jr., becomes a star.
That feeling will bring endless pain to a fanbase that deserves a bright, young talent, who they can watch grow from day one.
When in doubt, the Clippers should roll with the best player available
Assuming the LA Clippers are prioritizing fit, which it looks like they are, there are a few different routes they could take. There’s the one that brings in Keaton Wagler, a college sensation for the Illinois Fighting Illini who has athleticism concerns, or Kingston Flemings, a speedy-quick guard with just about everything you could ask for with the exception of size.
Both have extremely good strengths, but also flaws that are too prominent to miss, which could easily cause confusion about the option that has the brighter future.
Hence, the mentality should always be the best player available: Darius Acuff Jr.
He has the highest ceiling out of the Clippers’ options, and is one of the very few inevitable superstars in the class. He showcased it too many times to count at Oklahoma, and absolutely dominated the March Madness Tournament, despite losing in the Sweet 16.
However, the reason a prospect like Wagler has drawn more attention from the Clippers is that Acuff Jr. doesn’t defend at a high level. This doesn’t mince well with Darius Garland.
But, if the Clippers take the guy everyone knows is going to be great, in this case Acuff Jr., and in the odd chance he fails, at least they can say they ran with the clear choice, and had bad luck.
That’s justifiable. What’s not is choosing a player you’re hoping fits as predicted when a better option is right there, waiting to be drafted.
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