Clippers= PF Next Draft?

[TheNewEra]

This was something I was thinking about during a slow day, what position should the Clippers look for in the next draft.

As far as young talent we are pretty set for the future if all our prospects develop their weakness properly:

PG. Mike Taylor(Solid shooter/poor passer and handler)
SG. Eric Gordon (overall solid shooter/needs improved defense)
SF. Al Thorton (solid overall player/work on passing aka court vision)
PF. ?
C. DeAndre Jordan (strong weak side defender,blocker, and rebounder/ raw on offensive end)

Though each players has work to be done on their game they have the time with the vets we have on our team to take the pressure off. Maybe except Thorton since he is a starter but he has proven he can learn on the move.

The PF spot seems to be the only spot we are lacking in in terms of long term development. So basicially to breakdown what I'm trying to get at is should we look for a PF next draft that can put up big numbers down low while D.J. shot blocks and rebounds. Pretty much a future Camby and Kaman combo so to speak, our should we just look elsewhere for a young PF prospect maybe via trade. Would love to snatch up Tyler Hansbouroh(sp.) but highly unlikely.

Very bored so dicuss as you will, appreciate any comments. Very slow news, but better than some news other teams have gotten.

[loflin3hree5ive]

Interesting question. I'd have to agree that PF would be the logical spot that the Clippers need to fill barring no major roster moves from now until July 2009. I'd be thrilled with a mid-first round pick leaving the Clippers the opportunity to pick a more experienced big man who slides out of the lottery. Tyler Hansbrough is a possibility.

[mkwest]

It's hard to tell where we're going to be in the draft, but I'm not really thinking about the draft right now. This year, the lower the pick, the better imo.

I wouldn't mind us adding the best available offensive post player or combo guard. It's been a concern that outside of Kaman we don't have any other key bigs that have a strong inside game. I agree with your opinion on DJ. I think we're all hoping that he'll become some hybrid of Kaman & Camby. If he can gobble up rebounds and block shots, I'm happy with him.

I've heard good things about Taylor, but he's more of a small 2 from what I have seen of him. In the event that Taylor is not able to handle pg duties as a legit backup, then I think that a combo guard that can sufficiently handle both positions would help since Williams and Hart are older and more than likely only going to be here for 1 year.

[jflipclip]

I wouldn't bank Taylor as our prospect at PG. I mean, he could develop into a good PG, but a starting PG? I don't know, maybe. Like mkwest said, he's somewhat of a combo guard.

And yeah, it's going to be hard to see where we'll be in the future. Maybe we'll be in a win-now mode, so taking the best player available might score us a player to either trade or turn into a role player. DeAndre Jordan could play PF. I just don't think we HAVE to get a prospect in the PF position. Its way to early to tell and I would rather think playoffs than the draft. :p

but, Stephen Curry looks good. I'm not high on Hansbrough.

[Downtown]

Look at the 2010 mock draft at nbadraft.net. They have the Clippers picking PF Gani Lawal from Georgia Tech. A no fear, 100% pedal to the metal power forward like Michael Beasley. If he declares for this years draft I like him as a pick for your team. He will be a sophmore and if he thinks he can get picked somewhere in the mid teens or higher he might leave for the money if he has a good college year.

[GuyverX]

nbadraft.net...seriously, they have us with the #5 pick based on our record last season. I surely hope we aren't even in the hunt for this Gani Lawal dude in 2010 unless it's via trade with some really bad team.

[ClipperEric]

We can't have too many prospects, we need some savvy vets.

I like the idea of picking up Shawn Marion. He'll be a completely UFA. We can trade the pick if necessary and we also will have 3 guys with one year left on their contracts: Camby, Mobley, TT. I'd like to keep Mobley if possible.

The other big name will be Boozer, but he's going to want a ton of money, and he won't be worth it.

Baron
Mobley/Gordon
Thornton
Marion
Kaman

Not a bad core. A few young guys, a few vets, all locked up for a few years.

[sipclip]

We need to look at either a pf or a pg. My top picks for both positions are Patrick Patterson at pf and Ty Lawson at pg.

[livingston2kaman]

Josh Heytvelt in round 2 will be our pick when we deal to get a high 2nd rounder.

[madmaxmedia]

I doubt they'd pick up a PG early in the draft in the next year or 2, there are other far greater positions of need. I think PF is a good one, or just big man in general really.

We also have a pick from Minnesota coming at SOME point, it's been lotto protected for awhile...

[TheNewEra]

Thanks for the comments and input.

As for MT I'm really hoping he will develop into a Rodney Stucky type combo guard who is solid either way you go. If not a future starter at least become a legit back-up.

The team is pretty set on Vets so this would be the best time to fill all future needs as long as we have all our solid vets. If Camby only stays a year I want D.J. to soak up as much as he can before he leaves. Bascially I see the overall outlook that PG and PF our are to big focus points next draft.

I'm really looking forward to the season and hope we are good enough that we don't have to get a lottery pick or anywhere close to it. This was just an idea I was toying with.

Who knows Paul Davis may become the strong offensive pressence inside we need at the C spot and can just slide D.J. to PF as someone stated. That would really be Camby and Kaman 2.0

[ClipperEric]

I want Livingston back. Is there anyway we can resign him at all?

My guess is that he can't play this year, he's had lots of workouts with PHX, Miami and now MIN and so far nobody has signed him. He must still be hurt.

He's worth paying for a year even if he doesn't play, I just don't want to lose out on him, he has so much potential.

I love Stephen Curry too, but with Eric Gordon I highly doubt we take another SG.

PF is our biggest need without a doubt. Have faith Clipper fans, we have a long line of great Power Forwards: Michael Cage, Loy Vaught, Elton Brand, ???

[mkwest]

I want Livingston back. Is there anyway we can resign him at all?

My guess is that he can't play this year, he's had lots of workouts with PHX, Miami and now MIN and so far nobody has signed him. He must still be hurt.

He's worth paying for a year even if he doesn't play, I just don't want to lose out on him, he has so much potential.

Taylor would have to be waived and Shaun would have to show that he actually wanted to play here. I was hoping that it would all work out for the Clips and Livingston to resume working together after he came back from his injury, but he moved on. I wish that he would have given us an opportunity to see if it would work, but at least he didn't lead us on.

Portland will be making a decision in regards to if they're going actively pursue signing him or not within the next 2 days.

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