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And with the 53rd pick, the Clippers select?

But the most likely scenario has the Clippers staying at 53 and picking the best player available. The Clippers have the advantage of being able to watch multiple prospects expected to go much higher than 53 because of their location. Many of the top agents are based in Los Angeles, meaning the Clippers have gone to private workouts for Perry Jones, Arnett Moultrie, Terrence Ross, Jeff Taylor, Terrence Jones, Fab Melo, Tony Wroten.

A late second-round pick isn't all that exciting. It's downright strange for a team used to lottery picks this time of year. But the club's top priority now is ensuring that this becomes the new normal.

The Clippers remain confident they will be able to sign Griffin to a five-year maximum extension in July. Sources with knowledge of the talks say they have gone smoothly so far and neither side anticipates any problems getting the extension done and agreed upon by July 1. Don't expect much fanfare from Griffin though. He'll likely just walk into the Clippers' practice the facility the next day the way Kevin Durant did in Oklahoma City a few years ago.

Ramona Shelburne, ESPN Los Angeles

CLIPPERS SEARCH FOR VALUE IN SECOND ROUND

Still, Sacks said one of the downsides to picking late is that you are dealing with a larger "swath" of players. While the best 10-15 picks in a draft might be relatively easy to predict (nine first rounders could come from Kentucky and North Carolina combined), identifying who will be available and how they project in the second round is far more difficult.

Del Negro, Sacks, Roeser and other team personnel attended the Chicago Pre-Draft Camp earlier this month, where they observed and interviewed approximately 20 players who could be available at no. 53.

According to Sacks, the Clippers are focusing on both American college players and international prospects. There is precedent for teams picking late in the second round to nab a player from overseas and retain their rights while not immediately bringing them to the NBA.

Sacks said that finding an All-Star like Manu Ginobili (No. 57 to the Spurs in 1999) is more unlikely today with teams possessing a heightened awareness of international talent.

That's not to say it's impossible. The Lakers chose 2012 All-Star Marc Gasol (Spain) at no. 48 in 2007 and up-and-comers Slovenian guard Goran Dragic and Turkish center Omer Asik were available beyond the 35th pick a year later.

Thursday's draft is stocked with American college players, who could slip into the latter half of the second round. Prognosticators have tabbed UC Santa Barbara forward Orlando Johnson, Marquette forward Jae Crowder, Missouri guard Kim English, and Ohio State guard William Buford as potential picks for the Clippers. But the team remains mum on what direction they'll ultimately go when they're on the clock.

Eric Patten, Clippers.com

Adrian Wojnarowski: Spurs are shopping forward DeJuan Blair, league sources tell Y! Spurs have Euro picks they could bring over next season, need roster space. Twitter

azncorruptedo17 wrote:Think the boston 21/22 would be a good trade for NO 10 ?

Potentially draft best available @ 21, then trade 22 for role player + future 1st rounder?

Thoughts? Maybe i would fail as a GM, but that sounds like a pretty good deal imo =X

Cavaliers are said to be involved in trade talks involving one of their second-rounders. Sources say Clippers, Knicks and Nets may be among those inquiring.

Sam Amico

Mo Williams is open to idea of going to Utah in Odom-to-Clippers deal, source says, but is exploring all options.

Ken Berger

og15 wrote:Might as well just fill in Anthony Davis at #1, right? Lol.

mkwest wrote:

azncorruptedo17 wrote:Think the boston 21/22 would be a good trade for NO 10 ?

Potentially draft best available @ 21, then trade 22 for role player + future 1st rounder?

Thoughts? Maybe i would fail as a GM, but that sounds like a pretty good deal imo =X

That would really depend on how much the Hornets value the number 10.

azncorruptedo17 wrote:i wonder if AD/Zeller would work? =X imagine?

mkwest wrote:

azncorruptedo17 wrote:i wonder if AD/Zeller would work? =X imagine?

That has been rumored since they will be in need of some bigs. Rivers' name has also been associated with them. I don't really like that combo for them in the backcourt with Gordon, but we'll see.

azncorruptedo17 wrote:the really good thing is that AD can actually shoot the perimeter, zeller is a good post player, both really good defenders.

def twin towers. if AD can get better at screening, their pick and pop/roll with ad/ej would be deadly especially with zeller being that big body that can rebound. belli/aminu if they worked on their 3s would be damn good. lol.