Instant-Reaction POLL: Who Should Clippers Have Drafted at 13th Overall?

[Ranma]

The Clippers have just traded up from 12th overall by sending along 2 future second-round picks for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Pick wisely and quickly as vote cannot be changed once entered. Maximum of only 10 options available.

[MartinToVaught]

Should have drafted Porter. Robinson over Porter is the new Aminu over George, which was the new Korolev over Granger, etc. Another typical Clipper move. And we wonder why this franchise never wins anything.

[TheNewEra]

Porter or Walker. If Robinson is just a pure scorer at the 2 what are we going to do with Lou Williams then? Shai has to get some burn and now it’s a rotating spot at point between Beverly, SGA and River combo guarding.

[TucsonClip]

Ive never been the biggest Porter Jr fan. Just has an awkward lean on his attacks and is partially up right. Not as long as I would have hoped. Think his jumper needs some work. Not sure he is going to be much of a defender.

Again, I would have been fine rolling the dice on him, but was skeptical.

All that said, Shai and Robinson do make sense playing together. Robinson can theoretically take some of the creation responsibilities off of Shai. Meanwhile, Shai can theoretically defend 1s and 2s. This makes them both interchangeable, which I did mention the other day, I thought was the best way to develop Shai.

[nickhx2]

i just don't get how we come out of this with more guards than the rest of the nba combined and still a distinct lack of rotation talent at SF

[statsman42]

You're not wrong, but the offseason hasn't even started yet. I refuse to criticize roster construction before free agency even begins.

[statsman42]

To answer the poll, I don't love any of these guys, to be perfectly honest. I picked Zhaire Smith, if only because I'd rather go high risk/high reward when the risk is simply that he won't ever be that good, instead of that he'll be hurt all the time (Porter). Everyone else is just kind of okay. TBH, I might have traded down several spots.

[TucsonClip]

You're not wrong, but the offseason hasn't even started yet. I refuse to criticize roster construction before free agency even begins.

There is no doubt we still have moves to make. The roster has to shake out, because we already have 18 guys, and half the roster is guards. I will be interested to see what rumors pop up these next two weeks.

[MartinToVaught]

i just don't get how we come out of this with more guards than the rest of the nba combined and still a distinct lack of rotation talent at SF

It's just crazy how, year after year, the Clippers still think they can play scrubs at the most important position in the league and ever win anything. I mean, we've been complaining about our SF position for how long now? And it still hasn't been addressed, all these years later.

[nickhx2]

i would tend to agree with that notion, but the thing is i don't see the team as having many movable assets now that the draft is over.

seems to me that austin's our best bet now, and i would LOVE to move him for a young SF. but unless he takes another developmental leap i don't really see him as being all that valuable.

it'd be different if gallo had one less year on his deal or if wallace/williams were more developed, but that's not the case so i have a lot of concerns about the team's functional currency.

[mkwest]

seems to me that austin's our best bet now, and i would LOVE to move him for a young SF. but unless he takes another developmental leap i don't really see him as being all that valuable.

He's training with Oladipo's trainer this summer. Time will tell if it makes a difference.

[nickhx2]

interesting. i mean we've seen how far dipo came along last season. and we know austin thinks the world of himself, but most importantly he seems to get better every season. i'd be very, very happy if he could take another leap this season.

[Roscoe Sheed]

i just don't get how we come out of this with more guards than the rest of the nba combined and still a distinct lack of rotation talent at SF

It's just crazy how, year after year, the Clippers still think they can play scrubs at the most important position in the league and ever win anything. I mean, we've been complaining about our SF position for how long now? And it still hasn't been addressed, all these years later.

You think Harris is a scrub?

[esqtvd]

seems to me that austin's our best bet now, and i would LOVE to move him for a young SF. but unless he takes another developmental leap i don't really see him as being all that valuable.

He's training with Oladipo's trainer this summer. Time will tell if it makes a difference.

Austin also was unable to do his yearly self-improvement regimen last year because he got mono. Still, it looks like he's gone regardless. Most to hope for is he shoots 40% from 3, improves finishing at the rim, and we pry a crap pick from a playoff contender in the spring, or maybe somebody's failed prospect.

I make Pat Bev much better trade bait. He could really help a team like the Sixers or Bucks.

[Neddy]

so what is our guard alignment?

Beverly-Austin-Lou-Shai-Robinson-Thornwell-Evans?

leaving forwards with Dekker-Galli-Harris-Wes? we are not sitting on our asses. we will either have trades or FA signees, no matter how big or small that deal maybe.

also, Doc's gonna throw out a ton of 3 guard lineups as we stand.

[esqtvd]

so what is our guard alignment?

Beverly-Austin-Lou-Shai-Robinson-Thornwell-Evans?

well, one thing's for sure--Avery Bradley is toast and Ty Wallace is totally %#cked

leaving forwards with Dekker-Galli-Harris-Wes? we are not sitting on our asses. we will either have trades or FA signees, no matter how big or small that deal maybe.

also, Doc's gonna throw out a ton of 3 guard lineups as we stand.

At least the new guys have some length. Lou, Pat Bev and Evans are all 6' or less. Bradley was only 6'2". Putting Shai and Jerome out there with Austin or Sindarius is far less vulnerable to mismatches.

[QRich3]

I literally don't know anything about Robinson but I'm more than willing to trust it's the right pick. And you definitely don't ever change your plans to spend a lottery pick just because you have Austin Rivers or Lou Williams in your roster. They don't matter in the long run.

I see a lot of people don't like him because he's a small-ish scoring guard not projected to be a significant defender, but that's exactly the reason why Donovan Mitchell fell so far last year, just like many other guys before him (Devin Booker or Dejounte Murray could probably fit this mold?). You have to evaluate the player, not the idea of what the player is. Drafting any wing because wings are necessary in today's NBA is a great way to end up with a bust on your hands.

The fact that it's a reach makes me feel better about it than if it was just consensus to be honest. More often than not, when a smart front office reaches like this, they have a clear vision why and it ends up working out. I'm thinking of other criticised reaches like Westbrook or Taurean Prince, who were taken a lot of spots higher than projected, and should've probably be taken even higher in hindsight. I've also seen reports that even if mock drafts projected him at the start of the second round, there were several teams prepared to pick him in the teens.

[MartinToVaught]

I'm going to be livid if we let Ty Wallace walk to accomodate another guard who doesn't play defense.

[statsman42]

I see a lot of people don't like him because he's a small-ish scoring guard not projected to be a significant defender

I suspect a lot of people don't like him not for any reason related to him, but because they didn't know much about him, or their eyes got really big when Porter started falling. We all saw the Knicks kid booing the Kevin Knox pick because Porter was there.

People love the idea of big names. Porter is one of the two or three most talked-about prospects in this draft, so getting him in the 9-14 range would have felt like a steal to a lot of people. Who knows, maybe it will be. But I'm glad we didn't set ourselves up for the latest in the long line of star players who can't stay healthy.

I like everything I've read about Robinson. If he maxes out to be as good as JJ, Jamal, and Lou -- that is, pure offense off the bench, as long as you don't ask them to do anything else -- I'm good.

[MartinToVaught]

I see a lot of people don't like him because he's a small-ish scoring guard not projected to be a significant defender

I suspect a lot of people don't like him not for any reason related to him, but because they didn't know much about him, or their eyes got really big when Porter started falling. We all saw the Knicks kid booing the Kevin Knox pick because Porter was there.

People love the idea of big names. Porter is one of the two or three most talked-about prospects in this draft, so getting him in the 9-14 range would have felt like a steal to a lot of people. Who knows, maybe it will be. But I'm glad we didn't set ourselves up for the latest in the long line of star players who can't stay healthy.

I like everything I've read about Robinson. If he maxes out to be as good as JJ, Jamal, and Lou -- that is, pure offense off the bench, as long as you don't ask them to do anything else -- I'm good.

Personally, I don't like the Robinson pick because he's yet another guard who doesn't play any defense on a team that already has way too many of those. I do think he has a nice all-around offensive game, but even if he lives up to his potential on that end, he's still going to be really bad on defense. And now it looks like we're going to give up one of the few players on our roster who actually plays defense (Ty Wallace) to make room for him. I wouldn't have liked the pick even if Porter wasn't still on the board.