'09 NBA Draft: Clippers Select Blake Griffin #1 Overall

[madmaxmedia]

Are there any great PG's projected to be coming out in the next draft? I think that's what we need more than anything to anchor our lineup. IF there's a great PG prospect we can get in the draft, then I'd actually look to trade Baron in a salary dump, it would probably be for the best for both sides. I still like Baron, I wish him well, but I'd feel much better about our PG position if there was a young stud in the next draft.

I'd like to see us trade Kaman for a good SF, then move Thornton to lead the second unit. I am hopeful enough for DJ that I envision him as our second center, and look to give him more minutes this year to help his development. I think a good SF is much easier to acquire via trade than a good young PG, that's why I say draft the PG. We don't need Kevin Durant or anything since the PG and Gordon will initiate a lot of the offense, we need a good complementary outside shooter and scorer.

So here's your starting lineup for the 2009-2010 Los Angeles Clippers:
PG- Draftee (let's call him CP2 for wishful thinking's sake)
SG- Eric Gordon (otherwise know as the next Brandon Roy, heck they were even drafted at almost the same spot)
SF- Guy we trade Kaman for (let's call him a better Mike Miller type)
PF- ZBo
C- Camby

That's a great starting lineup. I defy you to tell me that is not a playoff lineup, barring injury or a horrible draft pick. And I say that even while fully aware of our current record. There's not another horribly crappy team that can turn it around next year like we can- talk about half-full vs. half-empty! The only starter with a short contract remaining is Camby, and maybe we can re-sign him anyway after dumping Baron's salary.

And we'd have Thornton leading the second unit, along with DJ and the rest of the guys. It would have been really fun if we had signed Darius Miles to play PF on the second unit. I don't know how'd they do +/- wise (probably good enough), but that second unit front line would be a LOT of fun to watch.

This is a team I'd buy season tickets for, if I could actually afford them.

[mj_shoefanatic]

Rubio, Jennings and S.Curry just to name a few.

[loflin3hree5ive]

What kinda sucks for the Clippers is that two of the best PGs in my mind, Spain's Ricy Rubio and UCLA's Jrue Holiday, might not enter the draft until 2010. The Clips only options at PG in this years draft could be the questionmark Brandon Jennings or the under-sized Jeff Teague. Besides thsoe guys, the top of the lottery looks like it will be filled with PF's and SG's.

[madmaxmedia]

Well, Rubio will be eligible for the next draft. And if Jrue continues to play well, he may end up the next Westbrook and bolt early.

So I don't think it's a given that neither will be available. And if either or both come out early, they will have a better chance of being available to us at say #4 than if they stayed another year and we somehow were still drafting #4 a year later.

Otherwise, it will be interesting to see how Jennings pans out in pre-draft rankings. Here's a recent article about him-

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/sport ... WS&ei=5040

And I really, really like Stephen Curry a lot- I forgot about him! But I'm not sure where he fits in as a NBA PG prospect. He's doing 29 and 7 APG right now, which is pretty amazing though. And the dude is flat out clutch. IF we were to draft him, it would change my mind about what who we might want to add at the 3 spot. In the general trade thread I had wondered aloud about trading Baron Davis for Sean Battier + salary.

[Forte IV]

westbrook actually stayed for his sophmore year i belive

[cinnamon]

Anyone who hasn't seen Rubio play, check him out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12FOZsjWxwk


He looks as if he's about 11 years old, but he is amazing. His teammates have to keep their hands up at all times --- you never know when one of his outrageous passes is going to be there in front of you. I don't know how he would tame himself into the NBA system, but some lucky, lucky team is going to get to help him try, and have a lot of fun in the process. If not this year's draft, then next.

[scratch21]

Rubio reminds me of Shaun
Idk if thats good LOL

[madmaxmedia]

westbrook actually stayed for his sophmore year i belive

Oops, that's right. But that was basically his breakout season, so I was thinking Holiday is on the way to doing that this year.

[Jeezo1]

Draft Jennings and call it a day. This kid has all the tools to be a great point guard in the NBA. He's lightning quick, athletic, and a great passer. It's a shame that he decided to play in Europe, instead of college ball here in the U.S. There's no doubt in my mind that if he were going up against college competition, he'd be challenging Griffen, Harden, Monroe, and Hill, in the top of the rankings. He was highly touted as one of the top point guards coming out of high school. His experience in Europe will only help him mature both physically and mentally.

[Det the Threat]

With guys like Rubio and Holiday most likely not being avaible in this years draft, i'd just go BPA.

Sure, another PG would be nice, since Baron isn't playing all that well and some would love to replace him, but we're deep enough to just take the BPA.

A guy i really like is Earl Clark, out of Louisville. He's a SF, but could also play some PF, if needed. He'd either be a great backup at those positions or even beat out Al for the starting SF spot.

Stephen Curry would be alright as well, but only if we'd trade down a couple spots(he should be a late lottery pick) and get a sweetener as well.

BTW: Couldn't we just re-name this thread(or create another one) to Draft Prospect watch or something like this? Would surely be fun talking about that, cause we'll probably end up with a real good pick.

[madmaxmedia]

Don't hijack my thread! JK, I'll go ahead and re-name the thread.

BPA is okay, but it always depends on how much better. I can't imagine us taking a SG, unless it happens to be the next Michael Jordan or something. OTOH I think Eric Gordon is a smart enough player to switch to PG, his style and strength reminds me of Deron Williams.

A SF would be fine too since I think that's our other area of need. But even though I haven't given up on Baron, I am leaning towards getting off to a fresh start at PG and with a high lottery pick we have a chance to draft a cornerstone type player, vs. talking about trading for Earl Watson or equivalent (his name comes up here every year.)

I look at Baron now, and even if his play improves I wonder how healthy he'll actually be 2 years down the road. But I wouldn't move him unless there was some sort of mutual agreement. It would look really bad for the franchise to sign Baron, then dump him to Sacto or Oklahoma City (not that our team is any better right now, but he specifically wanted to come back home to LA.)

I personally like the idea of Jennings myself.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I'm for taking the best player that we can get. We can shift our lineup and trade players after we draft.

[ejftw]

If we take anyone not named Greg Monroe, I will be hugely dissapointed. Yes, I know we are loaded at PF/CE, but we could easily deal Kaman to solidify our bench and G positions. Monroe will end up being, at the very least, a 16/10 guy, and I could see him being a 25/12 guy in his prime, if he is to develop

[SportsFan215]

The way the Clips are going, we are going to end up getting Blake Griffin.

[madmaxmedia]

Even with the worst record in the NBA, we'd still only have a 25-30% chance at the #1 pick.

But yeah, top 3 is looking more likely at this point.

[ray ray]

How about the Suns trade you Amare Stoudimare for Marcus Camby and your 1st pick top 2 protected?

[Hooch20]

How about the Suns trade you Amare Stoudimare for Marcus Camby and your 1st pick top 2 protected?

I don't mind trading Camby or the pick, but I wouldn't move the pick for Amare. Amare can leave after next year and it's not worth losing the pick to rent a player for one year.

I would do one of our bigs, Thornton, and the Minnesota pick for Amare though.

[ejftw]

How about the Suns trade you Amare Stoudimare for Marcus Camby and your 1st pick top 2 protected?

Not a chance in hell. I've never been a fan of Amare and most def won't trade Camby(#2 in blocks+rebound, #1 in defensive rebounds+blocks-per-foul) and Greg Monroe for Amare. I'd rather just draft Monroe, then deal Kaman or Camby for depth.

[ClipperDomination]

I'm falling in love with James Harden. If we cannot get Griffin, we should go after him. He can play the 1, 2, or 3 in the league at times.

[Det the Threat]

I'm falling in love with James Harden. If we cannot get Griffin, we should go after him. He can play the 1, 2, or 3 in the league at times.

Harden is someone i really like as well and i could see him.
Him and Gordon could be a nice backcourt, even tough both aren't true point guards.

BTW: To bad we ain't got a 2nd rounder this year. Guys like Jeremy Pargo, A. J. Price, Nick Calathes(if he turns pro), Tyreese Rice, Rodrigue Beaubois, Taj Gibson, Jeff Pendergraph or Josh Heytvelt could turn out to be solid rotation players and might available with a high - mid 2nd round pick.
So is there any chance of us trading for or buying a 2nd rounder?