2016 NBA Draft

[og15]

Maybe he's open to trading Blake, just not for Melo.

I thought the team did well. Draft is always a gamble, but the more players you have, the greater chances of one becoming something.

[euphorbus]

We had the 25th, 39th, & 40th pick...we're not getting a starting wing at those spots.

We just have to hope whoever we pick makes the roster...and I think Brice Johnson will do so much more than just make the roster.

As a Tar Heel, I would say the comparisons with Reggie Bullock are unfounded. The better comparison is with Harrison Barnes. Bullock was a good player, but Brice Johnson has all-star potential. He is very athletic, a great rebounder with a sweet stroke. He's also the son of a high school coach. The Clippers got a steal with this selection, not to mention an immediate backup for Blake Griffin. Over time, I can see Brice "the Canyon" Johnson moving to small forward, where the Clippers also need help.

[Quake Griffin]

Maybe he's open to trading Blake, just not for Melo.

If I'm ever in a bar and wearing a shirt that says, "hey I'm Quake Griffin from Real GM," come on over...1st one is on me.

[Quake Griffin]

Anybody think Brice has a chance of seeing the floor?

Blake is only 27. He's going to play a lot of minutes.
I saw a fair amount of Brice and don't think he's ready for the 3 (at least not yet).
Then theres Geoff Green's role of being garbage.

[og15]

We had the 25th, 39th, & 40th pick...we're not getting a starting wing at those spots.

We just have to hope whoever we pick makes the roster...and I think Brice Johnson will do so much more than just make the roster.

As a Tar Heel, I would say the comparisons with Reggie Bullock are unfounded. The better comparison is with Harrison Barnes. Bullock was a good player, but Brice Johnson has all-star potential. He is very athletic, a great rebounder with a sweet stroke. He's also the son of a high school coach. The Clippers got a steal with this selection, not to mention an immediate backup for Blake Griffin. Over time, I can see Brice "the Canyon" Johnson moving to small forward, where the Clippers also need help.

I mentioned Brice being moved to SF just a day or two ago for the sole reason of how much he reminds me of Shawn Marion, and no actual true basketball reasons. It would mean he's capable of guarding SF's though which I have no clue about.

I won't hold any real hope on All-Star potential though, we picked 25th so anything more then a sold contributor is a huge bonus. If he gets the good, great, but a 12-14 mpg efficient backup over the next 2-3 seasons and maybe more later would be great too.

[MartinToVaught]

Anybody think Brice has a chance of seeing the floor?

Blake is only 27. He's going to play a lot of minutes.
I saw a fair amount of Brice and don't think he's ready for the 3 (at least not yet).
Then theres Geoff Green's role of being garbage.

If we had a real coach, giving Brice minutes would be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, we're stuck with Glenn. There's a non-zero chance that he rots on the bench for half the year, gets traded at the deadline for a washed-up fossil and then develops into a beast on his next team.

[Quake Griffin]

Anybody think Brice has a chance of seeing the floor?

Blake is only 27. He's going to play a lot of minutes.
I saw a fair amount of Brice and don't think he's ready for the 3 (at least not yet).
Then theres Geoff Green's role of being garbage.

If we had a real coach, giving Brice minutes would be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, we're stuck with Glenn. There's a non-zero chance that he rots on the bench for half the year, gets traded at the deadline for a washed-up fossil and then develops into a beast on his next team.

We're getting further away from Doc's tenure in Boston. Maybe there's less of those former Celtic/ formerCeltic killer fossils around the league.

[MartinToVaught]

I like that in a time when everyone wants to hoist-up 3's we just drafted two big-men who have real post-games and a PG who likes to assault the paint (though, if we were going to draft a PG at that spot we should have taken Tyler Ulis).

Stay the course Doc.

However, I most definitely don't agree with your sentiment to "stay the course". We're still lacking at the wing spot, which forced us to overpay for Jeff Green in trade recently while setting us up to overpay for him in salary later. What happened to his plans to trade up? Doc has come up short yet again, so continuing with business as usual is not at all what any Clippers fan should want.

By "stay the course" I meant we should continue to value the play of our big-men; we run our offense through our big-men and I want it to stay that way.

Everyone wants a star-wing player but nobody in Clipperland has the stomach to do what it would take to get one...trade Blake.

We'll never be bad enough to get one at the top of the draft and neither DJ nor CP3 are valuable enough to get one in a straight-up trade. So I'm no longer riding Doc to get a wing player, I'm happy with our core and I'm just hoping we add enough pieces around what we already have to get over the hump.

I disagree. If we had a GM with a brain, we could absolutely fleece teams in a CP3 trade or even a DJ trade and get a legit wing that way. Problem is, Glenn is an idiot who loses every trade he makes - but that concern also applies to a Blake trade.

I actually WANT to break up the core and start over, but I'm not comfortable with it happening until Glenn and his cronies are fired. I don't trust him to get anything close to fair value for any of our stars, and I don't trust him to make the right draft picks or properly develop them. Furthermore, I don't trust anyone around him to give him good advice or stop him from wrecking our team and its future even more than he already has.

A rebuild has to start with the front office and coaching staff before anyone on the roster is sent packing.

[DLaren]

I actually WANT to break up the core and start over...

Lets take away the names and look at what we have:

PG - statistically the 2nd best PG of all-time.
SG - one of the best shooters in the league
SF - Hall-of-famer on his last legs.
PF - Perennial All-star
C - 1st team All-NBA

Coach - NBA Championship, 56% career winning percentage.

Teams with that much pedigree don't rebuild, especially when the core are all in their prime.

You've been a Clippers fan long enough to remember what it felt like to be irrelevant -- sure, we're a treadmill team at the moment, but that's better than going back to being cellar-dwellers where we'll have to wait for some young guys to grow into the caliber of players that we already have on the roster right now.

We just finished raising DJ & Blake, now that they're both 27 the growing-pains are over -- and we should be counting our lucky stars that CP3 stuck around for their development & hasn't requested a trade yet.

The good times are right around the corner, don't hit the 'eject' button now that we've finally made it through the turbulence.

[MartinToVaught]

I actually WANT to break up the core and start over...

Lets take away the names and look at what we have:

PG - statistically the 2nd best PG of all-time.
SG - one of the best shooters in the league
SF - Hall-of-famer on his last legs.
PF - Perennial All-star
C - 1st team All-NBA

Coach - NBA Championship, 56% career winning percentage.

Let's take a look at the results: second-round exit, first-round exit, second-round exit, second-round exit, first-round exit. We've also tied the NBA record for most consecutive seasons blowing a lead in a playoff series - including choking a 3-1 lead to a horrible Rockets team. Knowing this team, we'll break that record next year.

With how little this team has accomplished in half a decade together, maybe it's time to stop buying into the accolades on paper and start making some tough choices.

Teams with that much pedigree don't rebuild, especially when the core are all in their prime.

Pedigree? What pedigree? The only champions on this team did it years ago for other franchises. This core has done nothing but disappoint in the playoffs and ride the treadmill of mediocrity.

You've been a Clippers fan long enough to remember what it felt like to be irrelevant

Hate to break it to you, but choking to OKC and Houston in back-to-back years sent us right back to irrelevance. The casual fan doesn't care about us anymore - they're busy watching the Cavs, Warriors, Thunder and Spurs. We're not even hated anymore like we used to be because the casuals no longer care.

Meanwhile, my hardcore NBA fan friends who like other teams keep asking me when the Clippers are going to rebuild. I just shrug and say, "I think they should, but unfortunately we have an idiot in charge who won't let it happen."

sure, we're a treadmill team at the moment, but that's better than going back to being cellar-dwellers where we'll have to wait for some young guys to grow into the caliber of players that we already have on the roster right now.

Actually, riding the treadmill is the worst spot to be in, bar none. We're too good to fill the gaping holes in our roster with top-tier young talent through the draft. We're not good enough to win a title. We don't have the cap space to add a star (without breaking up the team). We don't have trade assets other than the "Big Three." We're dreadfully short on draft picks over the next few years because of Glenn's stupid trades.

I would much rather be a lottery team again than stuck with a first/second-round exit team with no way to improve. At least the former situation provides some hope for the future; the latter situation is hopeless and depressing.

The good times are right around the corner, don't hit the 'eject' button now that we've finally made it through the turbulence.

I've heard this same mantra for five years now, only for the season to end the same way every time. At this point, I'm not really interested in the same old platitudes and excuses for a team that can't get it done. As long as we keep this team together, I'm just going to assume they'll flame out in the first or second round every year until proven otherwise.

[Neddy]

so, your definition of relevance is if causal fans think we are something special?

go watch your old Martin to Vaught games and tell me this era is worse. give me a break. I don't miss the Sports Arena. you can have it all.

[MartinToVaught]

so, your definition of relevance is if causal fans think we are something special?

Uhh... yes? Clipper fans will always care about the team. Relevance is when everyone else cares about them, too. During the height of the Lob City era, we were relevant. Now? The casuals don't care and the hardcore fans are puzzled as to why we're keeping this team together.

go watch your old Martin to Vaught games and tell me this era is worse. give me a break. I don't miss the Sports Arena. you can have it all.

The Sports Arena days are a thing of the past. Sterling doesn't own the team anymore. Even if we go back to the lottery, it will never be as bad as it was under DTS, Baylor and the Dunce. This fanbase really needs to let go of the past and embrace the future.

Blake, Chris and DJ won't be Clippers forever. There will come a time when they're no longer on our team. Could be next year, could be ten years from now. Should we give up and contract the franchise when that happens because we can't possibly do better than second-round exits? That seems to be the homers' view.

[Neddy]

Clippers are relevant as long as we the fans think this team is something special, I don't give a rat's ass about those outside. relevance becomes significant when we achieve milestones. we have done that, reaching franchise wins per season, back to back to back to back playoff appearances, perrennial all stars, first team members, etc. you have got to make the baby steps and learn to stand up, then walk before you can run. what you are asking is a quantum leap. not gonna happen. besides, the meaning of the word relevance is just that, relatively subjective only to whom it matters.

as much as MIke D got called a dunce, who took the DTS owned franchise to a game away from the western conference finals? and please, give me a scenario with specifics which giving up our core brings a better future. I dare you.

[MartinToVaught]

what you are asking is a quantum leap. not gonna happen.

I don't think expecting a team of so-called "superstars" and a "championship" head coach to get past the second round of playoffs is asking for a quantum leap. Nearly every franchise in this league has made it past Round 2 at least once. It's embarrassing that we haven't - and it's not like we've never had any chances.

as much as MIke D got called a dunce, who took the DTS owned franchise to a game away from the western conference finals?

The same guy who blew our chance by benching Cassell for the fourth quarter in Game 3 and bringing in Daniel Ewing to guard Raja Bell in Game 5. Also, the same guy who ran that team into the ground when he thought he could be a GM and head coach at the same time. Hmmm... kind of reminds me of another egomaniac.

and please, give me a scenario with specifics which giving up our core brings a better future. I dare you.

I can't, as it depends on what we get in return and who we pick. Which brings me back to my original post: even though I favor a rebuild, I don't want it to happen until Glenn and his cronies are gone and we have a legit GM and a legit coach in place.

[Neddy]

what you are asking is a quantum leap. not gonna happen.

I don't think expecting a team of so-called "superstars" and a "championship" head coach to get past the second round of playoffs is asking for a quantum leap. Nearly every franchise in this league has made it past Round 2 at least once. It's embarrassing that we haven't - and it's not like we've never had any chances.

as much as MIke D got called a dunce, who took the DTS owned franchise to a game away from the western conference finals?

The same guy who blew our chance by benching Cassell for the fourth quarter in Game 3 and bringing in Daniel Ewing to guard Raja Bell in Game 5. Also, the same guy who ran that team into the ground when he thought he could be a GM and head coach at the same time. Hmmm... kind of reminds me of another egomaniac.

and please, give me a scenario with specifics which giving up our core brings a better future. I dare you.

I can't, as it depends on what we get in return and who we pick. Which brings me back to my original post: even though I favor a rebuild, I don't want it to happen until Glenn and his cronies are gone and we have a legit GM and a legit coach in place.

so, monday morning QB-ing with 20/20 hindsight is your premise of logic while providing no solution. nobody around here will argue that the GM doc needs to go. but unless you have even a half assed proposal of how we can do better by rebuilding, you are only throwing a tantrum and nothing else. your act really wears off quickly.

[nickhx2]

ignore the troll imo

[Neddy]

ignore the troll imo

consider it done.

[og15]

I actually WANT to break up the core and start over...

Lets take away the names and look at what we have:

PG - statistically the 2nd best PG of all-time.
SG - one of the best shooters in the league
SF - Hall-of-famer on his last legs.
PF - Perennial All-star
C - 1st team All-NBA

Coach - NBA Championship, 56% career winning percentage.

Teams with that much pedigree don't rebuild, especially when the core are all in their prime.

You've been a Clippers fan long enough to remember what it felt like to be irrelevant -- sure, we're a treadmill team at the moment, but that's better than going back to being cellar-dwellers where we'll have to wait for some young guys to grow into the caliber of players that we already have on the roster right now.

We just finished raising DJ & Blake, now that they're both 27 the growing-pains are over -- and we should be counting our lucky stars that CP3 stuck around for their development & hasn't requested a trade yet.

The good times are right around the corner, don't hit the 'eject' button now that we've finally made it through the turbulence.

Why did you include this? Pierce couldn't even play SF for us this past season and was a small ball PF. Pierce should not be included, SF is a big hole. You are correct though, few teams get to have this chance and when you have this chances, rebuilding is probably one of the worst ideas. New Orleans traded Paul and even got Anthony Davis and have 5 seasons, 1 playoff appearance to their name.

There is this fallacy of the rebuild among fans. People look at the most succesful rebuild situations (eg: Seattle / OKC) or one of those and consider that as the expectation of rebuilding. The problem is that it is just not reality. Even with a good GM, teams could rebuild for 10 years and not get to the place we are currently at as a team, that is at least having a chance with some good roster building and some luck to win it all. We don't have the Lebron James type player in the league, and even then, we don't play in the East which is quite favorable when it comes to getting further in the playoffs if you're the top team, and if we look at the championship winners, they tend to have one of those players. When you have the "second tier" superstars your best bet at winning is to keep the course when you are good until you get your break (eg: Dallas). Utah could be an example with Stockton and Malone even if they didn't win, but with getting to the finals, it was a long road for them.

Now I know MTV has said he only wants this if we get a better GM and front office, but even if we do, like I said, guarantees nothing, and it's still not a better situation. You only force rebuild if you know your stars are leaving. Also not every GM gets to trade with a Billy King for example which is always a fast track way to rebuilding.

[QRich3]

Teams with smart management get stuck 5+ years in rebuild phase all the time. When/if that happens to the Clippers, people like MTV will just attribute it to more incompetence from whoever is Doc's successor, like it was just so easy but ineptitude wasted it all away. People like him love to call ineptitude in everything that doesn't go their way, but the truth is they don't have the capacity to analyze what a rebuild means compared to what we have now.

[Quake Griffin]

Teams with smart management get stuck 5+ years in rebuild phase all the time. When/if that happens to the Clippers, people like MTV will just attribute it to more incompetence from whoever is Doc's successor, like it was just so easy but ineptitude wasted it all away. People like him love to call ineptitude in everything that doesn't go their way, but the truth is they don't have the capacity to analyze what a rebuild means compared to what we have now.

You see what one year of Ibaka got on the open market? We wouldnt have even had to trade the entire Big Three....just one of em could have yielded us a whole lot and it wouldn't even be like starting over.


People keep championing building around this core but our 2 stars can opt out and play elsewhere after next year. We need something for ourselves as a franchise and Doc backed us into this position by burning assets. I'd take 2 stars (with the potential of one leaving next year) + assets over 3 stars (2 with the potential to leave next year) and no assets....nvm that it would free us up to take a run at FAs this summer.

Sam Presti has the same problems as us.
Lmao. Yeah right. He just beat the Warriors 3 more times than we have in 2 years and pulled off a heist in the draft that has everybody looking at Durant like, "if you leave, you're stupid as hell or hate Westbrick."