NBA Draft
 

Everyone assumes the Clippers will select Griffin #1. They more than likely will. I don't think they should. Yes, he's the best player in the draft and there is certainly a school of thought that says draft the best player available regardless of need. But I don't think they should take him. I don't think he fits with their club. Unless they are going to lose Randolph or trade him, they've got their power forward. As good as Griffin is, is he going to be a legit 20-10 man like Randolph is? Say what you will about Randolph but the man produces. And neither he nor Griffin is a center so that option is out. What should they do? I think they should draft Thabeet. The thing is, they can trade down and get him. But how far? Here's what I'd do:

Option #1
Offer the #1 to OKC for the #3 and Westbrook. I know the Thunder loves Westbrook but the chance to bring in the hometown guy and fill a need up front might be enough to let him go. If so, the Clippers just have to hope Memphis passes on Thabeet. I think they will. They are happy with what Marc Gasol gave them last year and I think they'd probably pass Thabeet and go for a guy like Jordan Hill or maybe even the hometown guy Tyreke Evans. That would leave Thabeet for the Clippers and a Thabeet/Westbrook draft would be better than getting Griffin. If the Grizzlies did draft Thabeet, I'd offer up the #3 and a first rounder next year for him.

Option #2
If the Clippers aren't sure they could get Thabeet from Memphis, offer up the #1 in exchange for the #2, Mike Conley, and Hakim Warrick. Memphis would then take Griffin and the Clippers would still get their man plus a good backup point guard and insurance for when Davis goes out and a serviceable backup forward.

A couple of major problems with your scenarios :

1) A trade of westbrook and the #3 for the #1 would require the thunder to take back another contract or two.

2) Warrick isnt under contract and most likely will be worth about a mid level exception and conley is signed for about 4 million per the next two years so basically you are asking Memphis to take back 8 million in contracts after they just purged themselves of a bunch bad contracts. it isnt going to happen.

Im sure you already figured that out though.;)

Best two players in draft are Rubio and Thabeet. I am telling you know Blake G will be a bust and will be out of the league within 3-4 years tops.

DeRozan is my third best player in draft, this kid has it all after only playing a year to get his homie Lil Romeo in at USC. Dont also forget about Brandon Jennings sure he didnt light it up in Spain but the experience in that one year was only a major positive.


The Clippers should draft Thabeet, even if they think Griffin is the best player he does not fit, with Baron and Gordon in there. But Ricky Rubio is a cant miss player.

Why will griffin be a bust?

I just dont think hes good, just one of those players who are great college players that will not tranlate over to the NBA.

But JJ Redick should?

This guy, based on physical ability alone, will be a 20-10 guy for ten years. He is a prototype NBA four and will be a nightmare to stop...right away. I can't think of a better big athlete that has come along in the last so many years.

DeRozan can't shoot.
Thabeet is the 2nd coming of Sam Dalembert
I agree Rubio will do fine
Jennings may be the 2nd coming of Telfair, have never seen him play
Griffin will be a very good NBA player but being on the Clippers, will anyone even notice?

Yeah 6'10" tough, strong athletic guys never make NBA players

At this point Griffin should just tell the Clippers to trade the #1 pick or he's going to Europe. He's doomed to a miserable career if he stays with the Clippers. They are the most poorly run franchise in sports and they have Randolph who has an impossible to unload contract.

I think the Clippers win 45 games next year or more and surprise a lot of people. They have talent. They aren't that far off.

Hasn't this been the case for the Clips, like FOREVER. :D :zz:

I'll take that bet

Yes...it is a bad contract. But it is unloadable in the sense that there are only two seasons left on it and he still is productive in some ways. There are lots of bad contracts out there and with just 28 million left, someone could easily trade for it and buy it out.

The Elton Brand contract is another story...

I don't think so. It wasn't so long ago when the Clippers were beating the Nuggets in the playoffs and taking the Suns to game seven of the semifinals. They have just been decimated by injuries but I think if they stay healthy, their projected starting five is in the top half 10 of the league. You are looking at:

Kaman.....second in the league in rebounds a season ago and a 12-10 guy.
Randolph.......a consistent 20-10 guy that can play in the post and step out.
Thornton.......can get you 17 a game and help and creates his own shot.
Davis.......Good for 18-22 a night and 7-10 assists.
Gordon....scored 20 a game from Jan 1 to the end of the season.

How about adding Camby, Thabeet, and Conley to that or Camby, Thabeet and Westbrook or just Camby and Griffin. The Clippers will surprise some people next year. Watch and see.

They make a nice fantasy team. They have no cap space, untradeable players, a cancer, a shoot first pg and a terrible gm/coach. Not to mention a distinct lack of team speed and three point makers, and very little interest in defense as a team or individually.

Did you mention injury prone point guard?

Gordon actually plays pretty decent defense...he is a keeper.

Kaman can't stay healthy.

Did you mention that the coach is an idiot?

I was a bit nicer by just calling him terrible. I guess he could be an idiot as a coach and a terrible gm.

He is about the worst coach in the NBA. He is the only coach that could have Baron Davis and Eric Gordon in the backcourt...and still want to play halfcourt basketball and call plays every time down.

Why do people assume the Clippers organization
even cares about being good? There is no evidence
to suggest they want to win.

And Randolph. Zac Randolph is a no D numbers player.
All he cares about are numbers. The Clippers have made
absolutely no attempt to put a group of players together
that will actually work together.

For the number of years they have existed, this
may be the worst major Sports Franchise ever.

Back in the early and mid 70s when they had McAdoo and Randy Smith, the Clippers were fun to watch.

The Braves not the Clippers. McAdoo never player for the Clips. Smith played 10 seasons in a row without missing a game. that may never happen again.

Of course it was the Braves...same organization though. They were very fun to watch when I was a young lad.