The Clippers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last year by Portland. (Getty)
The Clippers are looking for a pick that can take them to the next level. They’ve made the playoffs 5 straight seasons but have yet to move past the Conference Semifinals, and last year were ousted in the first round by Portland. With the 25th overall pick in the first round and pick 33 in the second round, the team needs someone who can help them in the immediate future. Whoever it is, we’ll be updating this page with information on them.
The Los Angeles Times detailed a number of pre-draft workouts the Clippers have held, but at #25, it gets harder to mock a pick to a team. The consensus is that LA needs depth in their rotation. As such, they’ve been mocked players like Maryland’s Diamond Stone for his size and speed, Notre Dame’s Demetrius Jackson for his shooting consistency, and UNC senior Brice Johnson for his general athleticism.
This is going to be a fascinating pick for the Clippers. There are a lot of players that can help them. Here are the Clippers’ picks from the 2016 NBA Draft.
Brice Johnson, PF, North Carolina
Johnson was picked 25th overall by the Clippers. (Getty)
Some may have been scared off by Johnson’s age, as a senior at UNC, but he still averaged 17 points per game while shooting 61% and also averaging 10 rebounds a game. 6’9 with a 6’11 wingspan, he’s a fantastic, athletic shooter. His defense, while maybe not there yet, is improving, as he averaged over 2 blocks a game in his last year in a 40 minute pace. It’s weird to think of a senior player still developing and being a project, but there’s still room for the 21 year old to grow.
Cheick Diallo, PF, Kansas
Diallo is the Clippers’ second round pick. (Getty)
With their second round pick, the Clippers go with 6’9″ 19 year old who’s originally from Mali. Diallo is known by scouts as a high energy player, someone who was able to cover a lot of ground at the NBA Combine and impressed there on defense.
Still, Diallo remains inexperienced. His freshman season underwhelmed and he averaged under 8 minutes a game. The same scouts like the work he put into his shooting mechanics, but it will still take time if Diallo is going to develop into someone who can contribute to the Clippers.