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Clippers Draft Preview: Possible Picks By Position

Note: The opinions in this article are from Clippers.com’s Rowan Kavner and the contents of this article have not been reviewed or endorsed by the LA Clippers’ basketball operations staff. 

LOS ANGELES – Nothing is guaranteed on draft night. That much was evident last year, when the Clippers went into last year's NBA Draft without a pick and left with Branden Dawson in the second round.

This year presents a much different scenario, as the Clippers enter draft week with the No. 25 and No. 33 overall picks. It’s widely believed many of the players in the Clippers’ range from the late first round to the early second round are similar in ability, so the talent level shouldn’t vary greatly between the two selections.  

With only six guaranteed players currently on the roster for the 2016-17 season, the Clippers could go a variety of directions when it comes to bolstering depth in the draft. In J.J. Redick and C.J. Wilcox, they have two players under contract at shooting guard. Otherwise, they only have one player currently guaranteed for next season at each of the remaining four positions, though head coach and president of basketball operations Doc Rivers has said he’s going to do whatever he can to keep as many people on board from last season.

The Clippers should be able to bring back some of their pieces from last year, but by the time they draft, none of that will be guaranteed. Because of that, they could use help at backup point guard, have been in search of a 3-and-D type wing and need a backup to DeAndre Jordan at center.

Here’s a look at three players at each position who could be there for the Clippers in the first round, including the player I’d select who could realistically still be available, as well as a couple intriguing players who could be there at each position when the Clippers pick in the second round.

Point Guard:

  • Washington PG Dejounte Murray – Mock drafts have been kind to Murray, who could end up a lottery pick this year after starting lower on most boards. A combo guard with size at 6-5, Murray made his presence felt immediately with 16.1 points, six rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He can score in a variety of ways and attack in transition. His length helps him at both ends, though he’s not an elite athlete, which can hurt him around the rim. He’ll need to develop his stroke outside, as he shot just 28.8 percent from 3-point range as a freshman.  
  • Kentucky PG Tyler Ulis – The sophomore was a star for Kentucky, averaging 17.3 points, seven assists and 1.5 steals per game, earning both SEC Player of the year and SEC Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. The only other player to do that? Anthony Davis. That’s pretty nice company, although that’s where the Davis comparisons end. Ulis is a point guard with elite vision who can pass, hit from deep, get to the line and hit from the line, but there’s a reason he could be available to the Clippers at pick 25. Ulis was the lightest player at the NBA Combine – weighing in just under 150 pounds – and the second shortest player at the Combine at 5-10 in shoes.
  • Rowan’s Pick: Notre Dame PG Demetrius Jackson – A popular choice to the Clippers in mock drafts, Jackson could end up the best point guard on the board by the time the Clippers pick at 25, giving the Clippers another player behind Chris Paul who excels in the pick-and-roll and can explode to the rim. He can get up for a 6-1 guard and can finish against bigger players, though he regressed as a shooter from deep last season after a stellar sophomore year, when he shot 42.9 percent from behind the line.

Shooting Guard:

  • UNLV SG Patrick McCaw – Just two years ago, McCaw was watching the Clippers practice in Las Vegas at training camp, hoping he’d make his mark at UNLV. Now, the sophomore could sneak into the first round and end up playing for the team he was watching. McCaw finished second in the nation in steals with 2.5 per game last season to go with 14.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. He showed an ability to hit from deep, as well, but he’ll need to add strength at the next level.  
  • Michigan State SG Denzel Valentine - Anyone following college basketball last season knew the name of the Spartans’ star. He got better every year at Michigan State, averaging 19.8 points, 7.8 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game as a senior while shooting 44.4 percent from outside. The 6-5 guard may not be there by the time the Clippers select, and his athleticism and defensive talents have been criticized, but getting a player with his skillset offensively and ability to shoot and score could be a major steal if he falls a bit. 
  • Rowan’s Pick: Florida State SG Malik Beasley – While there are more glaring needs at other positions, Beasley might be my favorite player at any position who could be available to the Clippers at 25. He’s only 19 with great athleticism, coming off a tremendously productive freshman season averaging 15.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He’d be great in transition with this team, can shoot from outside and can rise up in the open floor despite not having great length. If he can develop defensively and work on creating, and if past injuries don’t inhibit him, he could turn into something special.

Small Forward:

  • Syracuse SG/SF Malachi Richardson – There’s a good chance he’s not there when the Clippers select, but he could end up the pick if he falls. The Clippers could use a 3-and-D player, and he has the length to play a wing spot at the next level and showed great agility at the combine. Richardson can get to the rim off the dribble and catch-and-shoot with NBA range, though his shot selection can be questionable and he can sometimes get too wild attacking. It’s always difficult to project with any certainty how a Syracuse wing will transition at the next level given the Orange’s system. 
  • Baylor SF Taurean Prince – Much like Syracuse, Baylor players are coming out of a zone defense and will see something much different at the next level defensively, but Prince appears to possess the tools to be able to guard multiple positions at the next level. He can punish teams in transition and has the ability to hit from spots across the court, though he got worse as a 3-point shooter last season after making strides his junior year. He can create for himself and shoot off the dribble and has great length at 6-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, though he lacks elite athleticism.
  • Rowan’s Pick: St. Joseph’s SF DeAndre Bembry – He’s great in transition, deceptively athletic, can handle the ball and distribute as well as anyone at his position and uses all of his 6-5 length when he gets inside. He averaged more than 17 points and 7.5 rebounds per game each of his past two seasons, and he also averaged 4.5 assists per game last season. Really the only blemish is his shooting, as he can take a while to get into his motion and saw his 3-point percentage dip below 30 percent last season. But Bembry can basically do it all, and he said during his pre-draft workout with the Clippers it’s his versatility that will help a team most. “Whatever the coach needs me to do, I’m one of those players that will do it and won’t have a problem doing it,” Bembry said at the workout. That sounds like a Doc Rivers kind of guy.

Power Forward:

  • Gonzaga PF Domantas Sabonis – OK, so the odds of him being there are minimal. But if he falls, the Clippers could and should jump at this opportunity. Sabonis averaged 17.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game last season. He can handle the ball for a big man at 6-10 and can dominate when he gets it in the low post. He can easily finish with his left and will need to develop his other hand. He shows a willingness and ability to guard inside and out but could have some trouble at the next level guarding bigs down low. While he’s not the type to rack up blocks or the most athletic player at his position, Rivers would love his fight and effort on the glass.
  • Spain PF Juan Hernangomez – Teams looking for a stretch four with offensive prowess at the end of the first round should look no further. He has size at 6-9 and already possesses a notable skillset offensively with his ability to shoot from outside or put the ball on the floor and finish around the rim. There’s little doubting his NBA range. The problem will likely come at the other end, as he’ll have trouble guarding opposing bigs. 
  • Rowan’s Pick: North Carolina PF Brice Johnson – The 6-9 senior from North Carolina was a noticeably productive college player, dominating around the rim averaging 17.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He’s not about to start chucking 3-pointers at the next level, but he improved in just about every other area every year in college. His athleticism allows him to finish at a high percentage and block a lot of shots, and he could develop a mid-range game at the next level. He may have trouble inside defensively since he doesn’t have great length, but he’ll crash the boards.  

Center:

  • Croatia C Ivica Zubac – Standing over 7 feet tall, Zubac has everything physically required for a prototypical center. He’s not skinny, he’s patient in the post and can use both hands, and he hits his free throws, which is a good sign that he can develop his game from 15 feet in. Apart from an injury history, the questions come if he can handle the speed and strength of the NBA game and switch defensively at the NBA level.
  • Kansas C Cheick Diallo – Potential would be the word to describe the big man, who’s only 19. He had the second-biggest wingspan at the NBA Combine and put together a dominant scrimmage there with 18 points and four blocks in just 22 minutes. He can move for a guy his size at 6-9 with a 7-4.5 wingspan and plays hard, but he’s definitely a project. For a team like the Clippers trying to win now, that could present a problem. He didn’t do much in his lone season at Kansas, averaging three points in 7.5 minutes per game. He has a ways to go offensively, but the patience could pay off for a team.
  • Rowan’s Pick: Croatia C Ante Zizic – The 6-11 center looks like the real deal physically, and at only 19 could still be growing. He’s solid in transition as a big, takes it hard to the rim and can throw it down when he gets there. He should do well in a pick-and-roll system and reminds me more of Cole Aldrich than anyone in this draft. That worked out well for the Clippers last year. Zizic fights for rebounds and is tough defensively. It could take some adjusting at the NBA level and his ceiling may not be as high as others, but there’s plenty to like in the traditional big.  

Possible Second Round Picks:

Here’s a look at two players at each position who could be there at the No. 33 overall pick for the Clippers.

  • Point Guard: NC State’s Anthony “Cat” Barber and Oregon State’s Gary Payton II –  Should the Clippers wait until the second round to address the position, there should still be players with plenty of upside to consider that they brought in for workouts. And, if they want one who can score and create on his own, Barber could be the choice. He’s great off the dribble and can get buckets, as evidenced by his 23.5 points per game last season. If they want an athletic mismatch, they could go with Payton, who can get off screens and punish opponents at the rim but needs to work on his shot and ability to create for others.
  • Shooting Guard: Oklahoma’s Isaiah Cousins and Virginia’s Malcolm Brogdon – Another two guys who came in for pre-draft workouts, Cousins seems to be making some more noise the closer the draft gets. While Buddy Hield will get the majority of focus entering the draft, Cousins made an impression as a do-it-all type guard who could hit from deep. If a team wants a player at the other end, they should look no further than Brogdon, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year who has the length and wingspan to bother NBA wings.
  • Small Forward: Syracuse’s Michael Gbinije and Iowa’s Jarrod Uthoff – Gbinije improved every year at Syracuse, averaging 17.5 points per game his final season and shooting better than 39 percent from long range each of his final two years. He should also be able to play and guard multiple positions at the next level. Uthoff was a part of the Clippers’ latest workout, and there’s a lot to like in the athletic 6-9 forward with range. He averaged 18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and used his length to amass 2.5 blocks per game last year.  
  • Power Forward:France’s Guerschon Yabusele and Maryland's Robert Carter – Yabusele’s big body stood out immediately during pre-draft workouts, and he’s burst onto the scene overseas. At 260 pounds with a wingspan breaking seven feet to go with an outside jumper, Yabusele has intriguing size though opposing bigs could have success shooting over him. Carter was a Combine standout with 22 points, seven rebounds and four steals in a scrimmage and a giant 7-3.25 wingspan despite standing around 6-9. He bounced from Georgia Tech to Maryland, where he most recently averaged 12.4 points, seven rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
  • Center: China’s Zhou Qi and UNLV’s Stephen Zimmerman – Qi was by far the tallest and longest player at the NBA Combine. He can shoot the ball, but the question will be in his strength and how he’s able to handle bigs at the NBA level. Zimmerman, who came in during pre-draft workouts with his teammate McCaw, is a 7-footer entering the draft after his freshman year. He averaged 10.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in his lone season.