NBA Draft

#501      
The staff has been notified.

Will obviously go public in the next 24 hours.
The Weeknd Snl GIF by Saturday Night Live
 
#506      
Man we are really bored. People picking silly semantic battles about Dre returning and our #9thman. Now this.

It’s only May. Pace yourselves, gents. You have the NBA playoffs. French Open. UCL final. A World Cup in the U.S.
+ NHL Eastern semis, anyone?
 
#513      
As I often preface my comments with, I know absolutely nothing but, it’s a damn good thing Andrej didn’t have a better showing in those shooting drills at the combine.
 
#516      

5. LA Clippers (via Pacers): Keaton Wagler, Illinois

"The LA Clippers were sneakily one of the biggest winners of lottery night, grabbing a top-five pick in simply offloading Ivica Zubac, a major organizational win after several losses. Now, they’ll be tasked with kicking off the draft following the top-four.

LA will have several options, not necessarily beholden to the current core. Illinois’ Keaton Wagler seems to have the most buzz, in addition to potentially being the best player available on the board.

Meteoric barely does justice to Wagler’s rise through the draft ranks this season. He went from off draft radars completely to a bonafide top-seven prospect for most in just one season, leading his team to the Final Four while showing positional size, feel for the game and offensive versatility.

He’ll have competition here in Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr. and potentially a few others, though he feels the cleanest fit in addition to offering long-term upside as a guard-slash-wing that the Clippers desperately need."
 
#519      
Well, let's take everything into context. Their GM crumbled their future, while giving OKC theirs with one trade. So, they haven't had a ton of picks to screw up. Their whole operation is a dumpster fire.

The literally traded the below away for Paul George:
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • F Danilo Gallinari
  • 2021 Unprotected First-Round Pick (via Miami)
  • 2022 Unprotected First-Round Pick (via LA)
  • 2023 First-Round Pick (via Miami)
  • 2024 Unprotected First-Round Pick (via LA)
  • 2026 Unprotected First-Round Pick (via LA)
  • Pick Swap Rights in 2023 and 2025
This is worse than the Bulls, which is saying a LOT. The way they spend money on free agents and those careers completely stall is incredible.

So, yes, you are correct, they didn't mess up the 2009 Blake Griffin pick, let's just say their decision making, forward thinking and development of a program has been less than ideal.
But the point is that it hasn't been a death sentence to any top pick to be drafted by the Clippers since the days of Darius Miles and Michael Olowokandi. Keaton will be fine there, and his chances at a long and successful NBA career will not be harmed in any way by being selected by the Clippers.

Also, just for context here, the Clippers did that trade not just because they really wanted Paul George, but because they really wanted Kawhi Leonard who wasn't going to sign with them without them bringing in another established star. Still a bad trade with 20/20 hindsight but makes a little more sense when you consider the Kawhi piece.
 
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