Sometimes what we want and what we need are two different things.

What do we want?  We want the first pick in the coming draft .

What do we need?  We need a HIGHLY skilled, athletic, physically and mentally tough player who works hard, competes, plays smart, and plays TEAM basketball.

The first pick is easy: We get Blake Griffin who is a hard worker, grounded, physically superior, and plays team ball.  Like I said...this choice is EASY.

Problem is, beyond the first pick, I don't really see anyone that we can say we need...  And it's not as if anyone beyond Griffin can break into the Clipper lineup next season anyway.  No matter what want to happen, it will be Baron at 1, EJ at 2, Thornton at 3, Randolph at 4, and Kaman at 5.  The bench players are Mike Taylor, Marcus Camby, DeAndre Jordan.  That's 8 players.  Collective Bargaining Agreement says we have to have a minimum 14 players.  That was 9.  Who gets the contracts?  I say our draft pick should be one--but can we find someone more accomplished than our current bench players.   No matter who this guy is, he will be a bench player if your last name is not Griffin and he will be WILDLY OVERPAID because of this draft position.  Why keep a pick so high when we cannot afford to pay someone to sit on the bench for that kind of cash.)  So let's bet low: really LOW and try to get more than one rookie next year.  I say get the last remaining piece for our "Youth Movement": A power forward who is athletic enough to play either the 3, the 4, or the 5.  My take: we need good character guys a la Duncan and EJ who just put their heads down and go to work.  If we get anything beyond the #3 draft pick, I sincerely hope the Clips trade down and try to get 2 picks.  Outside of Griffin and maybe Harden (Rubio seems like fool's gold--no athleticism, not a solid shooter, and small: 6'4" and 180) there's no one that's really all that.  I'd want to use the lower picks to get a Greg Monroe, Stephen Curry, a Sam Young, or a Tyler Hansbrough via trading down our pick.  Think about it: We get more players & we pay less money.  How will a top pick break into the line-up, realistically, anyway?  I just can't see it....