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Ok everyone! The draft is just a handful of hours away, and the Clippers are going to make two of the biggest picks in recent franchise memory. Here’s a quick roundup of some of the biggest NBA draft sites’ mock drafts as they pertain to the Clippers.
12: Trae Young
13: Jerome Robinson
Jonathan Givony of ESPN, formerly of Draft Express, is probably the single most plugged in guy when it comes to the draft. He says that the Clippers will take one of whichever top point guard (Young, Collin Sexton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) will fall to them, and then select between one of Robinson, Kevin Huerter, and Robert Williams with the next pick. The first of those theories makes sense: the Clippers have been linked to point guards the whole draft, and those are the top three. The next does not, as Robinson and Huerter are both guys who should be going in the late teens, not the lottery, while Williams plays a completely different position from the two of them. I think if the Clippers draft Huerter or Robinson, it might be as part of a trading down package. While picking Robinson this early would be really, really bad, getting Trae would probably make up for it.
12: Trae Young
13: Jerome Robinson
Interesting. It could be that the Ringer has the same sources as ESPN, or it could just be they have the draft playing on the same way. Still, this is a scenario to keep an eye on at this point.
12: Robert Williams
13: Collin Sexton
Jeremy Woo is also one of the best draft guys, and this mock draft worries me. Williams is fine, if unexciting, but Sexton is my least favorite of the point guard prospects by far. This would be a pretty bad “realistic” draft for the Clippers.
12: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
13: Miles Bridges
This, on the other hand, from Michael Scotto, would be fantastic. The Clippers get their point guard (SGA is not projected to last to 12 in most mocks), and also pick up a highly talented wing player.
12: Wendell Carter Jr.
13: Miles Bridges
Tim Bontemps is a top NBA beat reporter, but he’s not usually known for his draft coverage. Still, I’m sure he has sources, and this would be an absolute dream draft for the Clippers. I don’t see how Carter falls this far (if anything, he’s rising in recent mocks), but if he does, that would be incredible. And Bridges, again, is also a legit lottery prospect who would complement Carter beautifully with his scoring and shooting.
That’s it! We will keep you all posted as further news/rumors come out, but the mocks will be shifting every hour, so we won’t keep up with those on a group basis. These mocks are an odd grouping of incredible (WP and Athletic), mixed (ESPN), and disappointing (SI). Hopefully the Clippers and Jerry West pull off some magic on draft day.