Los Angeles Clippers Draft Review

Current Roster
PG: Jawun Evans
SG: Jamal Crawford/Austin Rivers/Sindarius Thornwell
SF: Wesley Johnson/Paul Pierce
PF: Brice Johnson
C: DeAndre Jordan/Diamond Stone

2017 Free Agents
Unrestricted
G Chris Paul
F Blake Griffin
G JJ Redick
F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (player option)
F Alan Anderson
F Brandon Bass
G Raymond Felton
F Marreese Speights

Restricted
None

Who They Drafted
2-39 Jawun Evans, PG Oklahoma State
2-48 Sindarius Thornwell, SG Los Angeles
The Clippers came into draft night without a draft pick, but bought two picks from the 76ers and Bucks, taking two guard prospects. First, they drafted Jawun Evans, a player that I though should be a lottery pick but slipped, likely because of his size. Evans is, ironically, very similar to Chris Paul when it comes to size and style of play, though Paul is obviously much better. Evans plays with a dynamic speed and quickness while also utilizing change of pace and hesitation moves as well as pure quickness to get by players, he is also a capable shooter and excellent ballhandler. Defensively, he has tools (his wingspan is actually longer than the 6-5 Luke Kennard) but will likely always be at a disadvantage, hopefully in a reduced role he can ratchet up the intensity a little bit. Because the Clippers roster is in such flux, it is unclear who Evans will be playing with but ideally he'll have a big to play pick-and-roll with (I thought he was the best at this in the whole draft) and some shooters around to give him space to operate. The Clippers have cycled through a poo-poo platter of backup guards in the last couple of years, but hopefully in Evans they have finally found a young player that can give them quality minutes and help to alleviate some of the drop off when Paul (assuming he resigns) leaves the floor, something that has plagued them for years.
With their next purchased pick, the Clippers drafted another guard, this time of the off-ball variety. Sindarius Thornwell was one of the best players in college basketball, winning SEC Player of the Year and leading South Carolina to the Final Four. However, he might have been the best player in college basketball last season, at least statistically. Thornwell was the best in college basketball in both offensive and defensive Box Score Plus Minus, as well fifth in Win Shares and second in Win Shares Per 40 and top ten in Defensive Rating. These stats paint a super star picture, and Thornwell isn't that, but they are also representative of his ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor. Despite not being a great athlete, Thornwell is a switchable defender with long arms (6-10 wingspan) and strength; he plays with a lot of toughness and intensity, quick on the perimeter but willing to battle into the paint. Thornwell makes plays defensively as well, averaging 2.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per 40. His motor and intensity translates to the glass as well, where he grabbed 12% of available misses, an excellent number for a guard. Due to his lack of elite athletic ability, Thornwell projects as more of a role player overall, but one with a lot of nice little offensive skills. As a shooter he has been up and down in his career, but should end up as a solid 35%-ish shooter that can comfortably handle the ball, even if he lacks dynamism off the dribble, similarly his passing ability is solid, if unspectacular, good enough that he should be a ball mover, provided he is willing to accept a less role in the NBA, something not all college stars are willing to do. For the Clippers, Thornwell makes it easier for them to move on from the bad contracts of Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers (as long as they realize the contracts actually are bad) while also giving them a solid bench option that can fit into their switching defense.

What They Need Going Forward
It seems as if JJ Redick is moving on but the futures of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are very much up in the air and what happens with them will very much dictate any future moves they make. If Paul stays and Griffin leaves, they will have a void at power forward (the only power forward on the roster right now is Brice Johnson, who might not even be and NBA player), a 4 that can shoot better than Griffin would fit with what the Clippers want to do, which isn't to say that they would be able to sign a better player, just a better fit. On the other hand, if Paul leaves and Griffin stays, they could look to acquire a cheaper, veteran point guard to span the gap until Evans is ready to start. If both stay, they won't have much flexibility but will need backup big men and perhaps another body on the wing that could challenge for a starting spot, even if they don't have much money to spend, vets will take less to play in LA. Another shooter to replace Redick is also something they need. If both leave... well then it should be all aboard to Tanksville and DeAndre Jordan should be dealt.

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2017 NBA Draft: Sleepers Outside the First Round

Every year there are players drafted outside the first round or signed as undrafted free agents become NBA rotation players and even stars. This draft will likely be no different. Here are some potential prospects that could fit the bill...
 
Grayson Allen, SG Duke (6-4, 195) Age: 21

It is sometimes difficult to remember that, despite the other drama surrounding him, Grayson Allen is still a pretty talented player. He is a good athlete and shooter, which is enough to make him interesting to NBA teams. Allen has grown as a playmaker, though not to a primary level and I don't buy that at the NBA level he will draw BS fouls with the flailing and flopping he specializes in, though he is fearless, which goes a long way. He has the tools to be an okay defender, but hasn't really put it all together on that end yet. Allen has been a mess in a lot of ways this season, but there is still a pretty intruiging package, for a second round pick, beneath all the noise.

Dwayne Bacon, SF Florida State (6-7, 210) Age: 21 
As a Freshman, Bacon was a good college player, but a questionable NBA prospect, mostly due to his inconsistent jumper. However, this season Bacon has improved his jumper, shooting .281% on threes compared to last years .343%. Due to his size, body, and athleticism, Bacon was already on NBA radars, not a little bit because competent wings are such a rare and valuable commodity. Bacon's jumper is crucial because it sets up his slashing game, where he has made the most consistent hay as a scorer. Defensively, Bacon has the tools to be above-average and maybe play a little bit of small-ball 4, think Jae Crowder-esque upside if the jumper continues to come along.

Jordan Bell, PF/C (6-7, 190) Age: 22
2016-17 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Bell is a modern NBA defensive player, equally comfortable defending on the perimeter and protecting the rim (2.2 bpg for his career). That defense alone should give him a shot in the NBA (especially if his 2016 Nike Basketball Academy measurements of 6-8.5, 227 are accurate.) Offensively, Bell is a really good finisher and has shown he has the ball-handling and passing acumen to not be a negative when he gets the ball. Where he has really shown promise is as a shooter; Bell hasn't stretched it out to three yet but he shot a very good .455% on two-point jumpers and .724% from the free throw line. Obviously, he'll never be a force on that end but the question is whether he can be good enough to let his defense play. 

Jaron Blossomgame, SF/PF (6-7, 215) Age: 23
Blossomgame was projected as borderline first-round pick last year but he decided to return to school and this year he is... a borderline first round pick. Given how his jump shooting has regressed (.441% from three to .255%), it is a testament to Blossomgame's overall game that he has remained pretty steady as a prospect. Blossomgame is a super athlete with a tough off-the-bounce game and excellent finishing skills. His path to the NBA may be at the power forward position, where he will have a quickness advantage but also has the rebounding and shot-blocking skills to do some of the big man things as well.

Dillon Brooks, SF/PF (6-5, 205) Age: 21
Bell's teammate, Dillon Brooks has been one of the best players in the Pac-12 for the last two seasons. There is no question he is a good scorer who can be efficient from everywhere on the floor, the question is whether he has the size and length to work as a combo forward in the NBA the same what he does in college. Even if measures out at 6-7, Brooks appears to have quite average length, nor is he notably explosive, therefore the margin for error will be quite low at the next level.

Bryant Crawford, PG Wake Forest (6-3, 190) Age: 20
While teammate John Collins has gotten all the hype and first round talk, his running mate at Wake Forest, Bryant Crawford, has been just as good this year. Crawford has excellent size and length for a point guard. A smart player and a pesky defender, Crawford provides the kind of versatile overall package of scoring, shooting, distributing, defending that you want in a backup guard with enough upside to dream on due to his age and physical gifts.

Jawun Evans, PG Oklahoma State (6-0, 175) Age: 20
Evans is an uptemp, transition, and pick-and-roll maestro with tremendous ball-handling ability, vision, intelligence, passing, and unselfish style; he also really shoots the ball well, a career .407 from three. The problem is that Evans is small, just around six-feet tall, and this shows up in his .504% shooting at the rim this season, though he does have a good wingspan for his size. Of course, being small isn't a death sentence, it just narrows the percentages chance of success considerably, however Evans has the skills you want in a small guard and I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see him make it in the NBA.   

Devin Robinson, SF/PF Florida (6-8, 178) Age: 22

Though just a Junior, Devin Robinson seems like he has been on NBA draft radars forever. It is easy to see why, Robinson is bouncy, has good size and length for a combo forward and has become an above-average three-point shooter in the last two seasons. The question is where does he play, Robinson is skinny and lacking the bulk to be a full-time power forward, yet is perhaps not skilled enough to be wing full-time. The answer will probably be bouncing between the positions depending on matchup. That isn't a huge problem, but it puts a cap on his upside.

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Hoop-math.com draftexpress.com & sports-reference.com/cbb/ are all feature invaluable information used in this post.