Whom should the Clippers target in the NBA Draft?

Who? Whom? Whatever. You get the idea. The Clippers were eliminated from the playoffs last week, and now they can set their sights on the offseason ahead. There's obviously plenty of uncertainty there, but we need not speak of Sterlings in this space today. I'm sure there'll be plenty of time for that later, anyway.



The first order of business for the Clippers this summer has to do with the draft, which goes down on June 26th. The players with guaranteed contracts next season are Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Matt Barnes, J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford, Jared Dudley and Reggie Bullock. Both Darren Collison and Glen Davis have player options, while Willie Green has a team option. Danny Granger, Ryan Hollins and Hedo Turkoglu will be unrestricted free agents. There ya go.

The Clips have the 28th overall pick in the first round, so obviously there's no guarantee they'll be able to get a player able to contribute next season. However, this draft is way deeper than last year's class, so perhaps there are a few players that could trickle down to the late first round.

Let's go through a few of the candidates.

Mitch McGary, C, Michigan

One of L.A.'s glaring weaknesses last season was the lack of productive big men behind Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Glen Davis wasn't much of a difference-maker since coming over from Orlando, unfortunately, and he seems likely to bolt as a free agent, anyway.

McGary sat out the majority of last season for the Wolverines after undergoing back surgery. The season prior, however, when Michigan advanced to the NCAA Championship Game, McGary was a vital cog. He's a very good finisher around the rim despite not being an elite athlete, and isn't afraid to absorb contact in the paint.

McGary
Photo Credit - Adam Glanzman/Wikimedia Commons

McGary is extra aggressive on the glass, and his screen-setting ability would fit in well with the Clippers' offense. His offense consists primarily of finishing in transition and off of rebound opportunities, and he's not much of a jump shooter or a back-to-the-basket type.

His wingspan isn't great for a guy his size (7'0", and he stands 6'10"), but his lateral movement and basketball IQ are strong enough to where he won't be a complete sieve on defense. He won't be much of a shot-blocker, unfortunately, but he can help in other areas and has shown good instincts when playing team defense.

If the back injury is behind him, he may well go ahead of the Clippers' spot at 28.

Cleanthony Early, SF, Wichita State

Early helped his draft stock tremendously with his play late in the season and in the NCAA Tournament. He's one of the best scorers in the draft pool, and is skilled enough to score in a variety of ways. He played a lot of power forward in college, though his size (6'7", 210 pounds) translates better as a small forward in the pros.

He averaged nearly 24 points per-40 minutes last season for the Shockers, and showed the ability to score inside, outside, in transition and via off-the-ball cuts. He may struggle initially to adapt to the NBA's longer three-point line, though his mechanics look workable.

Having played power forward in college may make transitioning to the 3 in the NBA a massive adjustment on the defensive end. He struggled when guarding on the perimeter in limited duty, as quicker players were able to blow-by him more often than you'd like.

His age (already 23) may cause him to drop in the draft, as well, especially considering how raw he looks at times.

P.J. Hairston, SG, Texas Legends (NBA D-League)

Hairston is one of the more polarizing players available. He was dismissed from North Carolina due to accepting illegal benefits, and entered the D-League last season. He was phenomenal in his short time with the Legends, averaging nearly 22 points per game in 26 games.

He has great size for a shooting guard at 6'5" and nearly 230 pounds, which suggests he's one of the few players at this point in the first round that may be ready to help an NBA team immediately. He has a great shooting touch that should easily translate to the league, and he's surprisingly spry for a player his size.

Hairston's strength proves difficult for typical shooting guards to contend with, which means he should also be able to do some damage posting-up. He should also provide a nice mismatch on defense due to his thick build and great wingspan (6'9").

He does have his flaws (sometimes gets lazy on defense, not a great passer), but the Clippers should be interested in players that can join the rotation from day one. Hairston is a strong candidate if he drops to No. 28.

Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State

Payne is another player that appears ready to contribute right away. He's already 23 after having spent four years at Michigan State, and he provides a very unique skill-set.

He added some range to his offensive game this season, shooting a very impressive 42% on three-pointers after hardly shooting them at all earlier in his career. He's 6'10, but his 7'4" wingspan should help him disrupt passing lanes and block some shots. He's a reliable jump-shooter, and has the athleticism to take his man off-the-dribble and finish effectively above-the-rim.

He's going to have to add some strength to his core in order to be able to bang down low with NBA-caliber bigs, but that's something that shouldn't be difficult. We know the Clippers need bigs, though it's looking increasingly likely that Payne will be taken somewhere ahead of the 28th spot.