CLIPPERS MAY SPEND 14TH PICK ON GUARDS KNIGHT OR VAUGHN.Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer When Clippers management held a short media session Tuesday to talk about tonight's NBA Draft The NBA Draft is an annual North American event in which the National Basketball Association's (NBA) thirty teams (29 in the United States and one in Toronto, Canada) can select players who wish to join the league. , they revealed the obvious: They don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. who's going to be available with the 14th pick. ``If he ducks through that door, then we'll definitely have an interest,'' coach Bill Fitch William Fitch (born May 19 1934 in Davenport, Iowa) is a former NBA coach who has been successful in making teams playoff contenders throughout his coaching career. Before entering the professional ranks he coached college ball at the University of Minnesota, Bowling Green State said about the team's desire for a center. ``But anything could happen. Don't count out anything.'' The Clippers likely will not draft a center. The two likely prospects, Kelvin Cato Kelvin T. Cato (born August 26, 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a professional basketball player. He is currently playing center for the New York Knicks of the NBA. College career and Jason Lawson Jason L. Lawson (born September 2 1974, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA. The 6'11", 211 pound center went to college at Villanova University. drew minimal interest from the Clippers. Team officials see another Ervin Johnson For the former Los Angeles Lakers player named Earvin Johnson, see . Ervin Johnson (born December 21 1967 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an NBA basketball player, currently a free agent, who most recently played for, and captained, the Milwaukee Bucks. in Iowa State's Cato (all defense, no offense) and Lawson's desire is questioned. Neither player worked out for the Clippers. However, they did bring in guards Jacque Vaughn Jacque Vaughn (born February 11 1975 in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays reserve point guard for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA. He won his first championship as a member of the Spurs in 2007. and Brevin Knight Brevin Knight (born November 8 1975 in Livingston, New Jersey) is an American professional basketball player at the point guard position in the NBA, currently signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.[] He is 5'10" (178 cm) and 170 lb (77 kg). . Knight will likely go first because of his speed and passing abilities. Vaughn is an interesting pick because the Clippers are searching for a backup to Darrick Martin Darrick David Martin (born March 6, 1971 in Denver, Colorado, United States) is an American professional basketball player, currently with the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Martin has became known as a solid veteran who provided quality minutes as a reserve, maintaining a career free . It's evident to Fitch and general manager Elgin Baylor Elgin Gay Baylor (born September 16, 1934 in Washington, D.C.) is a retired American basketball player who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers. Baylor was a gifted shooter, a strong rebounder, and an accomplished passer. that Pooh Richardson Jerome "Pooh" Richardson (born May 14 1966 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American former National Basketball Association (NBA) player. The 6'1" point guard was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the tenth overall pick of the 1989 NBA Draft out of UCLA. is not going to work there. ``Of course, if we drafted a guard, there would have to be some shuffling,'' Fitch said. ``That's possible.'' The shuffling would occur by putting Brent Barry at shooting guard to replace Malik Sealy, leaving a open spot at backup point. Unless San Jose State's Olivier Saint-Jean is still remaining (doubtful), the Clippers will nab the best player available, which will not be a center. The Clippers like Saint-Jean, a 6-foot-5 physical scorer who would fill in nicely. But Sacramento might get him first. The Clippers also worked out Illinois' Kiwane Garris, Providence forward Austin Croshere, Michigan's Maurice Taylor, Cincinnati's Danny Fortson, Kansas' Scot Pollard, Minnesota's Bobby Jackson and Wisconsin's Paul Grant. Baylor was thoroughly impressed with Fortson and Taylor. Problem: The Clippers are deepest at power forward. Small forward, with 6-7 Lamond Murray and 6-8 Rodney Rogers, isn't a pressing need either. For Fitch and Baylor, the harsh reality is the 14th pick will not fill an immediate need. Only three of the last 10 14th picks remain in the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= . And the Clippers' tumultuous draft history is well documented. ``We have to get the best player available,'' Baylor said. ``But that's hard to determine now because we don't know what Cleveland's going to do at 13.'' Last season with the seventh pick, the Clippers watched as a trade for the rights to Antoine Walker fell through and they took Lorenzen Wright. This season, getting a player of Wright's rookie impact (7.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg) isn't likely. The Clippers drafted Loy Vaught at 13 in 1990 (after taking Bo Kimble with No. 8) but it took Vaught two years to break the starting lineup. So the concern becomes filling holes for eventual free agency. Sealy cannot be offered a contract until Tuesday but the Clippers have not contacted agent Arm Tellem about interest. That's not the case with forward Charles Outlaw, who definitely has the Clippers' attention and a deal will be offered, possibly as early as Tuesday. ``There could be a lot of changes and things going on this summer,'' Fitch said. ``Right now we just have to address the draft. We liked a lot of players that we brought in.'' The Clippers are not high on 7-3 Serge Zwikker of North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. and the 7-0 Grant would be a reach at 14. The Clippers want to avoid another risky draft. A trade is not out of the question but the club has few players with value. Vaught is awaiting a huge free-agent contract next season. Brent Barry is a free agent, along with Martin and Terry Dehere. Rogers, Murray and Richardson all have at least two years left on their contracts. So the next decision on improving a 36-win team is a difficult one. Remember, the Clippers do have a legitimate center: Stanley Roberts. He's been cleared to play and the team hopes he's finally gets in shape. Roberts for one more season might be better than an unproven center for three. The Clippers could also sign a free agent. More questions than answers? More uncertainties for a team mired mire n. 1. An area of wet, soggy, muddy ground; a bog. 2. Deep slimy soil or mud. 3. A disadvantageous or difficult condition or situation: the mire of poverty. v. with bad luck? No impact players in a thin draft? Welcome to Clipper Draft Day. ``We'll be just like you guys looking and waiting until the 13th pick,'' Fitch said. ``We can't predict because the 13 teams before us don't know who they're going to pick.'' Notes: The Clippers don't have a second-round pick, having traded it to Detroit in 1992 for William Bedford and Don MacLean's rights. Seattle now has the pick, No. 43. DRAFT DAY What to expect from the Lakers and Clippers in today's NBA draft, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on TNT TNT: see trinitrotoluene. TNT in full trinitrotoluene Pale yellow, solid organic compound made by adding nitrate (−NO2) groups to toluene. : LAKERS Where they select: 51st and 53rd (picks will be referred to as 52nd and 54th because the league reclassified the 29th pick as No. 30.). What they need: A backup forward, a backup center in case Travis Knight isn't re-signed. Free agents as of July 1: Forwards Robert Horry, Jerome Kersey and George McCloud, center Travis Knight, guard Byron Scott. CLIPPERS Where they select: 14th. The Clippers do not have a second-round pick. What they need: Center, dependable shooting guard, backup point guard. Free agents as of July 1: Charles Outlaw, Malik Sealy, Kevin Duckworth, Dwayne Schintzius. What to look for: The Clippers will choose either Brevin Knight or Jacque Vaughn. The only center they like is Tim Duncan. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos, Box Photo: (1) Providence forward Austin Croshere was one of several players who has worked out for the Clippers. Associated Press (2) VAUGHN (3) KNIGHT Box: (Color) DRAFT DAY (See Text) |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion