CLIPPERS UPDATE: CLIPPERS SAY THEY'LL KEEP TOP TWO CHOICES FOR A WHILE.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer Before Clippers 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. introduced his No. 1 draft picks on Monday, he made a disclaimer. ``I just want to make one thing clear,'' Baylor said. ``When it came time for us to draft, there was a question about a spur-of-the-moment picking of (Chris Wilcos). He was our eighth pick. There was no doubt he was going to be that pick. At No. 12, we were happy that (Melvin Ely Melvin Anderson Ely (born May 2, 1978 in Harvey, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA. A 6'10", 255 lbs, forward-center from Fresno State, Ely was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round (12th overall ) was there. Those are the players that we wanted to get.'' After that announcement, the Clippers went forward on Monday with their offseason moves. They officially introduced No. 8 pick Wilcox and No. 12 pick Ely to the media. Although Wilcox had a serious look on his face throughout the news conference, both he and Ely were affable. The tone of news conference accepted the premise that Wilcox and Ely would indeed be Clippers at the start of the season. If so and there are no trades this offseason, they'll be two forwards who will have to find playing behind Elton Brand Elton Tyron Brand (born March 11, 1979 in Peekskill, New York) is an American All-Star professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers and the USA National Team. , Lamar Odom Lamar Joseph Odom (born November 6 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, New York) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward (also plays both forward spots and is a "point-forward") for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers. , Darius Miles Darius LaVar Miles (born October 9, 1981 in Belleville, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. Miles attended East St. Louis High School, and, after failing to receive a qualifying SAT score to attend St. and Corey Maggette. ``I really don't have a position,'' Wilcox said. ``Where they play me is fine.'' Wilcox is just 19 years old and played two seasons at Maryland. Ely is 24 and spent five years at Fresno State. Both Baylor and Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said that they expect Ely to play some backup center. Ely seemed personable PERSONABLE. Having the capacities of a person; for example, the defendant was judged personable to maintain this action. Old Nat. Brev. 142. This word is obsolete. , perhaps a mature draft pick because of his age. His personality probably helped his stock in the draft. ``A lot of people have the attitude that Fresno State players are bad guys and get into the wrong things,'' Ely said. ``But once you meet me, you see that I'm not like that at all.'' |
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