#28 - Los Angeles Clippers

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What I’d Do:

Patric Young – Florida

6’10” (7’1.75” wingspan), 247 lbs., 02/01/1992 (22 years old)

There is maybe no better candidate for me to write a three thousand word essay on their season and plans this offseason than the Los Angeles Clippers. I assure you, however, I’m way too tired from writing up the rest of these teams to dive into the Clippers’ chaotic last couple of months, and the finish line is in sight.

I’ll save my thoughts on racism and power dynamics in professional sports for the off-season and try to focus instead on this Clippers roster and, particularly, their bench. Outside of some LeBron rumors (ho-hum), the starting lineup is already set, with Chris Paul, J.J. Reddick, Matt Barnes, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan all signed for next season. Jared Dudley and Reggie Bullock are actually the only bench players signed to fully guaranteed contracts in 2014-15, but Jamal Crawford and Willie Green will probably have their deals picked up. Darren Collison, Danny Granger, and Glen Davis all declined their player options and will enter free agency.

So going into next season, before the draft and free agency, the bench would consist of Jamal/Green/Bullock/Dudley, giving the Clips some solid shooting at the wing. It was a need last offseason too but there’s a gaping hole at the backup center. Veterans and buy-out bigs like Antawn Jamison and Big Baby (and whatever B.J. Mullens is) didn’t really help, and drastic improvements from Blake and DJ prevented it from becoming a huge issue.

Back-up center is the glaring need, as Jared Dudley might be able to contribute some minutes at PF in a quicker lineup. Reggie Bullock, the #25 pick last draft, would need to develop his defense enough to increase on his 9.2 minutes a game in 43 games last year and contribute consistently with the second unit. Danny Granger came in after his Philly-buyout to take 16 minutes at both forward spots, which wasn’t really a good thing. Bullock can stroke the ball and should be able to step into the backup role, or at least form a backup SF-platoon with Dudley.

There aren’t a lot of great big man options at this point on the draft board that can come in and contribute to an NBA rotation right away. Walter Tavares is an incredible international big man prospect that any team can dream on but is still way too raw to come over for another season or two. He’s in range, but there’s way more shooting and wing options available here than there are actual bigs. I might have to reach a bit at #28 but Patric Young is a four-year starter who didn’t miss a game at Florida (!) and could be a poor man’s Emeka Okafor off the Clippers bench.

Young, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year this season, is a weird athlete. While 6’10” with a 7’1.75” wingspan isn’t drastically undersized at the NBA level, his standing reach of 8’7.5” tested out as one of the lowest of any big man in the league. I’m honestly not sure what that means at the pro level, as Patric is a good defensive player who uses his limited reach well. He’s surprisingly agile, utilizing a spin move on the low block at times and can wrap around to finish on either side of the rim. His strength is a huge plus in setting screens and defending the post.

He’s quick for a big man, too, and he slides his feet well to take charges or contain penetration off the dribble. Young can even protect the rim and block a shot or two (1.1 per game in 26.3 minutes) and is a really intelligent defender who loves to get his hands dirty on that end. He has all of the intangibles and plays hard and is a hustle player who boxes out, sets solid screens, and lays out for loose balls, endearing himself to his teammates and coaches. I really like the Emeka Okafor comparisons.

Patric Young is also a really weird rebounder, as he excels at grabbing offensive boards (2.6 per game) but is well-below average in pulling in defensive rebounds (3.6 per game). It’s not like he’s a leaper or drifts on the perimeter; he’s a paint-based player that doesn’t really stray, especially on offense. There’s not much jump shot potential, shooting 59.6% from the FT line and taking only 12 jumpers all season (!!). The benefit is that Young is smart enough to know his limitations and doesn’t put himself in positions to do too much.

Patric Young is a really safe pick at the big man position for a Clippers team that currently lacks a real rebounder on the bench. He’s a throwback big to the days before spacing and perimeter play but he’s a hard-working, hustle player who is not afraid to do some dirt. Every team needs a Kendrick Perkins or Okafor to set screens and improve the team defense, and the Clippers need bodies to protect the paint when Blake and DJ sit. A lot of Clippers will love Patric Young if they take him at #28.

What I Think They’ll Do:

I initially considered taking Patric Young at #28 as a bit of a reach, just going off other mock drafts that I’ve seen recently. Young’s projected as a solid second round guy in the late 30’s or 40’s and I’m not sure I understand that. His upside is pretty limited (some would say ‘safe’) but he’ll be a solid pro. He needs to improve his defensive rebounding to stick around, and that’s probably what separates him from fellow bigs Mitch McGary and Jarnell Stokes, and who knows if he’ll ever be competent on offense outside of finishing around the rim and flashing that lefty-float/hook (compared to Stokes’s lefty-line drive/hook). Put him on the Clippers and he’ll grab plenty of offensive boards off Jamal Crawford long jumpers and play hard. He’s safe, but that’s one less big to worry about in free agency.

I also looked at a potential “3-and-D” wing for the Clips but they have plenty of wings already on the bench and the players on the draft board are all raw (Jerami Grant) or tweeners (Glenn Robinson, Cleanthony Early). C.J. Wilcox will be a good pro but the Clips need a big badly and need supersedes best player available to a team this close to a Finals appearance.

Crazy Draft Day Trade:

If Doc were to trade Blake Griffin for LeBron James, do you think this pick would come into play? Me neither. I’m just not sure how much the #28 pick rates league-wide.

Considering the depth in this draft and the talent pool that stretches into the 40’s and 50’s I can’t see many teams trading up to the back of the first round, and the only other option for the Clips is a draft-and-stash but, again, they need bodies on the bench. I’m penciling Patric Young into that rotation as the first big off the bench, at least until we get to free agency.