With the 2018 NBA Draft now just weeks away, the Los Angeles Clippers are looking to make a big splash with so many assets on their side. The Clippers landed the 12th and 13th overall picks in this year’s draft, but according to The Atletic’s Michael Scotto, LA isn’t satisfied with just two back to back lottery picks.
Instead, Scotto reports that they hope to move up in the draft and a potential deal could involve combo forward Tobias Harris who is entering the final year of his contract. As for who they may be targetting, indications point to two big-name prospects that LA is linked to.
According to Yahoo’s Shams Charania as he explained on a recent podcast, the Clippers could be after Real Madrid guard Luka Doncic, who is in considered one of the top prospects in this year’s top-heavy draft class (h/t Hoops Hype):
“You could see a lot of pick movement. The Clippers have looked to trade up. I think one guy that they’ve looked at heavily is Luka Doncic from Real Madrid.”
For the Clippers to make a move that drastic, they would have to sacrifice one or both of their late lottery picks plus another valuable piece such as a Tobias Harris. Projected to go in the top three, Doncic is one of the most NBA-ready options and could immediately change the culture for a Clippers team that has lacked an identity since the departure of Chris Paul.
However, Doncic isn’t the only top prospect the Clippers have their eyes on. According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, the Clippers could also be after forward Michael Porter Jr., a player expected to go in the mid-lottery:
The Clippers are open to moving up in the draft, according to multiple league executives. They’re armed with picks nos. 12 and 13, and have the assets to get creative. A front-office exec said that Michael Porter Jr. is a possible target for the Clippers, who could slide the forward into their modernized system as a go-to scorer.
Though Michael Porter Jr. was once perceived as arguably the best scorer in this class, his injury concerns have caused him to slip on draft boards. If he can realize his full potential, there’s no reason for the Clippers to hesitate pulling the trigger on drafting him if they are able to move up.
With so many assets on their side and so many options to choose from, the Clippers could shake things up near the top of the 2018 NBA Draft which is set to take place on June 21st at 7 PM.
