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Complete 2017 NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NBA Draft
Feb 28, 2017; Ames, IA, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) plays defense against the Iowa State Cyclones at James H. Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones beat the Cowboys 86 to 83. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Clippers

Jawun Evans (No. 39), Sindarius Thornwell (No. 48)

Unlike the Warriors and Cavs, the deal that cost the Los Angeles Clippers their 2017 first round pick (No. 23) was a stinker in retrospect.

In 2014, the Clippers were looking to unload what was left of Jared Dudley’s contract and attached a protected first round pick in a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, receiving Carlos Delfino, Miroslav Raduljica and a 2015 second-rounder in return. None of those players played a single game for the Clippers.

Only time will tell how good OG Anunoby (No. 23) turns out to be, but either way, this was yet another shortsighted move that cost them a chance at having a player with upside on a cheap contract to fall back on in the event their stars leave. The fact that he’d be a perfect fit for this roster stings even worse.

Luckily, the front office (somewhat) made up for past mistakes by buying into the second round at opportune moments.

The Clippers used cash to snag point guard Jawun Evans at No. 39 — far below where he was expected to fall. Evans is a second round steal with legitimate potential, especially if Chris Paul re-signs and provides him with a daily example as one of the NBA’s elite floor generals.

Thornwell is older at nearly 23 years old, but he’s an accomplished scorer who helped lead South Carolina to the Final Four. A little experience and NBA-readiness is exactly what Lob City’s bench needs.

Neither one measures up to Anunoby, but Evans is a potential steal and Thornwell is a solid addition. For a team entering the night with no picks, that’s a pretty impressive haul.

Grade: C+