2010 NBA Redraft: Looking back at how things change with hindsight

#8 Pick: Al-Farouq Aminu (Originally: Al-Farouq Aminu)

The Clippers got this one right for a couple of reasons. Mainly, this has nothing to do with my evaluation of Al-Farouq Aminu. Say what you will about the overall success of the Lob City days, but they were the highlight of the Clippers’ existence for many fans up until this point.

Whether or not Aminu was a make-or-break prospect for this deal is not worth debating because he wasn’t. But the truth of the matter is he was interesting enough to be included in the package for Chris Paul and that is something worthwhile for the Clippers organization every time.

Focusing on the player specifically, it is fair to say Aminu deserves to be drafted this high in this draft. The team ended up having two first-round picks and were adding Blake Griffin to the team after he missed his rookie year. The team was already grooming DeAndre Jordan and Eric Gordon as the future. Adding a stable forward to pair with them, along with the guard they would draft in Eric Bledsoe, made complete sense.

If we look at those two positions, Aminu is the cleanest fit for this team. You could make an argument for Evan Turner or Lance Stephenson, but there was enough variable on this team already. Al-Farouq Aminu is a solid role player and strong team defender. It may not be the sexy pick, but that is what Griffin was for.

With the ninth pick in the 2010 NBA Redraft, the Utah Jazz select…