Draft picks are crucial to a team’s success, but it all depends on how that team uses them. So, let’s rank the last 10 first-rounders for the LA Clippers.
Throughout history, you could say that the LA Clippers have not been exceptional in finding talent in the draft. Now, they did select some all-time great players, but the list is not very long. Arguably their greatest pick was in 1972, where they selected Bob McAdoo.
Apart from McAdoo, they did have other great players play for the team. This includes Elmore Smith, Danny Manning, Lamar Odom, and Quentin Richardson. All those players were fine selections that contributed something to the team.
However, there have also been instances where the Clippers picked great players, yet were off the team way too soon. They selected an All-NBA caliber player in Tom Chambers in 1981, but after only two seasons he was playing elsewhere. This happened again in the following draft, where they selected Terry Cummings in 1982, but just like Chambers, he was gone after only two seasons.
Just like with any other team, there were times where the team’s judgment on draft was nowhere to be found. Most people already know which player this is about. Yes, the number one overall pick, Michael Olowokandi. When you look at the players that they missed out on just makes it look much worse.
When you look at their draft history as a whole, it is clear that it has not gone particularly way, especially when most of their selections have been picked too early and have missed an opportunity on drafting someone better or the fact that some players they did draft have a better career once they leave.
But that is their history, how have they drafted in recent years?
Well, let’s see. Here are their last 10 first-round picks ranked in order. This list includes the players that Clippers have selected and any first-round picks that they received via a trade.