This was a pretty dissapointing draft for the Clippers, it definately merits a failing grade. While Korolev has promise and can be a good player, passing up on Granger, Green, and Wright to take him is not a smart move. Korolev can be good, but how good can he be? Their were many higher ranked and better players, and Korolev could likely have been attained at #32 because no one else seemed interested in him. Now, moving on to the #32 pick, this was also terrible. Ewing is a 6'3 PG/SG, who really doesn't have many PG skills to show, and IMO will not be in the league that long. The Clippers did the same thing last year drafting Lionel Chalmers, another PG/SG, and Keyon Dooling was a similar pick in the lottery a few years ago. Overall this was a very poor draft, and the Clippers did not improve at all through the draft.
I have to agree with you on the 1st round pick. The Clippers are pretty much set at every starting position for the future and all they can do is wait for their maturation...However, they had a great opportunity to add depth to their squad and they didn't do it. Korolev seems to be a long-term project who won't be able to contribute right away. If that's the case, they might as well have drafted Green, who probably has more upside. Not that I'm in favor of drafting Green (because he can't contribute right away either), but he would have been a much more valuable trade cpmmodity .I would have preferred Danny Granger or Sean May...at least u know what you're getting I actually like the Ewing pick though. He's a smart, savy player who is steady and doesn't need the ball. More importantly, he's a solid defensive player. Indeed he was a combo guard at Duke so his PG skills are in question....However, I think they drafted him with the sole purpose of complimenting Livingston ... I think Ewing will defend the PG position and play the 2 on offense when Livingston is on the floor.
I never thought of it that way, but that is a good explanation. Ewing can play a SG role, and be a lockdown defender at the PG spot while Livingston is on the floor. Though Livingston's length and quickness allow him to be able to still guard PG's, he won't have to worry about the very quick ones.
