|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Clips' picks: California, here we come
LOS ANGELES -- No one was laughing at the Los Angeles Clippers on draft night. The response most associated with the Clippers on Wednesday had to be nods of approval, as the team made a few serious moves through both the draft and trades. After surprising most observers by passing up Marcus Fizer to take high schooler Darius Miles at No. 3 Wednesday, the Clippers dealt with Orlando and acquired the draft rights to Keyon Dooling of Missouri, picked 10th by the Magic, plus second-year pro Corey Maggette, veteran Derek Strong and cash in the package. The Clippers, who gave Orlando only a future first-round pick as the Magic maneuvered to gain room under the salary cap, then selected Quentin Richardson of DePaul with their No. 18 pick, and turned their attention to Europe to take Marko Jaric, a Greek who has played in Italy, with their pick at No. 30. Finishing their hectic day, the Clippers swapped Eric Murdock to Dallas for veteran Sean Rooks. Clippers vice president Elgin Baylor, criticized in the past for squandering first-round picks on players such as Benoit Benjamin, Bo Kimble and Danny Ferry, was weary but delighted as draft day 2000 wrapped up. "I think this probably is as much talent as we've had here," he said. "A lot of it was last-minute, just before the draft started, and some of it happened during the draft. "I may not look it, because I was up all night talking on the phone, but I'm really excited." Miles, a stringbean 6-foot-9, 217-pounder whom some compare to Kevin Garnett when he came to the NBA out of high school, was probably the most provocative pick because he went much higher than anticipated. Michael Jordan, who is now president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards and who has spent some time around Miles, reportedly said he would make the 18-year-old forward the first player taken if Washington had the No. 1 pick. Baylor obviously had similar feelings. "He is such a great talent, it would have been difficult to pass him up," the Clippers executive said. "He's similar to Lamar Odom, a slighter build but great skills. And he's still a kid, with a great future. Under the new system, you can have a player for five years, and I can just visualize him playing five years along with Lamar Odom." The Clippers took Odom with the No. 4 pick a year ago, and he has proven to be a budding star. Miles, speaking from Minneapolis by phone to reporters at Staples Center, said he didn't expect the Clippers to take him. "I worked out for other teams, but not for them, so it was kind of surprising that they picked me. They said Jerry West liked me, or somebody liked me," Miles, who has never been in Los Angeles, said, confusing Baylor with his former Lakers teammate and current Lakers executive, Jerry West. Asked about his friendship with Jordan, Miles said: "I've gotten closer to him every time I've talked with him. If they had the first pick, I would be with the Wizards." Miles, who once blocked a Jordan shot at a summer-camp game, also learned not to show M.J. up. "I blocked him once and he came at me and made 30 shots in a row," Miles said, chuckling. Richardson has known Miles since Miles was in eighth grade, calling him "my little brother," and he also has played with and against Dooling. Richardson is delighted they all will be on the same team, assuming the Clippers don't trade any of them away before next season. "I definitely think things are looking up [for the Clippers] and it's exciting to think you might help build something that's going to be special," he said. Baylor's next big job is to interview candidates and hire a coach. Chris Ford was fired last season and interim coach Jim Todd then relieved of his duties after the Clippers finished 15-67, the league's worst record.
"I've been getting calls from candidates, and now that they
look at the talent on this team, I'll probably get a lot more,"
Baylor said, smiling.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
