The Clippers’ front office focused on one central area that the team needed to focus on with the draft, and that is the forward position.
The Clippers, who had the 30th and 50th picks in the NBA draft, selected Penn State forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser with the 30th pick in the first round.
In round 2, the Clippers grabbed Kobe Sanders from Nevada with the 50th pick.
Round 1, Pick No. 30 // Forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Penn State
Yanic Konan Niederhauser proved to everyone that he will be the best in the league. At Penn State, Niederhauser earned conference honors in the Big Ten. He ranked 12th in the nation for blocks, and he also led the Big Ten with 2.3 per game. What makes Niederhauser important for the Clippers is his ability to play on both ends of the court. Scouts say that “Neiderhauser is a solid rim finisher with elite defensive ability, particularly as a shot-blocker.”
Neiderhauser will bring the need on the defensive side to the Clippers. Clippers fans will see him as similar to DeAndre Jordan on defense during his time on the team during the “Lob City” Clippers days.
Round 2, Pick 50 // Forward Kobe Sanders, Nevada
The Clippers traded for the 50th pick from the Knicks in round 2 to select Kobe Sanders from Nevada. Kobe Sanders will bring consistency to the Clippers with his shooting abilities. The two-way region star from Cal Poly and Nevada proves that he will be a nice role player for the LA Clippers. Sanders made 17 free throws in a Dec.2023 game against Cal State Northridge.
Although some concern exists that he may be inconsistent in his scoring abilities, Sanders has the opportunity to be a valuable player for the Clippers this upcoming season. Look for Kobe Sanders starting the season on the second unit for Ty Lue this season for the Clippers.
The Clippers’ front office did a commendable job in the draft, acquiring the players they needed to build on last season’s success.
This upcoming season promises to be another strong one for the Clippers, thanks to the leadership of Kawhi and Harden, as well as the youth movement featuring Coffey and Kobe Brown.
The Clippers are poised to be even better this season.
PHOTO: Brad Penner/Imagn Images
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