Clippers Sign Griffin

The Los Angeles Clippers signed Blake Griffin to a three-year contract with a team-option for the fourth year, though the figures of the deal were not revealed. The Clippers will also be able to make a qualifying offer after the contract expires.

The team has not yet finalized the trade of Zach Randolph with the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Quentin Richardson.

The Clippers have made a qualifying offer to Steve Novak.

Editor's Note: Can Griffin be Clips' Savior?

Yes, he can. Blake Griffin is an incredibly talented power-foward, and will most likely be a positive influence on the team's morale itself. It's not like he has no supporting cast. Eric Gordon had a standout rookie year, and Baron Davis is always an advantage. Zach Randolph and Marcus Camby are solid big-men; Randolph can score and Camby can rebound. The team looks more solid than it ever has in the past. While playoffs are not in the near future, the Clippers are sure to make this a memorable season.

2009 NBA Draft: Nothing Unexpected

In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers used their first overall pick to select PF Blake Griffin from Oklahoma. Griffin is 6-foot-10, and was the College Player of the Year last season. His selection though creates a problem for the Clippers, who have four power-forwards/centers already in their lineup. Los Angeles is expected to trade either Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby or Zach Randolph. The Lakers had no first-round pick for the second straight year, this time selling it to New York for $3 million.

The first round went as follows:

1. Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma
2. Memphis: Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut
3. Oklahoma City: James Harden, SG, Arizona State
4. Sacramento: Tyreke Evans, SG, Memphis
5. Minnesota (from Washington): Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain
6. Minnesota: Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse
7. Golden State: Stephen Curry, PG, Davidson
8. New York: Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona
9. Toronto: DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC
10. Milwaukee: Brandon Jennings, PG, Compton/Italy
11. New Jersey: Terrence Williams, SG, Louisville
12. Charlotte: Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke
13. Indiana: Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina
14. Phoenix: Earl Clark, SF, Louisville
15. Detroit: Austin Daye, SF, Gonzaga
16. Chicago: James Johnson, PF, Wake Forest
17. Philadelphia: Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA
18. Minnesota (from Miami): Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina (traded to Denver for future first-round pick)
19. Atlanta: Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest
20. Utah: Eric Maynor, PG, VCU
21. New Orleans: Darren Collison, PG, UCLA
22. Portland (from Dallas): Victor Claver, PF, Spain
23. Sacramento (from Houston): Omri Casspi, SF, Israel
24. Dallas (from Portland): B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State (traded to OKC for Beaubois)
25. Oklahoma City (from San Antonio): Rodrigue Beaubois, PG, France (traded to Dallas for Mullens and future second-round pick)
26. Chicago (from Denver via OKC): Taj Gibson, PF, USC
27. Memphis (from Orlando): DeMarre Carroll, PF, Missouri
28. Minnesota (from Boston): Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina
29. Los Angeles Lakers: Toney Douglas, SG, Florida State (traded to New York for 2011 second-round pick and $3 million)
30. Cleveland: Christian Eyenga, SG, Congo

Despite trading the first-round pick, the Lakers had two second-round picks, one from a trade with Charlotte for Kareem Rush back in 2004. With the 42nd overall pick, the Purple and Gold selected Patrick Beverley, who played most recently in the Ukraine in addition to Arkansas. The Lakers then sold his contract to Miami for $1.5 million and a future second-round pick. With the 59th overall pick, the Lakers chose Chinemelu Elonu, a center of Texas A&M.

The main talk of the draft was who be chosen by Memphis at number two. Many believed it would be highly-touted Spanish guard Ricky Rubio, while others thought Hasheem Thabeet would be chosen. Not only was Thabeet the number-two pick, Rubio fell to #5. Minnesota had an astonishing four different picks in the draft, and what's even more shocking was that they used each one to draft a guard. Conventional wisdom says a trade is in the works...

Editor's Note: Too Many Options for Clips

Along with the first overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Clippers have a lot to think about regarding their front-court. The Clips will almost certainly pick Blake Griffin of Oklahoma, but that won't stop their wheeling-and-dealing. Griffin's arrival creates an over-abundance of big-men, with Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, and Zach Randolph. The most obvious option for LA is to trade, but who they trade is up for grabs. Camby is on the last year of his contract, which expires at the end of the 2010 season. Chris Kaman is young, and could yield a lot of interest from teams in the market for a center. And Zach Randolph had a standout year, but a hefty contract might prove to be immovable. The best bet would have to be trading Camby. He came to LA very angry after being blindsided by Denver trading him. He never truly embraced being a Clipper, and with the end of his contract coming, he could be traded to a team like Detroit or Chicago that lacks a standout power-forward or center in exchange for a solid guard and a few draft picks in the future. While Griffin's fate is already sealed, three other Clippers find their future up in the air.

BINGO! Clippers Win Draft Lottery

The Los Angeles Clippers won the #1 pick in the 2009 NBA Finals after being chosen in the NBA Draft Lottery. The Clippers had a 17.7% chance of receiving the first-overall pick, behind the Washington Wizards and the Sacramento Kings. The Clips will be expected to select Blake Griffin of Oklahoma. Memphis will pick second, followed by Oklahoma City, then Sacramento and Washington.