"This guy is the No. 1 pick. We're extremely excited. He's the guy."
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Originally Posted by afobisme
there are rumors that the clippers might just pick rubio... which, if true, would show how dumb they are when they could be just trading their #1 pick with some other team.
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Originally Posted by qross1fan
Post right before yours contradicts that. I doubt we do anything else.
well, why the hell is dunleavy in spain in the first place???? isn't that where rubio is????
Re: Official 2009 NBA Draft Thread (Clippers with #1!)
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Originally Posted by bootstrenf
well, why the hell is dunleavy in spain in the first place???? isn't that where rubio is????
very interesting.....
Well, we were originally slated to get the #3 pick before the lottery was actually performed. But it all changes now that we've got #1, and can you really blame him for staying in Spain a little longer on the company's dime?
Re: Official 2009 NBA Draft Thread (Clippers with #1!)
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Originally Posted by bootstrenf
well, why the hell is dunleavy in spain in the first place???? isn't that where rubio is????
very interesting.....
Why shouldn't he be? He has been in Spain for about a week now I believe, and I doubt anyone was banking on us winning the lottery, so Dunleavy covered all his bases by scouting Rubio as much as he could, and I also believe he got a look at Sofoklis.
But let's not act like we won't trade. Thunder or Memphis might be willing to overpay. Gay + Gasol + #2 for #1 + Kaman could be considerable.
CHICAGO (AP)—Blake Griffin showed up in an orange, black and white sweatsuit. For the record, he insisted there was no Clippers jersey underneath it.
In fact, the All-American forward from Oklahoma still wasn’t quite ready to sign a mortgage in Los Angeles or declare himself the NBA’s No. 1 pick. He’ll wait for commissioner David Stern to make that announcement on June 25, even if the Clippers indicated it’s really not necessary.
“I’m planning it as if I don’t know right now, which I don’t,” said Griffin, who was in Chicago on Thursday for the NBA draft combine. “I’m not going to guarantee anything. I’m going through it just like everybody else is.”
Well, not exactly.
While some players are facing a long line of workouts and interviews the next few weeks, Griffin said he’s only scheduled to visit the Clippers next week. And he wasn’t sure he would meet with any teams while in Chicago.
Re: Official 2009 NBA Draft Thread (Clippers with #1!)
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As you know, Blake Griffin worked out for the Clippers today at their practice facility in Playa Vista. Afterward, both Griffin and Mike Dunleavy spoke extensively about the workout about how things might look with Griffin in a Clippers uniform. Here's the transcript of both interviews...
Re: Official 2009 NBA Draft Thread (Clippers with #1!)
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Today marked the third in the Clippers' 25 years in Los Angeles that the team owned the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. There was no hesitation, no consternation, no deliberation this time. They didn’t need the league allowed five minutes to decide. Head Coach and General Manager Mike Dunleavy immediately barked into the hot-line phone to New York : "BLAKE GRIFFIN."
It took the league the full five minutes to announce the pick to a nationwide TV audience, but the local draft room was filled with smiles and handshakes.
When Commissioner David Stern announced the pick on ESPN, the Clipper Draft room erupted in happy applause. The coach immediately went on the air on ESPN and then moved downstairs to address the local media. He was clearly anxious to get back upstairs where he hoped his day’s work was not over.
The team would love to acquire a later pick in the first round. It was clear the ballclub was not in a "Salary Dump" mode. They turned down more than one opportunity to give up a salary without getting substantial basketball help in return.
But this is now official, the consensus College Player of the Year from Oklahoma will be a Clipper. No. 1 in the land has reason to be surprised. Some say this is a one-man draft. While that may be something of an over statement, but Griffin is the one sure thing in the 2009 Draft.
Blake Griffin will be in Los Angeles on Monday to greet the media.
The team was headquartered in the sparkling new Training Center in Playa Vista. A large throng of media was clustered downstairs on the basketball court while the upstairs conference room was packed with the team’s brain-trust headed by team President Andy Roeser, Dunleavy, his top aide Neil Olshey and his full basketball staff. Club owner Donald T. Sterling and his family were on hand in addition to the Clipper training and medical staff.
The TV cameras were whining away when it was time for Dunleavy to announce his pick. It is a vision that will serve this team well for many years to come.
Official 2009 NBA Draft Thread (Clippers with #1!)
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