By: Dustin Chapman

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• Selected Eric Gordon 7th overall.

• Selected DeAndre Jordan 35th overall.

• Traded a 2009 second round draft pick to Portland for the rights to Mike Taylor (55th overall).

The Clippers were put in a terrific situation at #7, where they had the option of choosing between Eric Gordon and Jerryd Bayless. The bottom line is that heading into this draft, the Clippers needed to get a high-potential guard. They got just that in Eric Gordon, who is a dynamite perimeter scorer with a strong body and long arms. He’s got ridiculous shooting range, a lightning quick release, and a second gear off the dribble when he wants to explode to the bucket. He’s not going to turn himself into a point guard, but he is a big time scorer with star potential despite his size. Could LA regret passing on Bayless down the line? Possibly, time will tell. But he isn’t quite a prototypical point guard, himself.

Coming into the draft, it seemed as though everybody was low on DeAndre Jordan, and rightfully so. Let’s be honest – he’s a great athlete, but he’s got a long way to go before he can be considered a good basketball player. Teams were not willing to take the risk on him in the first round, which is understandable. However, the Clippers being able to snatch him up in the early second round (35th overall) was fantastic. At that point, he is no longer a risk. At 35th overall, that is a low-risk, high-reward scenario; that’s all you could ask for with a prospect like Jordan.

Grade: B+

Just days after reports suggested that Clippers guard Shaun Livingston had been making steady progress, Marc Spears of the Boston Globe writes that the Clippers are unlikely to send the injury-plagued guard the qualifying offer this summer.

It’s not always best to take need over talent in the NBA draft, but with long-term concerns over injured guard Shaun Livingston, it would be a shock if the Clippers didn’t take a guard with the seventh pick. Livingston destroyed his left knee after landing awkwardly following a missed layup against Charlotte in February 2007, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament, the posterior cruciate ligament, and the lateral meniscus. The fourth overall pick in 2004 missed last season and it’s uncertain when he will play again. An NBA source said the Clippers aren’t expected to make Livingston a qualifying offer (the lowest starts at $5.8 million), making him an unrestricted free agent July 1. But with major knee concerns, it’s uncertain the Clippers, or any team, will be rushing to sign him. According to the source, Livingston can’t work out back-to-back days and needs about 90 minutes of therapy before doing noncontact basketball drills. There is speculation he might not be able to play at the NBA level again. What made Livingston special: he is a point guard with Magic Johnson-like height, at 6 feet 7 inches. But if he returns without his spectacular quickness, he could move to the small forward position.

Let’s also note that the Clippers declining Livingston’s option does not necessarily mean that he is done in Los Angeles. It could merely mean that Elgin Baylor and the gang are reluctant to shell out over $5 million to a player who has as much of a chance of becoming a failure than becoming a recovery success story… if not more of a chance.

Anybody with half of a heart wishes Livingston luck. Let’s hope the multi-talented 6′7” guard can indeed develop a heart-warming story to get his career back on the right track.

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Posted By: Dustin Chapman

Art Thompson III reports:

Guard Shaun Livingston has yet to play in any sort of pickup basketball game but Livingston said that day is coming, soon.

“I’m feeling real good,” he said. “We’re getting real close to the time. Hopefully by June, I’ll be playing. That’s the plan, right now.”

Of course, the Clippers’ basketball staff will want to see Livingston in action by next month because a major decision involving him is impending. The Clippers must decide to tender Livingston a one-year contract offer of at least $5.8 million by June 30, otherwise he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Livingston, of course, missed the entire 2007-2008 season, while recovering from a catastrophic injury to his left knee, suffered Feb. 26, 2007. Livingston will conduct his third annual youth basketball camp in his hometown of Peoria, Ill., Aug. 4-9.

The picture above is a little rough to look at, but that doesn’t even come close to comparing with the gruesome image of the injury captured on video. If you have yet to view it, you can take a look here (caution: be prepared for a glorified nails against the chalkboard type of effect).

Let’s hope Livingston can overcome this agonizing misfortune, and continue to pursue his dreams as a successful pro. He’s got a boat load of talent; it’d be a real shame to see that all thrown away due to an uncontrollable situation like this.

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Posted By: Dustin Chapman