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Los Angeles Clippers: Final predictions of the 12th and 13th overall picks

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Head coach Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers look on during a 111-104 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on October 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Head coach Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers look on during a 111-104 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on October 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The 2018 NBA Draft is this Thursday and here are our final predictions for who the Los Angeles Clippers will select with the 12th and 13th overall picks.

The future and direction of the Los Angeles Clippers widely depend on what the team decides to do with the 12th and 13th overall picks in the 2018 NBA Draft.

If the Clippers hit a home run like the Jazz did with Donovan Mitchell last year, then the rebuild can get accelerated and playoff pieces can be added. However, if the team selects a more raw prospect that needs time, it will undoubtedly be time to strip down all of the valuable assets and build a future contender.

We have run too many draft profiles to count, all looking at different selections the Los Angeles Clippers could make in this year’s draft. Finally, with two days left to go until the draft, we will give you the final prediction of who we think the Clippers are going to select.

Of course, the Clippers can only pick who is going to be left on the board. With that being said, here is how we see the first 11 picks playing out.

  1. Phoenix Suns: C DeAndre Ayton, Arizona
  2. Sacremento Kings: PF Marvin Bagley III, Duke
  3. Atlanta Hawks: SG Luka Doncic, Real Madrid
  4. Memphis Grizzlies: SF Michael Porter Jr. Missouri
  5. Dallas Mavericks: C Mohamed Bamba, Texas
  6. Orlando Magic: PF/C Jaren Jackson Jr. Michigan State
  7. Chicago Bulls: PF/C Wendell Carter, Duke
  8. Cleveland Cavaliers: PG Trae Young, Oklahoma
  9. New York Knicks: F Kevin Knox, Kentucky
  10. Philadelphia 76ers: SG/SF Mikal Bridges, Villanova
  11. Charlotte Hornets: PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky

I think that is a good baseline of who will be off the board by the time the Clippers make the selection. While the order can vary, these prospects likely won’t be available by the time the 12th overall pick rolls around. Plus, the Memphis Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers are in prime trade spots. I could see the Bulls moving up to fourth to get Mohamed Bamba.

However, with the 12th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers will select:

12. PG Collin Sexton, Alabama

Although the Los Angeles Clippers are currently deep at point guard, the team needs a dynamic playmaking guard to build around. Collin Sexton is just that.

Sexton is a raw talent and may not succeed as much as he did at Alabama in his rookie year. The talent gap that was present in college will not be as big in the NBA. However, Sexton has an immensely high ceiling and has the potential to be the sleeper pick of this year’s draft.

Sexton is a scoring guard that can also play facilitator and can downright make offense happen. Him and Trae Young are going to be very fun to watch battle it out as their NBA careers progress.

Patrick Beverley and Milos Teodosic are fine, but neither is locked down after next season. Thus, it may be time to trade them for rebuilding assets and give Sexton the keys to the offense.

Then, with the 13th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers will select:

13. PF/C Robert Williams, Texas A&M

It is time to move on from DeAndre Jordan on the Los Angeles Clippers. With only one year remaining, that is if Jordan opts into his contract, the Clippers would best be smartest to agree to a sign and trade deal that can net the team rebuilding pieces.

Even if Jordan stays for one more year, the Clippers need to start looking for his replacement now. That replacement should be Texas A&M center Robert Williams.

Williams is only 6’9″, which is worrisome for an NBA-level center. However, Williams also has a 7’6″ wingspan that allows him to play bigger as a marquee shot blocker and rebounder.

Williams is not great at stretching the floor so he likely will not see much time at power forward. However, he can be dominant down low and may give the Clippers the closest thing to DeAndre Jordan in the entire draft.

By making these selections, the Clippers would essentially be reinventing Lob City with two rookies. Sexton is the dynamic point guard that could make plays happen, Williams is the dominant big man that can be on the receiving end of lob passes.

Next: Why the Clippers have the best value picks in the draft

Neither of which are like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. However, by utilizing their own strengths, the duo could be dangerous as early as year one.

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