LOS ANGELES – The Clippers got the guy they wanted in the first round, then took a chance in the second.
With multiple players they liked on the board still available with the No. 33 overall pick, they traded the rights to Kansas forward Cheick Diallo to the Pelicans to grab the No. 39 and 40 overall picks, which were used on French point guard David Michineau and Maryland Center Diamond Stone, respectively.
“We really liked both guys,” said head coach Doc Rivers. “The way the draft worked out, we took a gamble. We could’ve clearly drafted one of those two at 33, and we took a gamble that one would be there.