Pope of Basketball.

Summary

The Clippers have four draft picks this year, including the 13th overall pick from the Celtics, acquired in the trade for Emanuel. Despite not trading La Jian-Rondo, the Green Army finished 9th in the Eastern Conference, almost making the playoffs, which allowed the Clippers to retain the Celtics' pick. The Green Army is looking to rebuild, as Rondo's contract is expiring. The Clippers' own picks include the 30th in the first round, the 41st, and the 60th in the second round. Yang Rui suggested trading the 41st pick for cash due to the difficulty in finding talent in lower second-round picks. The draft is set for June 26 at the Barclays Center. Yang Rui reflects on past drafts, noting the Timberwolves selected Carl-Anthony Towns first overall, followed by the Lakers with D'Angelo Russell and the 76ers with Jahlil Okafor. The Knicks faced backlash for selecting Kristaps Porzingis, who, despite initial skepticism, became a star. The Bucks picked Emmanuel Mudiay fifth, a high school player who excelled in the CBA. The Clippers selected Devon Booker with the 13th pick, who, despite unimpressive college stats, became a notable player in the NBA. They also picked Norman Powell at 30, a durable shooting guard with strong athleticism. In the second round, the Clippers chose point guard Joseph Yang with the 41st pick, who is known for scoring but lacks playmaking skills. Yang Rui planned to assess his performance in the summer league before deciding on his future with the team.

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