The Los Angeles Clippers: Their Biggest Blunders Part 3

By Lefty

LOS ANGELES — In the final installment we will continue to examine some of the worst blunders ever in Los Angeles Clippers history.  The Los Angeles Clippers have had a special talent over the years for completely wasting their lottery picks.

The 1996 NBA Draft was quite the miss for the Los Angeles Clippers. They had the 7th overall pick in the draft and selected center Lorenzen Wright. Considering Kobe Bryant was still available it’s another example of the Clippers not doing their homework. Then again, many teams let Kobe slip away to the Charlotte Hornets at number 13 overall. He would of course eventually be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, the Clippers had their shot at a franchise player and blew it. Who knows how history might have been different with Kobe in a Clippers uniform.

Kobe wasn’t the only future star they missed out on. Peja Stojakovic would be drafted 14th overall by the Sacramento Kings and Steve Nash would be selected with the 15th overall pick by the Phoenix Suns. Year after year the Clippers seemed to make poor draft choices with high lottery picks and let the true gems slip away.

After numerous failed lottery picks the Los Angeles Clippers crowning achievement of shame came in the 1998 NBA Draft. With the No. 1 overall pick the Los Angeles Clippers selected Michael Olowokandi. Who? Exactly. There isn’t much to say about Olowokandi, he made Kwame Brown look like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The Clippers missed out on such players as Mike Bibby, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Jason Williams, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce. Epic fail.

The Los Angeles Clippers definitely had a rough past but have recently put together an exciting young team which appears to have a very bright future and should be competitive for years to come.

Lefty is a Featured NBA Writer of the Los Angeles Clippers for Rant Sports. Join me at Lefty’s Sports Debates

 

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