Clippers’ draft plan

With the picks #37 and #47, who do you think the Clippers will draft?

This site have them going with Nolan Smith and Jereme Richmond, while the other one has them drafting Norris Cole and Jon Leuer.

Of the current roster, here are the players leaving as Free-Agents (in bold, the RFA):

DeAndre Jordan

Brian Cook (Player option: don’t think he’ll activate it)

Jamario Moon

Craig Smith

Ike Diogu

This is how the Clippers’ roster will look like before Free-Agency (in bold, the potential starters):

PG: Mo Williams/Eric Bledsoe

PG/SG: Randy Foye/Willie Warren (isn’t he a RFA?)

SG: Eric Gordon

SF: Al-Farouq Aminu/ Ryan Gomes (I don’t know which one will be starter: right now it’s Gomes but it could quickly end up being  Aminu)

PF: Blake Griffin /Brian Cook

C: DeAndre Jordan (The Clippers can’t afford to let him walk away)/Chris Kaman

Right now it seems that the Clippers have a real hole at SF, but they must also upgrade their backups at SG and PF. With these second round picks it appears very unlikely that they find a starter at SF, but they should think about adding another player who can contribute right away in their rotation at SF. As mentioned by NBA.com (http://www.nba.com/draft/2011/teams/lac/), the Clippers don’t want young developing players anymore, so taking Jereme Richmond at #47 is rather unlikely. Considering the kid’s potential, I’m not saying it’s impossible, just that it’s unlikely.

Names that come to my mind are Chandler Parsons (if available, very nice fit), Jimmy Butler and Travis Leslie (would also fill the SG need). 

Then, the Clippers should take someone to help at SG or PF, though it is unlikely that the player selected so low will make a roster spot. At #47, I think they should go with David Lighty (if available, he’ll make it) or Willie Reed, Malcolm Thomas, Joffrey Lauvergne (a complete skilled big man) or Greg Smith (would help at C).

However, there are also rumors that the Clippers, in order to upgrade their SF position, could let Kaman go. The idea is for example stated by bleacherreport (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/721889-nba-free-agents-2011-potential-signees-for-la-lakers-and-all-30-teams#/page/13): the Clips would trade Kaman and draft picks for Iggy. Imo, you can think about the same type of deal with the TWolves’ Beasley if Minny ends up drafting Williams.

If the Clippers plan such a scenario to occur, then they should think about drafting a C and a SG. Therefore, they should draft Vucevic or Benson with their first pick and draft Lighty or Leslie with their second pick, or else try to recuperate Greg Smith with their second pick.

It appears very likely though that they’ll rather find solutions through the FA market and trade. A very busy summer in perspective…
 

Thoughts?