Clippers Get Face Lift

Now let’s see how Clipper owner Donald Sterling fouls this up.

In the most surprising draft day in franchise history, Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor pulled off an assortment of deals Wednesday to make the Clippers the most talked-about team of the night.

Starting with their somewhat shocking selection of high school phenom Darius Miles over Iowa State power forward Marcus Fizer as the No. 3 overall pick, the Clippers went on to acquire five more players, including draft choices Keyon Dooling and Quentin Richardson and second-year swingman Corey Maggette.

“We’re all very excited . . . so many things happened,” said Baylor, whose next task is hiring a coach. “I didn’t know if it was going to happen or not until the last minute before the draft started . . . then some things started during the draft.”

Knowing that the Orlando Magic was desperate to get rid of its three first-round draft choices in order to create salary cap room to pursue top free agents Tim Duncan, Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady this summer, Baylor basically put on a ski mask and walked away with enough talent to give even the dismal Clippers hope for the future.

After picking Miles, the Clippers hooked up a deal with the Magicthat not only landed guard Dooling, the 10th overall selection from Missouri, but also Maggette, the 13th overall selection in last year’s draft, and journeyman power forward Derek Strong, and all they had to give up was a future lottery-protected pick. Which means if the Clippers finish with the worst record in the league next season, they would still keep their pick.

This has to be considered a major revolution for a team that normally has been the one giving up something without getting much in return.

But Baylor and Jeff Weltman, vice president of scouting, did not stop their wheeling and dealing there. The Clippers then drafted Richardson, a highly regarded underclassman from DePaul, with their No. 18 pick and skillful European guard Marko Jaric, one of the highest paid players in the Italy, with the first pick of the second round.

And to make a good night even better, Baylor was able to ship often-injured point guard Eric Murdock to Dallas for veteran big man Sean Rooks, who fills a much-needed role in case center Michael Olowokandi does not develop faster.

“We liked the players we picked up,” Baylor said. “We have a good mixture, a good blend of players. We’re very talented and very athletic. We’re pretty deep now in every position. . . . And the good part of it is that we’re going to have a lot of these players for a long time because of the new collective bargaining agreement which makes rookies have to stay [with a team] for five years. That’s good because that means the players will be together playing together.”

It’s an old tired story about how the Clippers are known to bring in good players but when it comes time for them to get paid, Sterling keeps his wallet in hiding. Over the years, the Clippers have lost more good players for financial reasons than a dozen teams combined.

But with the league’s new labor contract, the Clippers have a chance to finally keep their talent for a while.

Which is good news for Miles, Richardson, Dooling and Maggette, who have known each other since grade school, thanks to playing either with or against each other in youth programs across the country.

“I think this is a special situation with the Clippers,” said Richardson, who has been roommates with Miles in Chicago over the last couple of months. “I will have a lot of friends here on the team. We all know each other.”

For Miles, 18, who did not work out for the Clippers before the draft, the opportunity to grow with a young team that already has versatile Lamar Odom is the reason why he decided to change his mind from attending St. John’s and join the NBA.

Miles’ stock soared as the draft got closer as NBA scouts took notice of his relationship with Michael Jordan, who said last month that Miles has the potential to become an NBA all-star.

“I really don’t have too many expectations,” said the versatile 6-foot-9 Miles, who played at East St. Louis (Ill.) High and became a hot commodity at Jordan’s summer camps the last couple of years.

“[Kevin Garnett] is my idol. He’s my favorite player. . . . He went through the same things that I’m going through now. . . . I only hope that I can be a great player like he is today.”

Because of Miles’ potential, the Clippers felt he would be a better fit than Fizer in the long run.

“He has a great upside,” Baylor said. “I just can visualize him playing with Lamar for years to come.”

In Dooling, the Clippers believe they have their point guard for the future. An unknown quantity at the end of his sophomore season at Missouri, Dooling became a hot prospect after teams got a chance to work him out.

“It was a roller coaster ride. . . . I was kind of shocked to be drafted so high. It was almost too perfect,” Dooling said.

“I’ve played point guard all of my life, it’s something I know how to do. . . . I’m looking to coming out to L.A. and trying to turn things around.”

Baylor said he was surprised to find Richardson still available so late in the first round.

“Quentin was high on our list,” Baylor said. “I’m glad that [Richardson is friends with Miles], but he was one of the players we had right there, who we were looking to take.

“I see him as a [shooting guard] but he has the body to play some three [small forward] also. I thought he would go sooner.”

The Clippers are also high on Maggette, who Baylor thinks can become a major force in the league.

“Corey came out of school early and when you look at him, he’s a really fine looking specimen,” Baylor said about 6-6 Maggette, who left Duke after his freshman year and averaged 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds as a rookie. “When you look at his body, he’s very athletic. I think given the opportunity, he can really contribute.”

With the expected departure of free agents Maurice Taylor and Derek Anderson, the Clippers definitely will be a young team next season. Now all they have to do is find a coach.

With current assistant Dennis Johnson being considered a late favorite, Baylor said he’s not in a rush to name a coach now, but the Clippers will have one sooner than later.

“We want a coach who can really relate and communicate,” Baylor said. “I think that’s extremely important. Someone who can really spend a lot of time teaching these players, trying to improve their skills and someone that the players would respect.”

Because if the Clippers do not win over the next couple of seasons with the talent they picked up Wednesday, something is definitely wrong.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

New Additions

First Round

DARIUS MILES

Pick: No. 3

Ht.: 6-9 Wt.: 217

Position: Forward

School: East St. Louis (Ill.) HS

QUENTIN RICHARDSON

Pick: No. 18

Ht.: 6-6 Wt.: 225

Position: Guard

School: DePaul

Via Verde

KEYON DOOLING

Previous: No. 10 pick by Orlando.

Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 185

Position: Guard

School: Missouri

COREY MAGGETTE

Previous: Orlando

One NBA season

Ht.: 6-6 Wt.: 215

Position: Guard

School: Duke

DEREK STRONG

Previous: Orlando

Nine NBA seasons

Ht.: 6-6 Wt.: 215

Position: Forward

School: Xavier

Also

Drafted guard Marko Jaric (Fortitudo Bologna) in the second round (No. 30 overall); obtained center Sean Rooks from Dallas for guard Eric Murdock.

FIRST ROUND AT A GLANCE

NO. TEAM: 1. NEW JERSEY

PLAYER: Kenyon Martin

PO.: C

HEIGHT: 6-9

WEIGHT: 230

CLASS: Sr.

FROM: Cincinnati

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 18.9 points, 9.7 reb., 3.4 blocks

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: The key is how hard he works and how aggressive he is.

*

No. TEAM: 2. VANCOUVER

PLAYER: Stromile Swift

PO.: F

HEIGHT: 6-9

WEIGHT: 225

CLASS: So.

FROM: Louisiana State

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 16.2 points, 8.2 reb., 60.8% FG

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Could make it big or could be Antonio McDyess.

*

No. TEAM: 3. CLIPPERS

PLAYER: Darius Miles

PO.: F

HEIGHT: 6-9

WEIGHT: 217

FROM: East St. Louis (Ill.) HS

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 21.1 points, 12.4 reb. in HS

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Clippers just became Entertainment Central. Now to see how well it works.

*

No. TEAM: 4. CHICAGO

PLAYER: Marcus Fizer

PO.: F

HEIGHT: 6-8

WEIGHT: 250

CLASS: Jr.

FROM: Iowa State

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 22.8 points, 7.7 reb., 58.2% FG

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Stunned by Clippers’ pick, Bulls grab Floyd’s old favorite, now lead East in low-post forwards.

*

No. TEAM: 5. ORLANDO

PLAYER: Mike Miller

PO.: F

HEIGHT: 6-8

WEIGHT: 218

CLASS: So.

FROM: Florida

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 14.1 points, 6.6 reb.

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: They say he’ll score. Apparently, he was just warming up at Florida.

*

No. TEAM: 6. ATLANTA

PLAYER: DerMarr Johnson

PO.: G

height: 6-9

weight: 200

CLASS: Fr.

FROM: Cincinnati

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 12.6 points, 3.8 reb.

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Protected as a Cincy freshman, so no one knows how he’ll handle great expectations.

*

No. TEAM: 7. CHICAGO

PLAYER: *Chris Mihm

PO.: C

HEIGHT: 7-0

WEIGHT: 262

CLASS: Jr.

FROM: Texas

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 17.7 points, 10.5 reb.

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Traded to the Cavaliers, who worry Ilgauskas won’t be ready.

*

No. TEAM: 8. CLEVELAND

PLAYER: *Jamal Crawford

PO.: G

HEIGHT: 6-6

WEIGHT: 190

CLASS: Fr.

FROM: Michigan

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 16.6 points, 41.2% FG

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Traded to Chicago, he’s the new Ron Harper for the Bulls. Now all they need is a new you-know-who.

*

No. TEAM: 9. HOUSTON

PLAYER: *Joel Przybilla

PO.: C

HEIGHT: 7-1

WEIGHT: 260

CLASS: So.

FROM: Minnesota

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 14.2 points, 8.4 reb., 61.2% FG

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Traded to Bucks in a good move for George Karl, who needed a defender near the hoop.

*

No. TEAM: 10. ORLANDO

PLAYER: *Keyon Dooling

PO.: G

HEIGHT: 6-3

WEIGHT: 185

CLASS: So.

FROM: Missouri

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 15.3 points, 38.9% FG

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT:Young, talented and inconsistent. Traded to the Clippers.

*

No. TEAM: 11. BOSTON

PLAYER: Jerome Moiso

PO.: F

HEIGHT: 6-10

WEIGHT: 235

CLASS: So.

FROM: UCLA

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 13 points, 7.6 reb.

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: He’s sure to benefit from playing under Pitino, for one season, anyway.

*

No. TEAM: 12. DALLAS

PlaYER: Etan Thomas

PO.: F

HEIGHT: 6-9

WEIGHT: 255

CLASS: Sr.

FROM: Syracuse

STATISTICS (PER GAME): 13.6 points, 9.3 reb., 3.7 blocks

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Nelly outfoxes everyone by making an orthodox pick.

*

No. TEAM: 13. CLEVELAND

PlaYER: Courtney Alexander

Po.: G

HeiGHT: 6-5

WeiGHT: 210

ClaSS: Sr.

FroM: Fresno State

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 24.8 points, 44.7% FG

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: This is more like Nelly, who trades for a big guard, the position at which Michael Finley starts.

*

No. TEAM: 14. DETROIT

PlaYER: Mateen Cleaves

Po.: G

HeiGHT: 6-2

WeiGHT: 205

ClaSS: Sr.

FroM: Michigan State

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 12.1 points, 6.9 assists, 40.6% FG

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Dumars off to slow start as GM. If Hill leaves, Pistons will look the way Clippers used to.

*

No. TEAM: 15. MILWAUKEE

PlaYER: *Jason Collier

Po.: C

HeiGHT: 7-0

WeiGHT: 260

ClaSS: Sr.

FroM: Georgia Tech

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 17 points, 9.2 reb.

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Traded to Rockets, who are obviously collecting soft big guys.

*

No. TEAM: 16. SACRAMENTO

PlaYER: Hidayet Turkoglu

Po.: F

HeiGHT: 6-8

WeiGHT: 200

FroM: Efes Pilsen, Turkey

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 13.6 points, 62.6% FG in Europe

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Now Kings can field front line with three sharpshooting non-defending Europeans.

*

No. TEAM: 17. SEATTLE

PlaYER: Desmond Mason

Po.: F

HeiGHT: 6-5

WeiGHT: 215

ClaSS: Sr.

FroM: Oklahoma State

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 18 points, 6.6 reb., 50% FG

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Tell Horace Grant to get his rest, he’s back in there at center again.

*

No. TEAM: 18. CLIPPERS

PlaYER: Quentin Richardson

Po.: G

HeiGHT: 6-6

WeiGHT: 225

ClaSS: So.

FroM: DePaul

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 17 points, 9.8 reb.

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: New logjam at big guard between Quentin, Darius, Corey, Marko and Piatkowski.

*

No. TEAM: 19. CHARLOTTE

PlaYER: Jamaal Magloire

Po.: C

HeiGHT: 6-10

WeiGHT: 260

ClaSS: Sr.

FroM: Kentucky

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 13.9 points, 9.1 reb.

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Hornets need replacement for departing Eddie Jones, get one for departing Brad Miller, instead.

*

No. TEAM: 20. PHILADELPHIA

PlaYER: Speedy Claxton

Po.: G

HeiGHT: 5-10

WeiGHT: 180

ClaSS: Sr.

FroM: Hofstra

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 23 points, 6 assists, 3 steals

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Good pick. If he was 6-0 instead of 5-10, he’d have gone in the lottery.

*

No. TEAM: 21. TORONTO

PlaYER: Morris Peterson

Po.: F

HeiGHT: 6-7

WeiGHT: 215

ClaSS: Sr.

FroM: Michigan State

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 16.8 points, 42.5% 3-point FG

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: NBA’s disdain for NCAA champions shows just how good a job Tom Izzo did.

*

No. TEAM: 22. NEW YORK

PlaYER: Donnell Harvey

Po.: F

HeiGHT: 6-8

WeiGHT: 225

ClaSS: Fr.

FroM: Florida

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 10.2 points, 7 reb.

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Always partial to miniatures, Nelly sends Erick Strickland to Knicks for this mini-me power forward.

*

No. TEAM: 23. UTAH

PlaYER: DeShawn Stevenson

Po.: G

HeiGHT: 6-5

WeiGHT: 210

FroM: Fresno Washington Union HS

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 30.4 points, 6.2 assists in HS

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: HS Remember when everyone rolled their eyes at Kobe in ‘96, until they saw him?

*

No. TEAM: 24. CHICAGO

PlaYER: Dalibor Bagaric

Po.: C

HeiGHT: 7-1

WeiGHT: 250

FroM: Benston Zagreb, Croatia

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 10.8 points, 10.2 reb.

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Looked OK on the six seconds of videotape I saw.

*

No. TEAM: 25. PHOENIX

PlaYER: Iakovos Tsakilidis

Po.: C

HeiGHT: 7-2

WeiGHT: 282

FroM: AEK, Greece

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 9.2 points, 7 reb.

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Top 10 pick before questions about Greek contract scared everyone off. Still could be a godsend for Suns.

*

No. TEAM: 26. DENVER

PlaYER: Mamadou N’diaye

Po.: C

HeiGHT: 7-0

WeiGHT: 245

ClaSS: Sr.

FroM: Auburn

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 8.9 points, 7.8 reb., 1.9 blocks

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Just like Hakeem, almost. This Senegalese started late too, but he isn’t coming on quite as fast.

*

No. TEAM: 27. INDIANA

PlaYER: Primoz Brezec

Po.: F

HeiGHT: 7-0

WeiGHT: 240

FroM: Olympija Ljublijna, Slovenias

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 4.8 points, 1.7 reb.

MARK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Large person from overseas.

*

No. TEAM: 28. PORTLAND

PlaYER: Erick Barkley

Po.: G

HeiGHT: 6-1

WeiGHT: 185

ClaSS: So.

FroM: St. John’s

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 14.6 points, 4.5 assists

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: Smaller person from New York.

*

No. TEAM: 29. LAKERS

PlaYER: Mark Madsen

Po.: F

HeiGHT: 6-9

WeiGHT: 240

ClaSS: Sr.

FroM: Stanford

StaTISTICS (PER GAME): 12.2 points, 9.3 reb.

MarK HEISLER’S COMMENT: After Phil ages him on the bench for five years or so, he could be OK.

*TRADES: CHICAGO traded the rights to Chris Mihm to CLEVELAND for the rights to Jamal Crawford; HOUSTON traded the rights to Joel Przybilla to MILWAUKEE for the rights to Jason Collier; ORLANDO traded the rights to Keyon Dooling, and roster players Corey Maggette and Derek Strong to the CLIPPERS for a future draft choice; ORLANDO traded the rights to Courtney Alexander to DALLAS for a future first-round draft choice. NEW YORK traded the rights to Donnell Harvey and roster player John Wallace to DALLAS for roster player Erick Strickland and the rights to second-round pick Pete Mickael.

CHANGES IN FIRST-ROUND ORDER: 5. Orlando from Golden State; 7. Chicago from Washington through Golden State; 10. Orlando from Denver; 18. Clippers from Toronto through Atlanta, Philadelphia and New York; 21. Toronto from Minnesota; 23. Utah from Miami; 24. Chicago from San Antonio; 26. Denver from Utah.

Round 1 By Position

Centers: 8

Guards: 11

Forwards: 10

Round 1 By Conference

SEC: 5

Big Ten: 4

Big 12: 4

Overseas: 4

Conference USA: 3

Big East: 2

High School: 2

Pacific 10: 2

ACC: 1

America East: 1

WAC: 1

No. 1 Overall Pick

By Position

Center: 17

Power forward: 10

Small forward: 10

Shooting guard: 6

Point guard: 4

ROUND 2

*--*

No. Team Player Po From 30. Clippers Marko Jaric G Fortitudo Bologna, Italy 31. Dallas *Dan Langhi F Vanderbilt 32. Chicago A.J. Guyton G Indiana 33. Chicago Jake Voskuhl C Connecticut 34. Chicago Khalid El-Amin G Connecticut 35. Washington Mike Smith F Louisiana Monroe 36. New Jersey Soumaila Samake C Cincinnati (IBL) 37. Miami Eddie House G Arizona State 38. Houston *Eduardo Najera F Oklahoma 39. New York Lavor Postell G St. John’s 40. Atlanta Hanno Mottola F Utah 41. San Antonio Chris Carrawell F Duke 42. Seattle Olumide Oyedeji F DJK Wurzburg, Germany 43. Milwaukee Michael Redd G Ohio State 44. Detroit Brian Cardinal F Purdue 45. Sacramento Jabari Smith C Louisiana State 46. Toronto DeeAndre Hullett F Las Vegas (IBL) 47. Seattle *Josip Sesar G Cibona Zagreb, Croatia 48. Philadelphia Mark Karcher G-F Temple 49. Milwaukee Jason Hart G Syracuse 50. Utah Kaniel Dickens F Idaho 51. Minnesota Igor Rakocevic G KK Crvena Zveda, Yugo. 52. Miami Ernest Brown C Indian Hills (Iowa) JC 53. Denver Dan McClintock C Northern Arizona 54. San Antonio *Corey Hightower G Indian Hills (Iowa) JC 55. Golden State Chris Porter F Auburn 56. Indiana Jaquay Walls G Colorado 57. Atlanta Scoonie Penn G Ohio State 58. Dallas *Pete Mickeal F Cincinnati

*--*

*TRADES: DALLAS Traded the rights to Dan Langhi to HOUSTON for the rights to Eduardo Najera; SEATTLE traded the rights to Josip Sesar to Boston; SAN ANTONIO traded the rights to Corey Hightower to the LAKERS;

DALLAS traded the rights to Pete Mickeal and roster player Erick Strickland to NEW YORK for roster player John Wallace and the rights to first-round pick Donnell Harvey.

Changes in second-round order: 31. Dallas from Chicago; 32. Chicago from Golden State; 33. Chicago from Vancouver through Houston; 34. Chicago from Atlanta; 37. Denver from Cleveland; 39. New York from Boston; 40. Atlanta from Denver; 41. San Antonio from Dallas; 42. Seattle from Orlando; 49. Milwaukee from Charlotte; 50. Utah from New York; 53. Denver from Phoenix; 55. Golden State from Utah; 57. Atlanta from Portland through Detroit; 58. Dallas from Lakers.