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Clippers draft Jerome Robinson with 13th pick in first round

The L.A. Clippers have selected Boston College guard Jerome Robinson with the 13th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, held last night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

“Jerome is someone that we targeted early on in this process. [He’s] one of the more gifted guys in this draft,” said President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank. “If you study the DNA, he just grinds and he works harder than most. He is very impressive as a young man and he is now a Clipper”

“Going to the Clippers is a dream come true,” said Robinson. “It’s exciting to be in L.A., being drafted by the Clippers, and having the chance to learn from a coach like Doc Rivers.”

Robinson, 21, played three collegiate seasons at Boston College, where he appeared in 90 career games (all starts), averaging 17.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 34.6 minutes. The 6’5”, 188-pound guard shot 45.0 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three-point range in his Boston College career. A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Robinson was named All-ACC First Team as a Junior.

Clippers trade for draft rights to No. 11 pick Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The L.A. Clippers have acquired the draft rights to University of Kentucky guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, from the Charlotte Hornets, in exchange for the draft rights to Michigan State forward Miles Bridges and two future second round picks. The Clippers selected Bridges with the 12th overall pick in the draft.

“We have been tracking Shai all year and grew more and more impressed with him. He quickly became a priority for us,” said President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank. “What you will see right away is his character, competitiveness and toughness. We have guys like that here, and that’s who we want to attract.”

“I’m a play-making guard, pass-first point guard, who likes to get teammates involved,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “I’m really just willing to do whatever the team needs me to do to win and cannot wait to get started with the Clippers.”

Gilgeous-Alexander, 19, played one collegiate season at Kentucky, where he appeared in 37 games (24 starts), averaging 14.4 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 33.7 minutes. The 6’6”, 180-pound guard shot 48.5 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three-point range as a Wildcat. A native of Hamilton, Ontario (Canada), Gilgeous-Alexander was named to the Second-team All-SEC and the SEC All-Freshman Team, and was named the MVP of the SEC Tournament.

Another lawsuit filed trying to prevent Clippers move to Inglewood

The Clippers want their own arena, in Inglewood. It would be a big change for the neighborhood. And as always in situations like this, some local residents don’t want it to happen. Here’s ESPN.com with the latest:

A group of Inglewood residents filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging the city violated state laws by entering into an exclusive negotiating agreement to develop public land for the Los Angeles Clippers’ new stadium.

This is the second lawsuit filed in the past three months against the City of Inglewood related to the Clippers’ proposed stadium.

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Update on the Clippers pursuit of their own arena in Inglewood

We’re all used to the Staples Center being the home of both the Lakers and Clippers. It’s certainly practical for anybody in Los Angeles with easy access to LA Live. But Clipper fans may have to learn directions to Inglewood if Clippers owner Steve Ballmer gets his way. Here’s the the Los Angeles Times with an update:

Under a big white tent on a dirt field that was a few feet south of where the Rams are constructing their new stadium, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Inglewood city officials held a news conference Tuesday during which they expressed their desire to introduce legislation in the quest to build a basketball arena there.

The legislation, AB 987, will provide shortcuts for approval if the proposed project faces challenges under California’s primary environmental law governing development. A similar bill, SB 789, failed to gain traction last year.

The Clippers play at Staples Center, which is owned by AEG, and share the arena with the Lakers and Kings.

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Clippers sign coach Doc Rivers to contract extension

The L.A. Clippers have agreed to a contract extension with head coach Doc Rivers.

Clippers Chairman Steve Ballmer had this to say: “Doc is one of the top coaches in the NBA, coming off one of his finest seasons since joining the Clippers… We trust Doc to lead a competitive, tough, hard-working team while upholding a culture of accountability expected to resonate throughout the organization.”

Under Rivers’ leadership, the Clippers have earned the NBA’s fifth-best record (259-151, .632) during his five-year tenure. When joining the team in 2013, he led L.A. to its best record in franchise history (57-25, .695), winning a second straight Pacific Division title. The Clippers have reached the postseason in four of Rivers’ five seasons with the team. He is the winningest coach in Clippers franchise history by both total victories (259) and winning percentage (.632). Despite coaching an NBA-high 37 unique starting lineups throughout the 2017-18 season, Rivers’ squad was in playoff contention until the final homestand of the season, finishing with a 42-40 record.

“I am proud of the success we have had here over the last five seasons, but there is more work to be done,” Rivers said. “We are coming off a year where our team battled through many challenges and much adversity, proving deep talent and even greater potential. I am looking forward to getting back to work on the court to develop our players and compete with the NBA’s elite.”

Now entering his 20th season as a head coach in the NBA, Rivers is one of just two active coaches (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich the other) to win at least 800 games and his 846 career regular season wins are 14th-most in NBA history and second-most among active coaches. The 1999-2000 NBA Coach of the Year, Rivers led the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA Championship, and has earned two Eastern Conference Championships and seven divisions titles. A 13-year NBA veteran and former Clippers point guard (1991-92), he coached in Boston from 2004-2013 and prior to that, led the Orlando Magic from 1999-2003.

Avery Bradley out 6-8 weeks after surgery

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L.A. Clippers guard Avery Bradley underwent surgery yesterday to repair adductor and rectus abdominus muscles. The procedure was performed today by Dr. Bill Meyers at the Vincera Institute, in Philadelphia. Recovery from this procedure is expected to take six to eight weeks.

Bradley, 27, has appeared in 46 games for the Clippers and Detroit Pistons this season, averaging 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 31.2 minutes.

Clippers sign Sean Kilpatrick to 10-day contract

The L.A. Clippers today signed guard Sean Kilpatrick to a 10-day contract.

Kilpatrick, 28, has appeared in 39 games this season for the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 4.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 9.9 minutes. The 6’4”, 210-pound guard has appeared in 144 career games (24 starts) across four NBA seasons with Minnesota, Denver, Brooklyn, and Milwaukee, holding averages of 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.7 minutes. A four-year player out of Cincinnati, Kilpatrick was named to the AP All-American First Team in his senior season.

Lou Williams was aiming for All-Star team, not Skills Challenge

Lou Williams essentially accepted a consolation prize from the NBA to participate in the Skills Challenge during All-Star weekend at Staples Center.

His stated goal had been to represent the Clippers in the All-Star game Sunday at Staples Center, but Williams was not chosen as one of the Western Conference reserves — to his and his coaching staff’s dismay.

Instead, Williams will lace up his sneakers for the event that will take place Saturday night, his enthusiasm still high for being asked to be in the Skills Challenge along with seven other players.

Williams admitted it would have been much nicer to display his skills in the big event Sunday.

— LA Times

Blake Griffin downplays game vs Clippers

Blake Griffin’s Pistons play his former team, the Clippers, this evening. Here’s what Griffin said earlier in the day, per ESPN.com:

Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin downplayed any extra motivation in his first game facing the LA Clippers, telling ESPN just hours before tipoff Friday night that “they’re just another team we’re trying to beat.”

“I spent a lot of time with some of those guys in that locker room,” Griffin said ahead of the 7 p.m. ET tipoff in Auburn Hills, Michigan. “Shared some memories, some good, some bad. At the end of the day, we’re worried about our playoff position, we’re worried about keeping this ship moving forward.” …

Asked if he’s spoken to Clippers coach Doc Rivers since the deal went down, Griffin said “no” without elaborating.

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