DRAFT PICKS:
Eric Gordon, G, 6-4, Indiana -- Impressed the Clippers basketball staff in a workout with his prolific shooting ability. Gordon has mid-range and 3-point shooting skills, and his brawny build also enables him to drive to the basket. Barring a summer trade involving incumbent starting guard Cuttino Mobley, Gordon is slated to provide depth off the bench as a scorer and fill-in point guard. DeAndre Jordan, C, 7-0, Texas A&M -- Definitely a project, but his size (he weighs 260 pounds) should at least give starting center Chris Kaman a wide body to go against at practice. Jordan averaged only 7.9 points and six rebounds per game in his one college season.
Mike Taylor, G, 6-2, Idaho Stampede (D-League) -- The Clippers traded next year's second-round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for Taylor, who has bounced around since graduating from Marshall High School in Milwaukee four years ago. Taylor played two years at Chipola (Fla.) Junior College and one season at Iowa State. He was kicked off the team at Iowa State and spent last season playing in the D-League for the Stampede. Taylor will get a shot to make the team as a backup point guard.
PLAYER NOTES:
--F Steve Novak was signed to help upgrade a typically deficient area for the Clippers -- three-point shooting. Of the 102 field-goal tries that he took in 35 games last season with the Houston Rockets, 71 were launched from behind the three-point arc. He connected on 34 after starting the season by making 15 of 25 three-point tries. "You know what he can do," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said.
--F Tim Thomas typically skips the arduous offseason training regimen of many NBA players, preferring to refresh himself mentally and physically by spending quality time with his wife and children. But that does not mean Thomas allows himself to get grossly out of shape. "I did a lot of swimming and running on the beach with my wife," Thomas said. Coach Mike Dunleavy concurred that Thomas reported to camp in excellent condition.
--G Jason Williams might have shocked Clippers fans and other NBA followers around the league when he announced his sudden retirement a few days before training camp open. But Williams, 32, has been troubled by escalating knee problems for at least the last three years. He also told coach Mike Dunleavy that his desire to play had waned.
--G Cuttino Mobley received raves from the entire coaching staff regarding what they described as "a rejuvenated Cat," that being Mobley's longtime moniker. Mobley, 33, has been spry in camp, and when Mike Dunleavy was asked if Mobley's minutes might have to be monitored this season, the Clippers' coach answered, "No. He's in terrific shape."
