Baylor’s Draft Record Gets a Closer Look

Bill Plaschke’s worshipful, woe-is-him column on Elgin Baylor [Feb. 2] should embarrass both men. What’s with this “poor Elgin” nonsense? For some perspective, and a few facts, Plaschke should’ve taken a look at the virtually perfect record of botched draft picks the Clippers have made since Baylor took control of the basketball operations.

In his first crack at a first-round draft pick in 1987, Baylor took Reggie Williams over Scottie Pippen, Reggie Miller and Kevin Johnson. In his second shot, he took Joe Wolf over Mark Jackson. It was a sign of terrible judgment to come. To wit: Charles Smith over Mitch Richmond in 1988; Danny Ferry over Sean Elliott, Glen Rice, Shawn Kemp, Tim Hardaway and Vlade Divac in 1989; LeRon Ellis over Rick Fox in 1991; Randy Woods over Doug Christie and Latrell Sprewell in 1992; Terry Dehere over Sam Cassell in 1993; Lamond Murray over Eddie Jones and Jalen Rose in 1994; Antonio McDyess over Kevin Garnett in 1995; Lorenzen Wright over Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Peja Stojakovic and Jermaine O’Neal in 1996; Michael Olowokandi over Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce in 1998; and, Baylor’s latest scandal, Chris Wilcox over Amare Stoudemire last June.

Think Baylor’s draft-day bungling might’ve sent the franchise back a bit? Any reason Plaschke didn’t raise that theory?

Jeff Weinstock

Sherman Oaks

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The Clippers can still qualify for the playoffs, but five things need to happen:

1. The State Department sends Yao Ming back to China, Dirk Nowitzki back to Germany and Chris Webber back to Michigan.

2. Rasheed Wallace quits basketball, enters a monastery.

3. The Spurs and Magic make a trade: Shawn Kemp for Tim Duncan.

4. Phil Jackson abandons Zen Buddhism, becomes a Scientologist.

5. French figure skating judges replace NBA refs.

David Macaray

Rowland Heights