Clippers Take Livingston

Throwing caution to the wind, the Clippers made history Thursday when they took Shaun Livingston with the fourth pick in the NBA draft, making Livingston the first point guard to jump directly from high school star to lottery pick.

Even Livingston, speaking of the leap he’d just made, acknowledged during a conference call that his transition would be “a work in progress.”

But to hear the Clippers tell it, they jumped without trepidation.

“From the first time we watched this kid, we just thought he was something special,” General Manager Elgin Baylor said. “His size, his knowledge, his understanding and feel for the game for such a young guy is amazing.”

Said Coach Mike Dunleavy: “I don’t think you ever pass up the opportunity on taking a guy who has the potential to be a star.”

In the second round, with the 33rd pick, the Clippers took another point guard, 6-foot Lionel Chalmers, who helped Xavier reach the round of eight in the NCAA tournament last season.

About the time Chalmers was winding up his four-year college career, Livingston was leading Peoria Central High of Illinois to its second consecutive Class AA state championship. Originally committed to Duke, he won’t be 19 until Sept. 11. He is rail-thin, lacks upper-body strength and, scouts say, can’t shoot.

But he is 6-6 1/4, with a nearly seven-foot wingspan, and he might still be growing. His potential, the Clippers believe, is through the roof.

And he’s an inventive playmaker, which is what they need.

“After going through the process of scouting and looking at players, the ability of Shaun Livingston just popped out at you from the standpoint of vision,” Dunleavy said. “This guy is a true point guard at 6-7.

“And he’s the type of player, as you give him a few years to mature, you could see him develop into an All-Star in this league. The thing about him that’s so compelling is the fact that he just makes everybody else around him better.

“He really delivers the ball. At 6-7, he has the ability to look over the top of people, make plays, feed the post. He throws the ball the length of the court in transition. And I just think guys just love playing with him.”

The Clippers also liked 6-2 Devin Harris of Wisconsin, who was the fifth pick, but set their sights early on Livingston. Their biggest worry was that the Chicago Bulls, who had the third pick, would trade it to a team with designs on Livingston. But the Clippers sighed with relief when the Bulls took Ben Gordon of Connecticut.

“We rolled the dice a little bit,” Barry Hecker, director of player personnel, said of the Clippers’ selection. “We all agreed that Harris would probably get us there a little sooner. But we had to project; that’s what you do in the draft.”

And the Clippers projected that, in the long run, they would be better off with Livingston, who they believe has the greatest upside.

He won’t start as a rookie -- Marko Jaric is the incumbent at the position, barring free-agent signings this summer -- but he’ll get onto the floor.

“I think he’ll play some,” Dunleavy said. “I’m not going to try to put any pressure on him as to how much, but I think because he fits a need that we have and his vision is so good that he’ll play minutes -- and we want him playing minutes.”

He’s eager to get started.

“They’re a young, exciting team,” he said of the Clippers. “They’re definitely trying to rebuild their organization and hopefully I can be an extra piece to that puzzle ... to try to turn things around.”

For the last month, he has worked out in Chicago with Tim Grover, who was Michael Jordan’s trainer. Grover’s other clients include Clippers Corey Maggette, Quentin Richardson, Elton Brand, Bobby Simmons and Chris Kaman.

“I know those guys real well,” Livingston said of his soon-to-be teammates. “I see those guys in the gym and they definitely take care of me.”

Eventually, they hope he’ll take care of them -- by getting them the ball.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

CLIPPER PICKS

SHAUN LIVINGSTON

Guard, Peoria (Ill.) Central HS

6-6 1/4, 186; 18.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 5.7 apg

No. 4 pick: Early entry .... Was committed to Duke.... A true point guard.... Excellent court vision and ballhandling skills.... Long arms make him a defensive threat.... Needs to add weight.

*

LIONEL CHALMERS

Guard, Xavier

6-0, 180; 16.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.2 apg

No. 33 pick: A talented floor leader with good speed and quickness.... Ability to pull up from long range or drive to the hoop makes for a versatile scorer.