NBA draft: Clippers take Minnesota guard Cam Christie with 2nd-round pick

06/27/2024 06:39 PM

PLAYA VISTA — The Clippers need youth and with their lone pick in the NBA draft, they took 18-year-old Cam Christie, a one-and-done player from the University of Minnesota, in the second round (No. 46 overall) on Thursday.

Christie, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard, possesses athleticism with above-average length and a smooth shot. As a freshman last season, he averaged 11.3 points and shot 39% from 3-point range in 33 games to earn All-Big Ten Freshman team honors. He also posted 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 0.2 steals per game.

"I'm going to bring a competitive mentality," Christie said during the ESPN broadcast on Thursday.

Christie is the younger brother of Lakers guard Max Christie and has toiled in his shadow for years, but now the two will be playing in the same city (Max Christie is a restricted free agent this summer).

"It's super cool to be NBA brothers," he said.

The Clippers are the oldest team in the league, led by All-Stars Kawhi Leonard, 32, and Paul George, 34 – if the latter returns.

George has until Saturday to decide whether to opt into the $48.8 million remaining on his contract for next season and demand a trade or choose to stay with the Clippers. George is seeking a four-year maximum-level deal at $221 million, but the team is only offering three years, such as the deal Leonard signed in January.

LEONARD EXPECTED AT TEAM USA CAMP

Leonard, along with the 11 other players selected for the U.S. Olympic team, is expected to report to Team USA training camp next week in Las Vegas, Coach Steve Kerr told reporters during a conference call on Thursday.

Leonard, who will turn 33 on Saturday, missed the final three games of the regular season after injuring his surgically repaired right knee. After playing in the first two games of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, Leonard was still experiencing inflammation and missed the rest of the series.

More to come on this story.