Paul Pierce was ready to get selected by the LA Clippers in the 1998 Draft
Pierce was one of the best players in college basketball ahead of the 1998 Draft.
The NBA world was surprised when the Los Angeles Clippers selected Michael Olowokandi with the first overall pick. The initial expectation was for Mike Bibby to be the team's selection, but then-general manager Elgin Baylor wanted size above all .
This Draft class produced multiple All-Stars, including Los Angeles native Paul Pierce. The 2008 Finals MVP tried to convince the Clippers to select him because he had the resume to back it up and already displayed some star player qualities.
"Clippers were my hometown, and I was projected number two, but I called the Clippers and asked if I could do a second workout because I wanted to go the No.1 pick," Pierce said on The Truth Lounge. "They didn't give me the second workout, so I knew they wouldn't pick me. But I thought I had a great workout with them. They said I had a great workout, too."
Baylor wanted a big man to build around
Back in 1998, building around a star big man was still the norm. Players like Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal were some of the best players in the league, so Baylor wanted to emulate their example and build a team around a big man with The Kandi Man.
Unfortunately, Olowokandi became one of the biggest Draft busts in NBA history. He would have loved to play at a higher level but seemed disinterested in improvement. It was a nightmarish situation for the Clippers because they spent resources for him to become the star player.
Baylor not only passed on Pierce and Bibby, but Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, and Rashard Lewis were future All-Stars. They had plenty of options, but Baylor was too caught up in his idea of building around a center.
Pierce would have been a fantastic fit for the Clippers
If Pierce had been drafted with the first pick, he could have shone as the star player. The Clippers needed someone to build around, which was the idea behind selecting Olowokandi. However, it did not pan out for the team because the center from the University of Pacific could not meet his potential.
The Truth would have been a stellar scorer from the jump for his hometown of Los Angeles. He had a refined offensive game coming off his stint with Kansas. Pierce took massive strides in his development as the years passed, which could have been fun for the Clippers community.
Unfortunately, Pierce would only join the Clippers in the twilight years of his career. He is a certified Hall of Fame player, but he could have done that by playing in Los Angeles. However, Baylor denied him that chance to showcase her talent for the team.
Related: Kawhi Leonard on navigating the basketball world with hands big enough to have him nicknamed 'The Klaw'This story was originally published September 29, 2024, 8:00 PM.
