A Reason to Not Draft a Point Guard
You could always renounce the rights to your small forward, let him become a free agent, and sign an All-Star caliber point guard who gets to play in his hometown. Okay, it's just a verbal agreement to bring Baron Davis back to LA for five years and $55 million, but it means Corey Maggette walks away. That is fine.
However, Elton Brand has also opted out. I don't think that's a problem, however, as the Clippers (or at least head coach Mike Dunleavy) have suspected that both Maggette and Brand would opt out, then return. In this scenario, Maggette was more likely to leave (speculation has him returning to Orlando, where he started his career), but it was also thought that he would come back to the Clippers simply because they could offer him more money. Brand is a solid citizen and still expected to come back.
Wouldn't you want to come back if this would be your top eight in the rotation?
PG - Davis/Brevin Knight
SG - Cuttino Mobley/first-round pick Eric Gordon
SF - Al Thornton/Tim Thomas
PF - Brand
C - Chris Kaman
That is some serious talent, even in the Western Conference. The Clippers have issued qualifying offers to two rookies from last year, Nick Fazekas and Marcus Williams, so they are likely to be back. It seems as if an additional big body (preferably a defensive role player) is all they really need to be a very interesting team out west.
It still remains to be seen if Brand (who has an LA-based film production company) remains in LA, as well.
ETA: Baron's deal is actually for $65 million over the four years and League sources are saying Brand will soon be inking a five-year deal of his own worth about $67.5 million.