New Orleans Pelicans

Clippers move into second round, acquire Branden Dawson from Pelicans

Published Jun. 26, 2015 1:19 a.m. ET

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The Clippers entered the 2015 NBA Draft with no picks. Determined to get something, they were able to buy one by the end of the night. 

With the 56th pick in the draft, the New Orleans Pelicans selected Branden Dawson out of Michigan State. Dawson was then sent to the Clippers for cash considerations. 

"One of the things we talked about for some time was looking to buy into the second round because we didn't have a pick in this draft," Clippers general manager Dave Wohl said. "We focused on a couple of guys and at 56 in the second round, Dawson was still there and he was one of the guys that we really loved and we were able to do a deal with New Orleans and buy their pick." 

Dawson only stands at 6-6, yet he left East Lansing as the program's all-time leading shot blocker with 142 in his career. He's also top-10 on the Spartans career steals list with 163. 

Dawson played a lot of power forward in college, but he will be a wing at the next level. The Clippers believe Dawson can guard multiple positions, from shooting guard to power forward. 

"The biggest thing is his toughness," Wohl said. "He's a winner. He's not a guy you can just lock into a position. I think he can play a couple of different positions. He can defend a number of positions and when you watch him play a lot, I think, one of the things he does (is) he makes multiple effort game-defining plays a lot of times. He'll get his hand on a loose ball. He'll save a loose ball. He'll dive on a loose ball. He'll go over bigger players and grab a rebound." 

Added assistant general manager Gary Sacks: "The things that he's good at are the things that we need."

Dawson is a player the Clippers have had their sights on for "the whole year." With Dawson still on the board as the second round wound down, the Clippers jumped in and bought the pick from New Orleans.

The newest Clipper will have to make some strides on the offensive side of the floor, but the organization loves the effort and competitiveness that he brings on a consistent basis. Those are traits, the team says, that can't be taught. 

The Clippers continued to work the phones after the draft in search of some undrafted gems. Although names weren't mentioned, Wohl and Sacks says there are some players who went undrafted that the team would have selected if they had a pick.

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