Great Expectations

Clippers Likely To Make Griffin No. 1 Selection

The NBA will welcome its newest players tonight when its annual Draft takes place in N.Y. The Clippers are all but assured of taking Blake Griffin with the first overall pick, something that may generate rare positive headlines for the downtrodden franchise. The team already is bringing in season-ticket holders to watch Griffin go through workouts in an effort to capitalize on the buzz. Griffin has signed deals with Subway, EA Sports and Panini, and is one of the more marketable players in a Draft that experts say lacks much star power. Evidence of the relatively weak Draft, as well as the economy, can be found in the fact that none of the top prospects have signed shoe endorsement deals yet. Meanwhile, the NBA and its players have been on the forefront of the Twitter revolution, but the league tells teams not to post any proclamations about draft picks prior to the official announcement.

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