2:18pm: The Clippers have officially confirmed Stone’s signing.
2:16pm: The Clippers are set to sign second-round pick Diamond Stone to his first NBA contract today, reports Dan Woike of The Orange County Register (via Twitter). Lucas Hann of ClipsNation.com tweets that it will be a two-year, minimum-salary deal, while Woike hears that both years will be guaranteed (Twitter link).
Stone, 19, spent a year at Maryland before making the leap to the NBA. In his lone season with the Terrapins, the young center averaged 12.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.6 BPG in 34 appearances (22.8 MPG). Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com ranked Stone as the 31st-best prospect in 2016’s draft class.
The Clippers landed Stone with the 40th overall pick last month after sending the No. 33 pick (Cheick Diallo) to the Pelicans. In exchange for that 33rd overall pick, Los Angeles received two second-round selections. The team used the other pick (No. 39) to nab French point guard David Michineau, but unlike Stone, he isn’t on the verge of signing with L.A.
According to Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times (via Twitter), the Clippers are still considering what to do with Michineau. A source tells Turner that the club may end up stashing him in Europe, or having him play in the D-League.