NBA: Clippers take Griffin with No. 1 pick in draft

NEW YORK (AP) - The Los Angeles Clippers have selected college player of the year Blake Griffin with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

Griffin, who led the nation with 14.4 rebounds per game while averaging 22.7 points last season for Oklahoma, is considered the only sure thing in a draft filled with question marks. The Clippers said they would take the forward with the pick hours after they won the draft lottery last month.

The draft followed a busy day of trades in the NBA. A deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to play alongside LeBron James in Cleveland was completed earlier Thursday, and Eastern Conference champion Orlando acquired Vince Carter from the Nets in a swap completed shortly before the first pick was made.

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet No. 2 pick.