#27 #34 Draft Picks Discussion

[TyCobb]

Why go with a big at #2?

G Wesley Saunders - Ht: 6'5, Wt: 215, Senior, Harvard

%Min - 86%
%Poss - 29.7%
%Shot - 28.5%
ORtg - 109.4
eFG% - 49.3%
TS% - 55.3%
OR% - 6.2%
DR% - 15.4%
ARate - 32.1
TORate - 17.1
Blk % - 1.3
Stl% - 3.4
FC/40 - 2.6
FD/40 - 5.4
FTRate - 46.9
FT% - .783
2FG% - .454
3FG% - .431

G D'Angelo Russell - Ht: 6'5, Wt: 180, FR, Ohio State

%Min - 84.3%
%Poss - 30.2%
%Shot - 30.6%
ORtg - 113.6
eFG% - 54.1%
TS% - 57.3%
ARate - 30.1
TORate - 17.3
Blk % - 1.1
Stl% - 2.8
FC/40 - 2.5
FD/40 - 4.7
FTRate - 30.3
FT% - .756
2FG% - .479
3FG% - .411

For those who have no idea who I'm talking about:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOQo7aD-CNo[/youtube]

Take Saunders with the #34.

[magicbesteva]

He looks like he lacks the foot speed and quickness to beat a defender off the dribble. Mitch should take a good look at Norman Powell. He's freakishly athletic n a great lock down defender. He also has a decent shot

[ArC_man]

Fun website I found for the stat-heads:
http://counting-the-baskets.typepad.com ... ation.html

Regarding our 27/34th pick, I really feel like we will package them to move up or even trade for a more established player. I can't see us entering the season with effectively 4 rookies (2 of which are probably starters) and a couple of potential wings in the draft (which is our position of most need IMO) seem just out of reach with the 27th pick.

[LApwnd]

Fun website I found for the stat-heads:
http://counting-the-baskets.typepad.com ... ation.html

Regarding our 27/34th pick, I really feel like we will package them to move up or even trade for a more established player. I can't see us entering the season with effectively 4 rookies (2 of which are probably starters) and a couple of potential wings in the draft (which is our position of most need IMO) seem just out of reach with the 27th pick.

if we can't trade up I would love for us to do one of those euro stash picks with 34th, on Cedi Osman....He was projected there for us a few days back on draftnet. 6'8 wing with solid athleticism and 3pt shot, aggressive in the passing lanes and solid defender. Would be at least 2yrs+ before he would want to come over but still a young player even then.

[crazyeights]

Fun website I found for the stat-heads:
http://counting-the-baskets.typepad.com ... ation.html

Regarding our 27/34th pick, I really feel like we will package them to move up or even trade for a more established player. I can't see us entering the season with effectively 4 rookies (2 of which are probably starters) and a couple of potential wings in the draft (which is our position of most need IMO) seem just out of reach with the 27th pick.

if we can't trade up I would love for us to do one of those euro stash picks with 34th, on Cedi Osman....He was projected there for us a few days back on draftnet. 6'8 wing with solid athleticism and 3pt shot, aggressive in the passing lanes and solid defender. Would be at least 2yrs+ before he would want to come over but still a young player even then.

If we go the Euro stash route, I'd also look at Timothe Luwawu. DraftNet had us taking him a couple months ago.

[LApwnd]

Fun website I found for the stat-heads:
http://counting-the-baskets.typepad.com ... ation.html

Regarding our 27/34th pick, I really feel like we will package them to move up or even trade for a more established player. I can't see us entering the season with effectively 4 rookies (2 of which are probably starters) and a couple of potential wings in the draft (which is our position of most need IMO) seem just out of reach with the 27th pick.

if we can't trade up I would love for us to do one of those euro stash picks with 34th, on Cedi Osman....He was projected there for us a few days back on draftnet. 6'8 wing with solid athleticism and 3pt shot, aggressive in the passing lanes and solid defender. Would be at least 2yrs+ before he would want to come over but still a young player even then.

If we go the Euro stash route, I'd also look at Timothe Luwawu. DraftNet had us taking him a couple months ago.

yea I like his highlights too, less of a reliable shooter but seems more athletic than Osman.

[The Prodigy]

Fun website I found for the stat-heads:
http://counting-the-baskets.typepad.com ... ation.html

Regarding our 27/34th pick, I really feel like we will package them to move up or even trade for a more established player. I can't see us entering the season with effectively 4 rookies (2 of which are probably starters) and a couple of potential wings in the draft (which is our position of most need IMO) seem just out of reach with the 27th pick.

I think so too. I wonder how high they could move up if they packaged the two picks.

[ALL HAIL]

Yep, if the Lakers came out of the draft with Luwawu and Vaughn (in addition to Towns/Okafor), they would have had an excellent, somewhat remarkable, draft day.

[BEazy]

If Timberwolves pass up on Towns looks like we got another steal in the draft! I'd be happy with Okafor because of his offense, but Towns just has it all on the offensive side and the defensive side.

[DadoTheRabbet]

If Timberwolves pass up on Towns looks like we got another steal in the draft! I'd be happy with Okafor because of his offense, but Towns just has it all on the offensive side and the defensive side.

Yup.

[DadoTheRabbet]

Yep, if the Lakers came out of the draft with Luwawu and Vaughn (in addition to Towns/Okafor), they would have had an excellent, somewhat remarkable, draft day.

I'm not big on Euros but Luwawu is an intriguing prospect, isn't he? So is Vaughn for that matter.

But IF we get Towns, I'd like either Anderson and Wright. Unfortunately, I don't think that's even an actual possibility as Anderson should go sooner than 27 and Wright may go anywhere between at 27ish and 34. If the FO agrees, perhaps Mitch can find someone who wants our 27 and 34 so we can move up to the late teens to get Anderson or RJ Hunter. We need a scorer or a defensive-minded SF in that spot. If not, then like you say Luwawu might be a good get.

If we get Okafor, we're going to need defense. Perhaps then we should get the best shooter available (as I don't think any good SFs will be around by then) at 27 and take a huge chance on Robert Upshaw at 34.

[Laker_Kid]

of the teams around the 20's pick: 19-was 20-raps 21-mavs 22-bulls. i think mavs might trade for our 2 picks. they have a lot of expiring players and might want go get some cheaper abled bodies through the draft they can develop (who wont demand playing time)... their window for contention is closing... raps could bite also. theyre still a young team and still have patience for players to develop... bulls meh... getting the wizard's pick would be extremely lucky.

and then we can flip hill and or young with that acquired pick for someone else. like lance?

have at it.

[LApwnd]

of the teams around the 20's pick: 19-was 20-raps 21-mavs 22-bulls. i think mavs might trade for our 2 picks. they have a lot of expiring players and might want go get some cheaper abled bodies through the draft they can develop (who wont demand playing time)... their window for contention is closing... raps could bite also. theyre still a young team and still have patience for players to develop... bulls meh... getting the wizard's pick would be extremely lucky.

and then we can flip hill and or young with that acquired pick for someone else. like lance?

have at it.

I don't forsee Hill having any value at all, especially when teams now know we'll most likely not pick up his option they'll just wait it out and try to sign him out right once that happens. Young, we would have to do a lot of selling on him to a GM that isn't very knowledgeable of his game

[Laker_Kid]

of the teams around the 20's pick: 19-was 20-raps 21-mavs 22-bulls. i think mavs might trade for our 2 picks. they have a lot of expiring players and might want go get some cheaper abled bodies through the draft they can develop (who wont demand playing time)... their window for contention is closing... raps could bite also. theyre still a young team and still have patience for players to develop... bulls meh... getting the wizard's pick would be extremely lucky.

and then we can flip hill and or young with that acquired pick for someone else. like lance?

have at it.

I don't forsee Hill having any value at all, especially when teams now know we'll most likely not pick up his option they'll just wait it out and try to sign him out right once that happens. Young, we would have to do a lot of selling on him to a GM that isn't very knowledgeable of his game

yeah i thought that too. which is why nobody would take them straight up. we could actually just let hill walk and then that would leave just young to deal with. and thats where the pick comes in to sweeten a bit. like the Lin trade.

[LApwnd]

of the teams around the 20's pick: 19-was 20-raps 21-mavs 22-bulls. i think mavs might trade for our 2 picks. they have a lot of expiring players and might want go get some cheaper abled bodies through the draft they can develop (who wont demand playing time)... their window for contention is closing... raps could bite also. theyre still a young team and still have patience for players to develop... bulls meh... getting the wizard's pick would be extremely lucky.

and then we can flip hill and or young with that acquired pick for someone else. like lance?

have at it.

I don't forsee Hill having any value at all, especially when teams now know we'll most likely not pick up his option they'll just wait it out and try to sign him out right once that happens. Young, we would have to do a lot of selling on him to a GM that isn't very knowledgeable of his game

yeah i thought that too. which is why nobody would take them straight up. we could actually just let hill walk and then that would leave just young to deal with. and thats where the pick comes in to sweeten a bit. like the Lin trade.

I'm only following this trade young stuff for cap personally but if there's no target out there that we want to sign with additional money from Young trade I don't want to trade him and lose an asset at all. I don't want to trade Young just to get rid of him, he can be serviceable and if he can't he'll just ride the pine. We have enough cap to do what we need to do this off-season, riding ourselves of Young is just gravy on the mash but using a pick to do so is just getting greasy 2 day old gravy

[Danny Darko]

You know this is bugging me a little- I really want either of the bigs in the draft, but... what sounds better:

Hibbert
Randle
Demare
Kobe/Clarkson
Russell/clarkson

or

Okafor
Randle
Demare
Kobe
Clarkson

I go back and forth

[Danny Darko]

of the teams around the 20's pick: 19-was 20-raps 21-mavs 22-bulls. i think mavs might trade for our 2 picks. they have a lot of expiring players and might want go get some cheaper abled bodies through the draft they can develop (who wont demand playing time)... their window for contention is closing... raps could bite also. theyre still a young team and still have patience for players to develop... bulls meh... getting the wizard's pick would be extremely lucky.

and then we can flip hill and or young with that acquired pick for someone else. like lance?

have at it.

I don't forsee Hill having any value at all, especially when teams now know we'll most likely not pick up his option they'll just wait it out and try to sign him out right once that happens. Young, we would have to do a lot of selling on him to a GM that isn't very knowledgeable of his game

Actually one team: The Pacers have the one year player option situation with Hibbert and would save 5 million by swapping 1 year contract for 1 year contract while also acquiring a faster small lineup center that fits their game plan.

[Marcus]

You know this is bugging me a little- I really want either of the bigs in the draft, but... what sounds better:

Hibbert
Randle
Demare
Kobe/Clarkson
Russell/clarkson

or

Okafor
Randle
Demare
Kobe
Clarkson

I go back and forth

I don't know what your draft situation looks like for the next couple of years or how likely you guys are to bring in that hometown talent during free agency and that factors into this, but from the outside looking in i'd say the lineup with Hibbert. He can protect Randle better defensively and your backcourt trio is solid with a healthy Mamba and there's wiggle room if he's not healthy. Growing pains for sure. But wiggle room. Vet rim protector, vet wing defenders, helps protect the youth surrounding it at all 3 levels.

[Michael Lucky]

Why go with a big at #2?

G Wesley Saunders - Ht: 6'5, Wt: 215, Senior, Harvard

%Min - 86%
%Poss - 29.7%
%Shot - 28.5%
ORtg - 109.4
eFG% - 49.3%
TS% - 55.3%
OR% - 6.2%
DR% - 15.4%
ARate - 32.1
TORate - 17.1
Blk % - 1.3
Stl% - 3.4
FC/40 - 2.6
FD/40 - 5.4
FTRate - 46.9
FT% - .783
2FG% - .454
3FG% - .431

G D'Angelo Russell - Ht: 6'5, Wt: 180, FR, Ohio State

%Min - 84.3%
%Poss - 30.2%
%Shot - 30.6%
ORtg - 113.6
eFG% - 54.1%
TS% - 57.3%
ARate - 30.1
TORate - 17.3
Blk % - 1.1
Stl% - 2.8
FC/40 - 2.5
FD/40 - 4.7
FTRate - 30.3
FT% - .756
2FG% - .479
3FG% - .411

For those who have no idea who I'm talking about:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOQo7aD-CNo[/youtube]

Take Saunders with the #34.

It's a nice comparison if we ignore the very first thing that jumps out. Senior. 3rd year in the league and your hope is that your #2 pick is nearing All Star Level type of play in the league.

[TyCobb]

Why go with a big at #2?

G Wesley Saunders - Ht: 6'5, Wt: 215, Senior, Harvard

%Min - 86%
%Poss - 29.7%
%Shot - 28.5%
ORtg - 109.4
eFG% - 49.3%
TS% - 55.3%
OR% - 6.2%
DR% - 15.4%
ARate - 32.1
TORate - 17.1
Blk % - 1.3
Stl% - 3.4
FC/40 - 2.6
FD/40 - 5.4
FTRate - 46.9
FT% - .783
2FG% - .454
3FG% - .431

G D'Angelo Russell - Ht: 6'5, Wt: 180, FR, Ohio State

%Min - 84.3%
%Poss - 30.2%
%Shot - 30.6%
ORtg - 113.6
eFG% - 54.1%
TS% - 57.3%
ARate - 30.1
TORate - 17.3
Blk % - 1.1
Stl% - 2.8
FC/40 - 2.5
FD/40 - 4.7
FTRate - 30.3
FT% - .756
2FG% - .479
3FG% - .411

For those who have no idea who I'm talking about:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOQo7aD-CNo[/youtube]

Take Saunders with the #34.

It's a nice comparison if we ignore the very first thing that jumps out. Senior. 3rd year in the league and your hope is that your #2 pick is nearing All Star Level type of play in the league.

I thought the very first thing was #2 pick vs. #34 pick. That post was with regards to impact. They are pretty favorable stats for Saunders. Another difference is Saunders ability to absorb contact and finish.

No doubt Russell has a higher upside--that wasn't what my post was intended to imply.