Official 2015 NBA Draft Discussion Thread [ft. TyCobb]

[TyCobb]

So defensively he's a SG and on offense he's a PG.

You think he'd guard SGs better than PGs?

I don't think he guards either position particularly well, but I'd rather save him some energy by having him guard off the ball so he can be effective at his strength, which is on the offensive end.

You think he could handle "all" the ball-handling duties? Or at least 80% of them?

Ohio State has a senior PG so 63% of the time Russell is slotted at the two. However, he is still used the most in possessions by a good 9% more than the next guy (Scott, Tate). He's got a good handle and can create for others too, so yes, he can handle a good majority of the ball-handling duties which is why I'd want a Beverley type (defensive mind guard who can spot up for 3) next to him if that's the way you want to build your team.

Personally, I'd want to build from the inside out, but I do see the attraction of Russell in this modern era of the NBA.

[Mirjalovic]

we got Randle as our inside guy.

a first rate guard + randle would be nasty. then add decent young athletic center

[LApwnd]

by some miracle we end up with #1 pick, would you guys want us to take Okafor or find a way to trade back and get Towns and maybe another top 15-20 pick and other minor assets?

[Michael Lucky]

No you take Okafor.

[LApwnd]

No you take Okafor.

you don't see a potential defensive liabilities between Randle/Okafor pairing?

[Michael Lucky]

No you take Okafor.

you don't see a potential defensive liabilities between Randle/Okafor pairing?

I wouldn't concern myself with defense at this stage. If you can get the surest thing to be a multiple all star for a decade you take him. Besides, you don't just trade the first overall pick unless it's for someone like Durant/Davis/Lebron.

[ALL HAIL]

No you take Okafor.

you don't see a potential defensive liabilities between Randle/Okafor pairing?

I wouldn't concern myself with defense at this stage. If you can get the surest thing to be a multiple all star for a decade you take him. Besides, you don't just trade the first overall pick unless it's for someone like Durant/Davis/Lebron.

Wow.

I disagree so much. You must always consider how your "stars" will fit ... always.

[Michael Lucky]

you don't see a potential defensive liabilities between Randle/Okafor pairing?

I wouldn't concern myself with defense at this stage. If you can get the surest thing to be a multiple all star for a decade you take him. Besides, you don't just trade the first overall pick unless it's for someone like Durant/Davis/Lebron.

Wow.

I disagree so much. You must always consider how your "stars" will fit ... always.

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree since i'm an advocate for taking best player available especially in a league where you only have five men on the court at a time unless you already have an all star player at the position. Not to mention it's an offensive friendly league causing great offensive players to have a much bigger impact than great defensive ones. Also no one knows if Okafor is going to be a bad defensive player.

[LApwnd]

I wouldn't concern myself with defense at this stage. If you can get the surest thing to be a multiple all star for a decade you take him. Besides, you don't just trade the first overall pick unless it's for someone like Durant/Davis/Lebron.

Wow.

I disagree so much. You must always consider how your "stars" will fit ... always.

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree since i'm an advocate for taking best player available especially in a league where you only have five men on the court at a time unless you already have an all star player at the position. Not to mention it's an offensive friendly league causing great offensive players to have a much bigger impact than great defensive ones. Also no one knows if Okafor is going to be a bad defensive player.

how bout if we did get #1 and a team with 4-5 would take Randle for it, maybe with inclusion of Hou pick? Would take that trade? Either pair Okafor with Russell or try the crazy twin towers experiment again and pair up Okafor/Towns....since analysis here seem to indicate both have ability to hit jumpers more-so towns who could be more versatile

[Michael Lucky]

Wow.

I disagree so much. You must always consider how your "stars" will fit ... always.

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree since i'm an advocate for taking best player available especially in a league where you only have five men on the court at a time unless you already have an all star player at the position. Not to mention it's an offensive friendly league causing great offensive players to have a much bigger impact than great defensive ones. Also no one knows if Okafor is going to be a bad defensive player.

how bout if we did get #1 and a team with 4-5 would take Randle for it, maybe with inclusion of Hou pick? Would take that trade? Either pair Okafor with Russell or try the crazy twin towers experiment again and pair up Okafor/Towns....since analysis here seem to indicate both have ability to hit jumpers more-so towns who could be more versatile

If we were guaranteed Russell at the 4, i'd do it if a team was willing to make the trade.

[LApwnd]

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree since i'm an advocate for taking best player available especially in a league where you only have five men on the court at a time unless you already have an all star player at the position. Not to mention it's an offensive friendly league causing great offensive players to have a much bigger impact than great defensive ones. Also no one knows if Okafor is going to be a bad defensive player.

how bout if we did get #1 and a team with 4-5 would take Randle for it, maybe with inclusion of Hou pick? Would take that trade? Either pair Okafor with Russell or try the crazy twin towers experiment again and pair up Okafor/Towns....since analysis here seem to indicate both have ability to hit jumpers more-so towns who could be more versatile

If we were guaranteed Russell at the 4, i'd do it if a team was willing to make the trade.

well if projection stands 4 will probably be towns since its looking like russel, okafor, mundaiye are top 3. So unlikely Russell I guess.

[Michael Lucky]

how bout if we did get #1 and a team with 4-5 would take Randle for it, maybe with inclusion of Hou pick? Would take that trade? Either pair Okafor with Russell or try the crazy twin towers experiment again and pair up Okafor/Towns....since analysis here seem to indicate both have ability to hit jumpers more-so towns who could be more versatile

If we were guaranteed Russell at the 4, i'd do it if a team was willing to make the trade.

well if projection stands 4 will probably be towns since its looking like russel, okafor, mundaiye are top 3. So unlikely Russell I guess.

nah seems like movement has been with Towns going up this last week. Draftexpress has him at 2 now.

[TyCobb]

If we were guaranteed Russell at the 4, i'd do it if a team was willing to make the trade.

well if projection stands 4 will probably be towns since its looking like russel, okafor, mundaiye are top 3. So unlikely Russell I guess.

nah seems like movement has been with Towns going up this last week. Draftexpress has him at 2 now.

That's where they had him originally before they rode the Russell triple double wave.

[moonpie]

Libertyballers wrote a nice scouting report (with GIFs) breaking down Russell's game against Michigan and other general observations. Take a look:

http://www.libertyballers.com/2015/2/24 ... ing-report

[ALL HAIL]

I wouldn't concern myself with defense at this stage. If you can get the surest thing to be a multiple all star for a decade you take him. Besides, you don't just trade the first overall pick unless it's for someone like Durant/Davis/Lebron.

Wow.

I disagree so much. You must always consider how your "stars" will fit ... always.

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree since i'm an advocate for taking best player available especially in a league where you only have five men on the court at a time unless you already have an all star player at the position. Not to mention it's an offensive friendly league causing great offensive players to have a much bigger impact than great defensive ones. Also no one knows if Okafor is going to be a bad defensive player.

My comment was not so much directed toward the defensive capabilities of an Okafor/Randle combination--I think they'd be able to mesh. It was more directed toward one sentence you wrote: "I wouldn't concern myself with defense at this stage."

Even as you are in talent acquisition, if you are truly building a team, you have to consider your defense as much as you consider your offense.

As you said though, we can agree that we clearly have different philosophies.

[Fresh360Waves]

No you take Okafor.

you don't see a potential defensive liabilities between Randle/Okafor pairing?

I wouldn't concern myself with defense at this stage. If you can get the surest thing to be a multiple all star for a decade you take him. Besides, you don't just trade the first overall pick unless it's for someone like Durant/Davis/Lebron.

I agree w/ that. The Lakers can't pass up on a kid with the talent Okafor has despite his defensive issues. You worry about that later. If it doesn't necessarily work out, Randle could always come off the bench or get traded. The situation would work itself out. Besides, maybe Okafor could work w/ Kareem and/or Worthy. I saw on TV that Worthy was working w/ Randle during one of their practices so maybe he'd do the same w/ Okafor as well.

[Mirjalovic]

Well, Randle is a blue chip talent, you can't find his type of talent on this draft class.

he has superstar talent written all over him

[TyCobb]

Disagree.

[TyCobb]

Kareem with a cool interview with Bill Walton during the second half of the UCLA game. He seems like the ultimate human being.

Looney all over the place today. He's hit 9 of his last 13 three point attempts (5 game span) and has three games in a row with 2 blocks a piece.

[moonpie]

Posting this as a reminder to do a mid/late season rookie retrospective on Clarkson and Randle...and perhaps a scouting report for Tarik Black