NBA 2021 Draft

[ROballer]

Less than a month to go, we're probably including the pick in any kind of deal should we make one.

However, there's always a chance that doesn't work out. We've been busy apparently interviewing guys in our range, so that's an indicator we might have a plan with a guy or two if a good trade doesn't come along.

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Should we keep the pick, what kind of player are you looking for?

[DNP-Old]

I would like an upper class combo guard/wing like Duarte, Dosunmu, Murphy III or Butler. I would also like them to pick up a 2nd round pick (buy or trade) and pick up a center like Bassey, Petrusev or Queta.

Furthermore, I think it is time to fish or cut bait with Antekounmpo and Cacok. If they are not good enough to make the regular roster, cut them loose. Either way I would look to pick up two new 2-way players. It is difficult for me to predict who might be available, maybe, Hauser, Hurt, Pons, Sarr, etc.

[ROballer]

Kostas is apparently returning to Europe. Olympiakos and Panathinaikos are interested in him.

I also see Gasol returning to Barcelona to play one more year with his brother.

Harrell has already posted an IG clip thanking the Lakers, he's gone. Drummond is also probably gone, he scoffed at a poster suggesting he should take the minimum.

Markieff said last year he's gonna take one more low salary deal for a chance to repeat. I don't see him on the roster.



So most of our froncourt will be gone, minutes are going to be available. Yeah, I want to either draft a big or buy another pick to get one. I see JT Thor, Queta, Bassey the type of guys who could immediately get some minutes for us. The C position is one of the easiest to fill IMO, if you can defend at some level(rim, switches, P&T) and rebound, you're getting some PT. Especially on a team like us who clearly prioritizes getting the scoring from somebody else.
Whereas as a guard or wing you need to be able to shoot AND defend nowadays.

[sc00bysnaqz]

New here and a Laker fan since forever. I wanted to day that I too hope that the Lakers pick up an extra pick. I like that Queta kid, 7footer with a 7'4 wing span. Rim protector and nice screen and roller. I like Hurt out of Duke. Stepping outside the box, I am looking at the other Mobley brother, Isaiah Mobley. And I agree with you ROballer A couple of guys are outro. With Dennis asking for more than his actual worth, he could be gone or the Lakers may just give him close to what he is asking due to him being a RFA, Drummond want about the same, Trez taking shots at the Lakers while in playing in the Drew League, he is out... Rob has some work to do and with very little house money.

The Lakers will need wings. I am looking at

Hurt
Bassey
RaiQuan Gray
JT Thor
I lowkey like Quentin Grimes
If Johnny Juzang goes undrafted, I'd take a look at him

I know I am all over the place but since the Lakers need players

[dAdo dA dEvil]

New here and a Laker fan since forever. I wanted to day that I too hope that the Lakers pick up an extra pick. I like that Queta kid, 7footer with a 7'4 wing span. Rim protector and nice screen and roller. I like Hurt out of Duke. Stepping outside the box, I am looking at the other Mobley brother, Isaiah Mobley. And I agree with you ROballer A couple of guys are outro. With Dennis asking for more than his actual worth, he could be gone or the Lakers may just give him close to what he is asking due to him being a RFA, Drummond want about the same, Trez taking shots at the Lakers while in playing in the Drew League, he is out... Rob has some work to do and with very little house money.

The Lakers will need wings. I am looking at

Hurt
Bassey
RaiQuan Gray
JT Thor
I lowkey like Quentin Grimes
If Johnny Juzang goes undrafted, I'd take a look at him

I know I am all over the place but since the Lakers need players

Welcome to the family.

[TyCobb]

Okay, sign me up for Queta bandwagon.

[TylersLakers]

I hope they use the pick + Kuzma to upgrade.

[zuju]

I hope they use the pick + Kuzma to upgrade.

I think it is a nice way to fill the 13-14 spot with draft picks or even the 11/12 spot with first rounder so that we can have relatively long and secured cheap contract.

It is also a way to make the team sustainable, hopefully our picks can turn out to be at least some useful role players going forward.

I hope we keep the 23 rd pick and buy at least 1 or 2 more 2nd round picks who they see have the potential like THT. Sign new 2 way contracts and develop for the future. This year seems to have a very deep draft class. Hopefully, the 23rd pick can turn out to be sth useful from the get go, at least in the regular season and occasional mintues in playoff game.

[sc00bysnaqz]

Just giving an update on who the Lakers are working out today.
We already know about Giorgi Bezhanishvili

Here are the others today
3P%
Jason Preston July 7 PG Ohio 39%
Matthew Hurt N/A PF Duke 44%
Alan Griffin July 7 SG Syracuse 36.1%
Cody Riley July 7 PF UCLA 0.0
LJ Figueroa July 7 SG Oregon 37.7 %
Matt Coleman July 7 PG Texas 37.7%
Oscar Da Silva N/A PF Stanford 31.1

With the exception of both Cody and Oscar, they are going for a player that stretches the floor AND most of these dudes will not be drafted. This could mean a number of things, a package trade will go down around the draft or they will be looking by 2nd rounders.

Detroit has 3 2nd rounders
Toronto has 2 (Lowry)
Nets have 3 (dinwiddie)
Pacers have 2 (McDermott)
OKC have 3 in the 1st and 3 in the 2nd (Linked to wanting Kuzma)
Just name these teams because of the trade rumors

[zuju]

How do you guys compare and rank the following players:

JT Thor vs Isaiah Todd vs Makur Maker vs Vrenz Bleijenbergh- skilled Forward
Bassey vs Isaiah Jackson - Center energy guy
Grime vs Duante - Shooters with good defense

I really love 1 or 2 of those guys on the team and some on the 2 way contracts. Yes, if our scouts find them useful, why not signing them to some reasonably priced and controlled contracts. Most of them can be had in the 2nd round or late first round

[ROballer]

I love Bleijenbergh. Monster passer for his size/age and his 3 point shot altough not very efficient right now, it's developing nicely.
Has good length to be an adequate defender but remains to be seen if he'll put it to use.

Todd seemed underwhelming in the G-league. Sure, Green and Kuminga ate first but he seems like a 3 point no D guy at this point.
Has to significantly improve effort on D.


Bassey/Jackson/Queta are in the same mold more or less. Bassey has some offensive skills but I'm not sure if it's enough to run plays for him in this league with what he's got. I think all 3 are rebounding/rim protecting guys in this league with some garbage offensive points out of lobs/off reb/broken plays. I don't know if they can adequately defend the perimeter on switches, that's a must for a big nowadays with the switch everything offense, they'll be often switched onto guards. Jackson is 2-3 years away to being a contributor.


I'll run away with Thor and not think twice. This guy can shoot the 3(forget his %, he's improved a lot during the year and he's been killing it in workouts. His shot is legit), has nimble feet and can guard anybody on the perimeter when switched(including guards) and he's a shotblocker/rim protector to top it off? Still only 18 years of age.

Yeah, he's 205 pounds and might get bullied by bruisers in the post. But how many bruisers are left in the league anyway? Not many.


Basically all of our frontcourt depth will be gone. If we're keeping the pick we need to take a big for sure.
Guards we have plenty and they're a dime a dozen in the league anyway. Modern bigs are a rare breed nowadays.

[zuju]

I love Bleijenbergh. Monster passer for his size/age and his 3 point shot altough not very efficient right now, it's developing nicely.
Has good length to be an adequate defender but remains to be seen if he'll put it to use.

Todd seemed underwhelming in the G-league. Sure, Green and Kuminga ate first but he seems like a 3 point no D guy at this point.
Has to significantly improve effort on D.


Bassey/Jackson/Queta are in the same mold more or less. Bassey has some offensive skills but I'm not sure if it's enough to run plays for him in this league with what he's got. I think all 3 are rebounding/rim protecting guys in this league with some garbage offensive points out of lobs/off reb/broken plays. I don't know if they can adequately defend the perimeter on switches, that's a must for a big nowadays with the switch everything offense, they'll be often switched onto guards. Jackson is 2-3 years away to being a contributor.


I'll run away with Thor and not think twice. This guy can shoot the 3(forget his %, he's improved a lot during the year and he's been killing it in workouts. His shot is legit), has nimble feet and can guard anybody on the perimeter when switched(including guards) and he's a shotblocker/rim protector to top it off? Still only 18 years of age.

Yeah, he's 205 pounds and might get bullied by bruisers in the post. But how many bruisers are left in the league anyway? Not many.


Basically all of our frontcourt depth will be gone. If we're keeping the pick we need to take a big for sure.
Guards we have plenty and they're a dime a dozen in the league anyway. Modern bigs are a rare breed nowadays.

Bro, you have been scouting quite thoroughly.

Bleijenbergh's success will very much depends on his development in 3 pt shooting and being a decent defender in the league. Either quick enough to guard 3s / 4s or strong enough to take on 5s. It looks like Jokic and Doncic showed the world how a non-black guy can be great in the NBA. Elite passing skill, vision, shooting, high BBIQ and, even better, ball handling. Bleijenbergh's definitely have that passing skill and vision. If he can continue to develop as a shooter while not being a defensive liability, he can be real good in a short time.

Thor is really talented and I want him on the lakers. I doubt he can contribute right a way if he is not told to play a defined role in a system. He could be our 13th man on the squad and be brought up slowly. His body looks more like Kuz physically who is more suitable to play the 3 and 4 position.

I really like Makur Maker. Very talented, very skillful, athletic and strong. I do believe that he can be very useful immediately at the 4 and 5 position

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I say, buy some 2nd round picks, draft Maker, thor/Bleijenbergh and grime taking the 12-14 spot of the roster.
sign Bassey to 2 way contract. Freaking strong, athletic and energetic with some little skills.

[sc00bysnaqz]

Looks like the Lakers posted a couple interviews.

Jason Preston

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Trey Murphy III

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Nah'Shon Bones

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[LAL1947]

This article says that the Lakers have had workouts with 35 draft prospects so far. It was last updated on July 24th and I know there are/were more workouts planned, so the final total will be higher. Rob Pelinka and the scouting/drafting department folks have been putting in work!

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2021/7/22/22587124/2021-nba-draft-date-lakers-workout-picks-22-jaden-springer-trey-murphy-bones-hyland

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if the team conducted this many workouts in preparation for previous drafts when Magic was GM, Jim/Mitch, etc?

[ROballer]

I think we're definitely buying another pick. It's invaluable with the high salaries that we have to get low contracts on the roster.
Remember, vet minimums get like 1.5-2.5 mil a year. And guys like McKinnie don't even play most of the games.
You can easily get a 2nd rounder with less than a mil salary to fill those McKinnie spots.

Remember, THT was selected with a pick that we bought.
It's a ridiculous heavy draft, maybe not with top end talent but with role players who will be in the league a long time.

I see at least 40-45 dudes who are first round material in every other year. Some are gonna fall.

[TJM217]

Yo if Jared Springer or Jared Butler are still on the board in the 2nd round. We need to buy a 2nd round pick