The #2 Pick

[dockingsched]

hmm nbadraftnet and Chad Ford both have the Lakers picking Russell at 2 now even though they had Okafor there just a few days ago. Not sure why their draft board changed though. Whatever happens with Embiid is irrelevant or they are putting a lot of stock on Russell having delayed his workout with the Sixers.

Chad ford was on with max and Marcellus on Friday and he said that he thinks okafor will be the pick for the lakers but if it were up to him he'd go with Porzingis would be the clear cut 2 in the draft. This was before the workout that everyone's raving about, ford had been high on him for the longest time

[DEEP3CL]

And thank God Ford isn't an NBA GM, raving about a dude who averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds in Euro play. Sorry but that isn't a clear cut #2 to me, it's gonna take this kid a long time to develop a true NBA body and game to fit.

[Sedale Threatt]

This just illustrates how brutal it is to be an NBA GM.

Detroit had its most respected scout tell Dumars that he'd never seen a workout like Darko's -- one of the biggest busts in recent NBA history. Then you have Kobe, who put on the most impressive workout Jerry West had ever seen -- one of the 15 best players of all time. There's just so much projection nowadays with college players coming out after just one year, and Europeans playing against weak competition. You can do all the homework you want but you're still going out on a limb no matter who you take.

The huge positive is that there seems to be some excellent prospects to choose from. The frightening thing is that there are no sure things. (Although I'd do cartwheels if Towns was available; he seems like the safest bet to me.) At this point, I have no idea, and I don't care one bit about position or whatever. Just hope we choose a major difference maker 'cause there will definitely be a few from this draft, but not all of these guys are going to pan out.

[Wavy Q]

Are professional European players really that much worse than the college players these projected draft picks play against? Most of these college players wont make the NBA and usually end up in Europe or out of basketball entirely anyway.

[frozt]

Just take Russell or Okafor and call it a day.

[Pointgod]

hmm nbadraftnet and Chad Ford both have the Lakers picking Russell at 2 now even though they had Okafor there just a few days ago. Not sure why their draft board changed though. Whatever happens with Embiid is irrelevant or they are putting a lot of stock on Russell having delayed his workout with the Sixers.

Chad ford was on with max and Marcellus on Friday and he said that he thinks okafor will be the pick for the lakers but if it were up to him he'd go with Porzingis would be the clear cut 2 in the draft. This was before the workout that everyone's raving about, ford had been high on him for the longest time

Chad Ford aka Darko's agent is an absolute joke. The guy hyped up Darko as the next big thing and he was one of the biggest busts ever. He even goes as far to re edit his mock drafts. I put zero stock in anything this guy says.

[dipstick]

I was happy and excited about Okafor and all of a sudden Russell skips the sixers workout and the lakers and sixers attend the porzingis workout and thats supposed to mean that we want either of them over Okafor? All of this is stressing me out. I want Okafor. 11 fays to go of this madness.

[Mirjalovic]

Porzingis agent did a good job, with a average looking workout vid, and everyone go full crazy lol.

i mean, put channing frye on a open gym, bet he can do that moves.

[cashflo]

Porzingis agent did a good job, with a average looking workout vid, and everyone go full crazy lol.

i mean, put channing frye on a open gym, bet he can do that moves.

Yes but there's a big difference between 6'11 and 7'1
Krispy is just as tall a Timofey Mozgov and 1 inch taller than Dirk!

[Sofa King]

Porzingis agent did a good job, with a average looking workout vid, and everyone go full crazy lol.

i mean, put channing frye on a open gym, bet he can do that moves.

Yes but there's a big difference between 6'11 and 7'1
Krispy is just as tall a Timofey Mozgov and 1 inch taller than Dirk!

I didn't see anything spectacular in that video. Porzingis needs to first start with Dirk's patented fade away and use it consistently in game competition if he wants to impress. I need to see some of his Euro games and how he played.

[dipstick]

Would be interesting to see if Okafor or Russell or Mudiay comes back for a 2nd workout. Do top talents even do that? I remember last year that a couple of players (I believe including Randle) came back for a second workout. Considering that Okafor is slipping in the mocks (not necessarily in GM's lists) and Russell and Mudiay want to be picked higher by the Lakers, they may agree if requested.

[oneseven]

All of this is stressing me out. I want Okafor.

This.
Or Towns if Oka goes 1.
Done and done.
No need to over-complicate.

[Kings2013]

Holy ****, that length, athleticism and shooting stroke. I don't usually take too much stock into choreographed workouts but this is something else. If he develops his physique like he should with pro nutrition and workouts, his potential is insane.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjzdm1pSqjk[/youtube]

Drills when players aren't going up against actual competition tell you nothing. He has a nice shooting stroke and he looks fluid for a 7 footer but he's not pulling off those moves against athletic NBA level defenders. He seems like the definition of a workout warrior. Using the number 2 pick on shooter is such a waste. He would make a lot of sense for a team like Orlando who could hide him on defense.

Orlando can hide him? Vucevic is one of the worst defensive starting centers in nba

[Side beard]

Porzingis agent did a good job, with a average looking workout vid, and everyone go full crazy lol.

i mean, put channing frye on a open gym, bet he can do that moves.

Yes but there's a big difference between 6'11 and 7'1
Krispy is just as tall a Timofey Mozgov and 1 inch taller than Dirk!

I didn't see anything spectacular in that video. Porzingis needs to first start with Dirk's patented fade away and use it consistently in game competition if he wants to impress. I need to see some of his Euro games and how he played.

Come on.
Dirk had his patented Dirk-leg at age of 6, shot .9% ft at age of 11 and learned to shoot 3s at age of 14.

You are talking about 19 year old 7'1 who played like SF in Europe. He already got some skills, but like ANY player EVER, he will hit his full potential around age of 27-30.

If you want to see his games, check post #160 HERE.

[oldschooled]

I would love to have Porzingis too...



but not with the #2 pick.

[cashflo]

Would NY take Randle 27th and 34th for Krispas?

Would we want to do that?

[BEazy]

I'm going to be SOOOOOO PISSED if we don't get Towns/Okafor/Russell. Mitch isn't that stupid, but I'm afraid of what ole Jimbo is thinking...I really hope he isn't considering this 7 foot Prozing bust...

[Rosque]

Would NY take Randle 27th and 34th for Krispas?

Would we want to do that?

Why would you do that? Randle's a hard worker, has an NBA ready body, can bang down low, has shaky jumper but a developing one and he's been picking Kobe's brain this past year since both were more on the sidelines than on the court. Porzingis has good jumper, great height but has weak body and is reportedly worse at passing than B.Lopez.

[Minhee]

Part of me really want Russell, but is #2 too high for a PG? It could be dumb to pass on Okafor but at the same time Bigs are highly reputable of being a bust going that high.

The only #2 picks that turned out to be superstars that are Alonzo, Gary Payton, Kidd and Durant. None of them lead a team to a title. KD failed in 2012 but he still has 10 yrs left, GP and Zo had to latch on to that 2006 heat squad to win one ring, while Kidd latch on to the 2011 Mavs squad. Looking at the list below, quite a bit of #2 became busts or journeyman especially the bigs. Thabeet, Derrick Williams, Emeka, and darko are the most recent bigs that are busts.

2013 Victor Oladipo Indiana Orlando
2012 Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Kentucky Charlotte
2011 Derrick Williams Arizona Minnesota
2010 Evan Turner Ohio State Philadelphia
2009 Hasheem Thabeet Connecticut Memphis
2008 Michael Beasley Kansas St. Miami
2007 Kevin Durant Texas Seattle
2006 LaMarcus Aldridge Texas Chicago
2005 Marvin Williams UNC Fr. Atlanta
2004 Emeka Okafor UConn Jr. Charlotte
2003 Darko Milicic Serbia 1985 Detroit
2002 Jay Williams Duke Jr. Chicago
2001 Tyson Chandler Dominguez HSSs. LA Clippers
2000 Stromile Swift LSU So. Vancouver
1999 Steve Francis Maryland Jr. Vancouver
1998 Mike Bibby Arizona Vancouver
1997 Keith Van Horn Utah Philadelphia
1996 Marcus Camby Massachusetts Toronto
1995 Antonio McDyess Alabama LA Clippers
1994 Jason Kidd California Dallas
1993 Shawn Bradley Brigham Young Philadelphia
1992 Alonzo Mourning Georgetown NO Hornets
1991 Kenny Anderson Georgia Tech New Jersey
1990 Gary Payton Oregon State Seattle

[SubZero]

overthinking it.. all we gotta do is take the big minny doesn't