The #2 Pick

[Mirjalovic]

This Porzingis sounds like Chriaev a lot, the way he talk, twitt, etc.

[Laker_Kid]

No to Porzy the son of Bargs and Darky. Just take OK4 and be done with it.

[Hogified05]

Heres my fantasy trade
nyk-vuc, 2018 lakers 1st (from orl)
orl-#2 pick
la-4th and 5th

I doubt Orlando would trade Vucevic for the #2 pick. Vuc + #5 for the #2 is not going to happen.

I am not opposed to trading Vuc in the right trade...dunno if just the number 2 will do the trick. Vuc is an all-star last year if he was on a decent team. Double Double basically every night.

I think I speak for most Magic fans...Vuc isn't untouchable but we would let him go for the right trade.

[dockingsched]

No to Porzy the son of Bargs and Darky. Just take OK4 and be done with it.

I don't know, Honestly don't think anyone can really know enough about him to write him off like many in this thread seem to be doing just cause he's a tall European. If the Lakers decided to take him, I gotta believe they saw something in these workouts that was too hard to pass up. I'd he just as excited for him as any other player the team decided was worthy of the pick.

[dockingsched]

Heres my fantasy trade
nyk-vuc, 2018 lakers 1st (from orl)
orl-#2 pick
la-4th and 5th

I doubt Orlando would trade Vucevic for the #2 pick. Vuc + #5 for the #2 is not going to happen.

I am not opposed to trading Vuc in the right trade...dunno if just the number 2 will do the trick. Vuc is an all-star last year if he was on a decent team. Double Double basically every night.

I think I speak for most Magic fans...Vuc isn't untouchable but we would let him go for the right trade.

Vuc isn't worth the number 2 pick, he's not THAT good compared to two stud bigs like towns and or okafor.

[Kilroy]

No to Porzy the son of Bargs and Darky. Just take OK4 and be done with it.

I don't know, Honestly don't think anyone can really know enough about him to write him off like many in this thread seem to be doing just cause he's a tall European. If the Lakers decided to take him, I gotta believe they saw something in these workouts that was too hard to pass up. I'd he just as excited for him as any other player the team decided was worthy of the pick.

Mostly agree with this, but I still think I'd be happier with an Okafor or Towns pick... Not sure if that's fair or why that is... Porzy seems talented and capable... And Mozgov made me a believer in tall Europeans... But I'm not sure I'd trust the pick over an Okafor or a Towns.

[Danny Darko]

i guess it comes down to what kind of gambler you are, but if you gamble on the Kristaps that's the kind of black eye a gm might not live down. They should call him Pornzingis because if you draft him at 2 you are f'd.

[dockingsched]

Reminds of the story that Kobe gives as to why the clippers didn't draft him, they were scared they'd get ridiculed and didn't go with the player they thought was the best player available

[TyCobb]

That's it, I'm sold... Looney for #1 pick starts today!

[Kilroy]

It also says a lot about the relative skill/competitiveness of the NCAA vs Euro play... If you go for Porzy @ 2, you're essentially indicting the College system and giving an ersatz nod to the European system of talent development... Ersatz, up to the point Porzy outperforms Towns and Okafor in the NBA... Then it's real... And that's the gamble...
Not a minor thing either... Sure, Kobe's a legend now... But back when he was drafted, he was much, much more likely to be a bust... And maybe he would have been if the Clippers drafted him too...

That's what's so sweet about finally having back to back lottery picks... There's so much to win and loose. But it's also so much easier being a fan of a team like the Lakers... Because there's a lot more room to just sit back and trust that a guy like Mitch has it sussed out...

[Kilroy]

That's it, I'm sold... Looney for #1 pick starts today!

[what would jack bauer do?]

Why aren't there more player comparisons like greg monroe, al jefferson, emeka okafor, enes kanter, or andrew bynum for jahlil okafor? Everyone seems to be comparing Jahlil to Duncan but I really don't see that level of effort and awareness on the defensive end from him. If they're talking Duncan I see more of 38 year old Duncan minus the defense, the jumpshot, and good free throw shooting, which is where duncan did most of his damage in the last couple finals. I'm not 100% sure where jahlil fits in the current NBA. Crazy that everyone is so sold on this guy right now. I rank Towns and Mudiay above him right now and I like Porzingis if we're looking to trade down.

[what would jack bauer do?]

Don't get me wrong I think Okafor is gonna be a good player and obviously he can improve on defense and hopefully improve his athleticism, but I don't know why everyone is talking about him like he's a no brainer pick. As much as everyone wants to believe in how good the top of this draft is, there's a low percentage chance that there is a Lebron, Kobe, or Duncan level superstar in this draft. Josh Jackson and Udoka Azubuike aren't in this draft fellas.

[Laker_Kid]

No to Porzy the son of Bargs and Darky. Just take OK4 and be done with it.

I don't know, Honestly don't think anyone can really know enough about him to write him off like many in this thread seem to be doing just cause he's a tall European. If the Lakers decided to take him, I gotta believe they saw something in these workouts that was too hard to pass up. I'd he just as excited for him as any other player the team decided was worthy of the pick.

Mostly agree with this, but I still think I'd be happier with an Okafor or Towns pick... Not sure if that's fair or why that is... Porzy seems talented and capable... And Mozgov made me a believer in tall Europeans... But I'm not sure I'd trust the pick over an Okafor or a Towns.

Yeah I totally hear you guys. But we have the #2 pick, a pick we were blessed and lucky to have, it wasn't long ago that we were all hoping not to lose it. I really don't want to risk it on a "project" and a big question mark at that. At least with OK4 or KA-T, we already have an idea how they are built. We are choosing among potential yes, but let's take the safe route please. To me its OK4 and KA-T, then Russell.

[Rosque]

Here's comes the Super Mario hype pieces I was looking for.

I can't help myself He's my countryman and I just want him as a Laker so I don't have to bandwagon Magic or whoever will take him + 6ers for Saric

[Jody Smokz]

I wouldnt take Porz over Okafor or Towns but all this Darko and Bargnani talk is just guys being lazy and not doing a bit a research on the guy.

[PKABOOICU]

I bought a ticket for the draft! I'm going to barclays center..so stoked!

[LApwnd]

Heres my fantasy trade
nyk-vuc, 2018 lakers 1st (from orl)
orl-#2 pick
la-4th and 5th

I doubt Orlando would trade Vucevic for the #2 pick. Vuc + #5 for the #2 is not going to happen.

Magic fan made that offer for #2....im just expanding it cause i don't want vuc. Nyk might like him more as he's established, maybe give ny 27th as well and they might bite

[GOODRICH]

Hoping for Russell. Okafor scars me. He doesn't look motivated enough. Looks uninterested at times.

[PKABOOICU]

my take-

1. KAT
- will be the best "plug" and "fit" He won't do anything tremendously well in the league, but he will do everything just right. his ceiling is maybe like a prime Jermaine O'neal. OK post moves, great defense, OK intangibles

2. Okafor
-will have unguardable offensive moves and superior court vision. Defense may or may not develop depending upon his work ethic. Has potential to develop as a #1 or #2 option on offense, and he will command double teams in the post. he could end up being on the wrong side of a lot of posters. he reminds me of a prime al jefferson.

3. Russell
-highest potential to become a superstar. I don't see bust written on him at all..at worst, he's a good role player. I think he's actually the safest pick in the draft. He is good at everything except defense, which isn't "bad" in anyway...its just average. he reminds me way too much of james harden with his shooting touch and way too much of manu ginobili with his playmaking ability. I think he will end up being a top 5 shooting guard for the next 10-12 years. his potential ranges anywhere from shaun livingston to james harden. You really can't go wrong with him.

4. Mudiay
- highest risk, highest reward (along with KAT) Explosive but by no means better than westbrook or wall. at best, i see him being a fringe allstar, someone who is always playing pretty well, but not a huge game changer. reminds me of eric bledsoe with better passing ability.

5. Porzingis
-huge question mark...it will take him 3-4 years to fill into his own body. no, he won't be dirk, but he may not be bargs either. could he be the next kirilenko? the next yi jianlian? or even the next durant? nobody really knows. players with his frame and skillset vary too much, and thats why he is not a 'safe pick', especially at 2.