The #2 Pick

[Mirjalovic]

We love bigmen

[gotokyo]

ok, so how likely is it that Minny drafts Towns? I am really so sold on Okafor!

Personally I expect Okafor to go first. It's pretty remarkable how Okafor went from consensus #1 to consensus #2 while never really having a dip in play.

He went from consensus #1 to start the season, then to #1b with Towns being #1a pre-lottery.

Then the Lakers got the 2nd pick and now he's forsure #2 if not #3 or #4 and a huge step below towns who's going to be a superstar. Okafor's ceiling is poor man's AL Jefferson and has atrocious defense. Gotta love how quickly player perception can change when the lotto balls don't go your way.

[dockingsched]

Actually Winslow looked like the more impactful player between the two of them in college this year, especially in the tournament.

I don't know about showing more impact than Okafor, however,Winslow certainly increased his draft position from his play in the tournament, I've been high on him for awhile.

[Leor_77]

Are we expecting Okafor to keep growing?

[Michael Lucky]

ok, so how likely is it that Minny drafts Towns? I am really so sold on Okafor!

Personally I expect Okafor to go first. It's pretty remarkable how Okafor went from consensus #1 to consensus #2 while never really having a dip in play.

He went from consensus #1 to start the season, then to #1b with Towns being #1a pre-lottery.

Then the Lakers got the 2nd pick and now he's forsure #2 if not #3 or #4 and a huge step below towns who's going to be a superstar. Okafor's ceiling is poor man's AL Jefferson and has atrocious defense. Gotta love how quickly player perception can change when the lotto balls don't go your way.

Reminds me of how the perception on Wiggins changed so much and how all of a sudden he was the next Corey Brewer......

[reds622]

Okafor is so advanced offensively, I think you have to take him. He is still such a young kid, and he has huge hands. I think he's going to be an offensive force in his prime.

Get him on the team and around Kobe and let him learn what being a pro is all about. As long he shows a strong work ethic, and a commitment to improving on the defensive end, I think he has a chance to be a special player. I don't think you pass that up.

[spaceballer]

Mitch Kupchak interview:
He's taking one of the two bigs, whichever one Minny doesn't want.

"We haven’t interviewed anybody, clearly at the top of the this draft there’s 2 bigs and we have the 2nd pick"

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=12926461

[john248]

Dude. They have a billionaire owner, are on track to go to the finals with a young core...they have amazing offensive and defensive chemistry...you just don't break up a team like that in its 1st great year. You let it ride, man.

Cuban is also a Billionaire!! broke up the Mavs after winning it all

Context, man. First of all that team was lucky as **** to win. Secondly they were old as hell. Totally different from a team where Curry is 26, Green 25, Klay 25, Barnes 22.

Dallas was just happy to be there. GSW has loftier goals.

Yea, that and GSW has gone on record as saying they won't mind going well into the tax if it means a championship core. While this doesn't mean they're just going to keep everyone, it probably indicates that Green and Barnes will likely be resigned and the savings will come in the form of getting rid of Lee and Iggy.

I think the "Lakers" will not take a 6' 5" potential Super Star or a 6' 11" Super Superstar who
has the potential to get more rebounds and block shots.

You got to get rebounds. Russel could average a lot of points but over there
careers Okafor has a chance to get more rebounds, block more shots
and free up your three point shooters and wings for open shots with double teams.

My concern if you take Okafor, then is Randle a good fit at his height. I was thinking he is a bit short.
I would want a 7 footer on the other side of the hoop when Okafor shoots the ball to rebound as opposed
to a 6-9.

Play Okafor and Randle a year and then decide. Don't jump the gun.

Defensive rebounding is actually a weakness for Okafor. I do feel this is one part of the game that he can improve. He won't be a shot blocker though, and that's ok. He just has to contest shots and not be a liability on the defensive end which is a far taller task. His defense isn't something to dismiss either.

And no, you don't have to pair Okafor with a 7 footer. Randle just needs to be the great rebounder he's projected to be since Okafor isn't. It'd help if Randle developed into a good defender. but his height is just fine...it's his wingspan that falls short.

It's why I would pair Okafor with a defensive big like Deandre Jordan. David Robinson and Tim Duncan played well together.

Yea, just because they did it, it's guaranteed to happen!!!

So basically the defensive player of the year was criticized for lack of defense pre-draft. I don't buy that criticism of Okafor as being permanent and when I see video of his games I see much better switching, quickness, and defensive iQ than he's given credit for. Rim protector is a term they keep using to trash him, but no one says "Marc Gasol is a great rim protector". Marc's vertical is not impressive but that does not matter half as much as position, strength, and iq.

Draymond Green scouting

Bringing up something like this and what the guy I quoted above this is so pointless. RingsDoneLie brings up D-Rob and Duncan as if there's a great chance of that happening. Using Green or other guys as examples who overcame their deficiencies is nice, they also represent such a small sample. There are more guys who aren't explosive and laterally quick that don't develop to become an all-D player than ones that do. It'd be just as easy to say, well Amare had a ton of athleticism, wtf happened to him on defense? Really, good offensive smarts doesn't mean good defensive one either.

This isn't so much that I'm down on Okafor aside from his defense since I want him to be the pick too. But generally guys who have to rely on smarts on defense because they lack athleticism are even more rare. At least in my view, if he becomes a solid defender, that's just a great bonus. But that's the risk that I'd take as an arm chair GM in hopes that the league figures out what to do with a good big since the game we see today will be different 5 years from now.

[john248]

I know Towns is projected to go number 1 but I think we all have to remember that Minnesota is the same team that took 3 Point Guards with their 3 first round picks in 2009. Two of which were lottery picks (5,6). None of which were Steph Curry.

The good old days when Kahn was the GM.

Lakers intrigued by Russell/Mudiay.

I think if Towns is gone, there´s a good chance D´Angelo ends in L.A.

Oh god. If the Lakers even consider Mudiay, that'd be facepalm worthy.

[Leor_77]

What do you guys think of his athleticism/explosiveness (or lack of)? I'm not asking for DeAndre Jordan type athleticism, but he is pretty low to the ground, and lays up a lot of stuff near the rim. I want to see him destroying the rim every time he's near it.

[stunnar0b]

I'd go russell all day. In a perimeter driven league I see russell being the more impactful player.

[Laker_Lenny]

I'd go russell all day. In a perimeter driven league I see russell being the more impactful player.

Because there are few dominate big men left.

[LApwnd]

Are we expecting Okafor to keep growing?

I would hope, think Towns should still keep growing too, didn't Bynum grow an inch or two after we drafted him?

[SD2042]

Okafor is closer to DeMarcus than Al Jefferson

You can't go wrong with either Okafor and Russell, but it's should be Okafor.

Remember Randle ? The best freshman and the first option on 2nd best team in the country ? The media were focus on his weaknesses and forget what he actually excelled. He is a furious rebounder and finisher under the rim, has decent athletiscm, and closer to Blake Griffin than Derrick Williams, but medias tried to tell you the opposite, hence his stock was dropped a lot despite his talent and performance in NCAA.

That's same goes for Okafor. He's peobably the best freshman right noa and arguably the best player on championship team (i like Tyus Jones too), and media focused on his weaknesses. Same goes with Jordan Clarkson, was a first round talent, but media told us if he is 't pure pg, combo guard, can't pass, can't shoot, bla bla bla

Take Okafor and run


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

I'm failing to see the Okafor/DMC comparison. DMC has a more complete game going back to his college days and being in the league a few short years whereas Okafor has the offensive side of the ball down pat, but needs to improve greatly on defense. If anything he compares to Al Jefferson on offense and Greg Monroe on defense.

[Michael Lucky]

Okafor is closer to DeMarcus than Al Jefferson

You can't go wrong with either Okafor and Russell, but it's should be Okafor.

Remember Randle ? The best freshman and the first option on 2nd best team in the country ? The media were focus on his weaknesses and forget what he actually excelled. He is a furious rebounder and finisher under the rim, has decent athletiscm, and closer to Blake Griffin than Derrick Williams, but medias tried to tell you the opposite, hence his stock was dropped a lot despite his talent and performance in NCAA.

That's same goes for Okafor. He's peobably the best freshman right noa and arguably the best player on championship team (i like Tyus Jones too), and media focused on his weaknesses. Same goes with Jordan Clarkson, was a first round talent, but media told us if he is 't pure pg, combo guard, can't pass, can't shoot, bla bla bla

Take Okafor and run


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

I'm failing to see the Okafor/DMC comparison. DMC has a more complete game going back to his college days and being in the league a few short years whereas Okafor has the offensive side of the ball down pat, but needs to improve greatly on defense. If anything he compares to Al Jefferson on offense and Greg Monroe on defense.

For all the so called comparisons, I think at the end of the day, Al Jefferson would love to be able to replicate Okafor's offensive efficiency. I somehow don't see prime Okafor struggling to shoot 50% from the field.

[DEEP3CL]

I love how guys keep chiming in on Okafor's weakness for defense.

Do they realize or think for a minute that he didn't have a back up at Duke ?

Do they realize without a back up that he was going to have to take plays off ?

Do they realize that in college ball help defense is non existent ?

In the NBA all he has to learn is how to show and recover on screen/roll and improve his speed from weak side to strong. I know he needs work but guys are starting to over exaggerate his defense.

[LApwnd]

how do you guys seeing Okafor/Randle paring offensively? honestly we should include Towns in this option too vs. Russell. Mocks might have Towns at 1 right now but once individual workout starts I'm pretty confident Okafor will be the #1 pick. Towns is gona take much longer to develop and I really think Minn wants a sure thing, Okafor is a sure thing. I actually think we might be better off with Okafor.

[Leor_77]

how do you guys seeing Okafor/Randle paring offensively? honestly we should include Towns in this option too vs. Russell. Mocks might have Towns at 1 right now but once individual workout starts I'm pretty confident Okafor will be the #1 pick. Towns is gona take much longer to develop and I really think Minn wants a sure thing, Okafor is a sure thing. I actually think we might be better off with Okafor.

To be honest, they are both "back to the basket" type players. I'm not sure how it would work out, but it's certainly a great problem to have. On the other hand, Randle does have some sick handles, and can operate on the perimeter - If he can develop his jump-shot, all the better. That 15-20 foot J is gonna be there all day for him - To be honest, even without Jah, he's always going to be open for that shot. Also, you should note that Okafor has elite passing from the post - I expect him to find Jules very easily, perhaps even on the run, on the way to the rim.

Coaches/GM's would give their left nut to have either of these two. Don't think too much about it. Damn...summer league cannot come soon enough.

[Mirjalovic]

I'm failing to see the Okafor/DMC comparison. DMC has a more complete game going back to his college days and being in the league a few short years whereas Okafor has the offensive side of the ball down pat, but needs to improve greatly on defense. If anything he compares to Al Jefferson on offense and Greg Monroe on defense.

as for bold part, Okafor is a rookie, and it was my expectation about Jahlil's ceilling.

how do you guys seeing Okafor/Randle paring offensively? honestly we should include Towns in this option too vs. Russell. Mocks might have Towns at 1 right now but once individual workout starts I'm pretty confident Okafor will be the #1 pick. Towns is gona take much longer to develop and I really think Minn wants a sure thing, Okafor is a sure thing. I actually think we might be better off with Okafor.

they be an amazing pair, probably on par or even better than Pau and LO duo.

i see Randle as more perimeter oriented big that can crash down low and play under the rim by facing up his opponent, and Jahlil automatic double team threat, and what make it's better, he is an accomplished passer and when Randle cut inside, he will find Randle easily.

[Tarik_shaq]

has anybody ever came into the draft with projected poor defense, but actually became an adequate or elite defender? if so, then no need to worry about jahlils defense!