The #2 Pick

[driver]

Some of our best centers came from the FA or trades. I hope to see the same going forward.

[BEazy]

I like the pick. I'm going to give him a shot. Welcome D Russ!

[DEEP3CL]

Lost for words....Mitch got a lot of explaining to do. This pipe dream of landing these so call FA bigs is asinine. Aldridge isn't coming, Gasol isn't coming, and we damn sure don't need Deandre Jordan. So where is this so called big gonna come from ?

Lakers gonna bleed from this decision for decades...

Maybe Upshaw becomes a Defensive beast for us... or we swing Swaggy/Hill for Roy Hibbert

Upsahw has heart problems and he sure as hell isn't a big scorer. Defense is great though.

[Kangaroohop]

They will play small ball I think

Russell
Clarkson
Bryant
Randle
Davis


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[kblo247]

Some of our best centers came from the FA or trades. I hope to see the same going forward.

Shaq, Wilt, Kareem, Pau, Dwight

Divac, Bynum, Elden

Yep I'm good with signing a big

[blue2324]

Happy they got Russel. Now we just need to work on the other holes. Lets go!

[ak7]

Some of our best centers came from the FA or trades. I hope to see the same going forward.

Shaq, Wilt, Kareem, Pau, Dwight

Divac, Bynum, Elden

Yep I'm good with signing a big

The love fest for a big who plays no defense is unreal on this forum. Like to the point it makes me wonder if people watch basketball. There is a reason two teams passed on him and took a big who still needs to develop and refine both ends of his game and another team who took a guard. If Okafor is so special offensively, a good coach can at the very least get him to work harder (typically) on the defensive end to the point it shouldn't be an issue. If anything, given his talents offensively his slide to #3 screams "he's not all he's cracked up to be" and his lack of defensive impact is a lot more to do with his attitude and approach than anything.

I don't want that from the future leader of my franchise; if I was a GM.

[TyCobb]

AK, you're going too far now. Okafor isn't a statue on defense man. C'mon.

[ak7]

AK, you're going too far now. Okafor isn't a statue on defense man. C'mon.

No, I'm not. A stretch 4 in the league (Kaminsky) ate his chops in the post all night both times they played. I guarantee 100% that the front office looked at that and threw up a flag.

I also know Kaminsky isn't the only one to embarrass him in the post, but he's the best example given how gifted he is offensively.

Aside from that, how many 4's in the league are capable right now of hiding his shortcomings defensively? Bet we collectively cannot name 5 that are obtainable and capable of doing it at a championship level.

The organization loves Randle and while recent teams may not indicate it, they love having front courts that can buckle up and control the paint on both ends. With Randle you need to compensate with his shortcomings defensively already - so why draft a big who can't do that?

[LAKESHOW]

We have F'd up royally.

ill go further than that DEEP. FU MITCH!

[TrippyNate]

Seriously what is the problem? I find the lack of confidence disturbing. Just relax and enjoy the moment. We got one hell of a player, that is already better than clarkson skill wise. Jahlil might really turn into a bust.

[ALL HAIL]

If Russell and Kobe get significant floor time together (they should), the Lakers need a defensive pitbull at SF who has the ability/specializes in guarding fast PGs (I don't think Russell can handle it).

Hollis-Jefferson, Justin Anderson, Norman Powell, or Jash Richardson would be ideal via the draft. Al-Faruq Aminu and Corey Brewer via free agency. If Wesley Johnson can believe in himself more, he's capable ... not likely though.

[Michael Lucky]

Absolutely love this pick. Can't really go wrong with it. The guy probably had the most productive freshmen season for a guard in over a decade. Ton of offensive basketball skill between Randle and Russell.

[iamworthy]

As I said a week ago, Im good with whatever Mitch decides. He does this for a living, I dont. Its been a looooooong time since we've had this type of PG. Im hoping he makes sub par players look better than they are. Randle/D-Lo/Jordan is a pretty good start to something special. I will criticize after I see the product on the floor. But for now Im happy.

[iamworthy]

I watching the draft just to see where Ty's boy go.

[LAKESHOW]

The guy is rondo. Helluva passer. Big whup. Cant jump. Zero defense. There is zero athletic ability on this kid. For a pick this high, we got possibilities. Okafor is a sure fire 7footer. Develop his low post game, and he will be a for sure low post presence. Regardless of who guards him in the nba. We got a guy who will get blown past by the likes of westbrook. Paul. Name it, they will abuse this kid, with his defensive liabilities. Instead of a 7footer who can play any center in the nba right now! Now, we gotta wait, and hope this guy can play chris paul of westbrook some day...

[Pointgod]

If Russell and Kobe get significant floor time together (they should), he Lakers need a defensive pitbull at SF who has the ability/specializes in guarding fast PGs (I don't think Russell can handle it).

Hollis-Jefferson, Justin Anderson, Norman Powell, or Jash Richardson would be ideal via the draft. Al-Faruq Aminu and Corey Brewer via free agency. If Wesley Johnson can believe in himself more, he's capable ... not likely though.

two words. KJ McDaniels

[iamworthy]

The guy is rondo. Helluva passer. Big whup. Cant jump. Zero defense. There is zero athletic ability on this kid. For a pick this high, we got possibilities. Okafor is a sure fire 7footer. Develop his low post game, and he will be a for sure low post presence. Regardless of who guards him in the nba. We got a guy who will get blown past by the likes of westbrook. Paul. Name it, they will abuse this kid, with his defensive liabilities. Instead of a 7footer who can play any center in the nba right now! Now, we gotta wait, and hope this guy can play chris paul of westbrook some day...

This is offensive :lol:

[tugs]

Meh. Curry got the same assessment on D during his early years. Just think "How will the opposing PGs guard Russell?" Let's think of the glass as half full for the meantime.

[ak7]

The guy is rondo. Helluva passer. Big whup. Cant jump. Zero defense. There is zero athletic ability on this kid. For a pick this high, we got possibilities. Okafor is a sure fire 7footer. Develop his low post game, and he will be a for sure low post presence. Regardless of who guards him in the nba. We got a guy who will get blown past by the likes of westbrook. Paul. Name it, they will abuse this kid, with his defensive liabilities. Instead of a 7footer who can play any center in the nba right now! Now, we gotta wait, and hope this guy can play chris paul of westbrook some day...

I'm sorry, but this is way off. He's a top two pick in the NBA Draft. Pretty sure he has athletic ability just based off that premise. Without even coming down to planet Earth from alternate reality land where you apparently stay at...