The #2 Pick

[Kilroy]

These Mudiay rumors came out a while back, before the lottery. I think they were based on the assumption we'd likely be drafting 4th at best.

I find it hard to believe, anyone wants Mudiay with the 2nd pick.

Not advocating either way, but why?

In retrospect, which guy would you rather have on your team for thirteen years -- Gary Payton (Mudiay) or Brad Daugherty (Okafor)?

I LOLed @ 'Not Advocating"

Assuming Mudiay will end up being like GP and Okafor like Brad Daugherty, then obviously Mudiay... But I think we can all agree that's a ridiculously huge assumption at this point...

Who would you pick? Hakeem Olajuwon (Okafor) or DeShawn Stevenson (Mudiay)?

[Leor_77]

Can the Lakers please just officially cross Mudiay off their list? I don't know how true any of these rumors are, but I believe they are coming from bitter and delusional Knicks fans, who can't accept their draft position, and who still think Okafor will fall to them. I would prefer a big, but Russell is still a stud and I could understand that pick (even though it wouldn't be my preference).

[ALL HAIL]

These Mudiay rumors came out a while back, before the lottery. I think they were based on the assumption we'd likely be drafting 4th at best.

I find it hard to believe, anyone wants Mudiay with the 2nd pick.

Not advocating either way, but why?

In retrospect, which guy would you rather have on your team for thirteen years -- Gary Payton (Mudiay) or Brad Daugherty (Okafor)?

I LOLed @ 'Not Advocating"

Assuming Mudiay will end up being like GP and Okafor like Brad Daugherty, then obviously Mudiay... But I think we can all agree that's a ridiculously huge assumption at this point...

Who would you pick? Hakeem Olajuwon (Okafor) or DeShawn Stevenson (Mudiay)?

Comparing Okafor to Daugherty wasn't a knock at all.

Daugherty was a helluva player. Okafor's game is a damn near carbon copy of Daugherty's. Same great post game. Same great passing. Same average rebounding. Same uninspiring shot blocking and defense. Okafor is a much better ballhandler however, while Daugherty appeared to be a couple of inches taller.

If Okafor becomes what Brad Daugherty was, he's easily the best center in basketball.

[DEEP3CL]

I don't get why people feel Okafor and Randle are a 'bad fit' offensively. I think they'll be terrific.

This garbage thought is derived from the perception that two post players are not suppose to play effectively together. I hate when so called analyst and experts try to justify it and can never fully explain it.

I've been watching ball for 30+ years....and they've been mentioning that crap for the same amount of time. The logic of it is senseless to me, I mean the Lakers have dealt with this situation 5 times over the course of their history. If that notion was so true then how did Kareem and Worthy make it work ? I mean both were dominating post presence, both commanded double teams. The difference is Worthy could extract his man from the block and face up and beat him off the dribble with his explosive first step. Julius who did some work with Worthy will be just the same if teamed with Okafor. He won't depend on working out the post.

I mean I get it when you have two post players that don't fit, when their skill sets are opposite. I remember people questioning this when Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon had to do it in Houston. Then they found out Olajuwon had the better post game, and Sampson was able to utilize his strengths.

There is no doubt in my mind that Okafor and Randle could work, one reason being Julius has and will always have the better perimeter game.

[mos_def]

Im not a Lakers fan, but why not just draft Russell since he is the top Guard available and Kobe about to retire and just sign someone like Greg Monroe?
If Okafor is projected to have trouble rebounding, then that is bad. Most bad rebounders stay bad rebounders. Its not like shooting.

[DEEP3CL]

Im not a Lakers fan, but why not just draft Russell since he is the top Guard available and Kobe about to retire and just sign someone like Greg Monroe?
If Okafor is projected to have trouble rebounding, then that is bad. Most bad rebounders stay bad rebounders. Its not like shooting.

Russell will have a litany of problems too. He lacks athleticism, doesn't finish well with contact in the interior, and needs to pound the hell out of the ball to get shots off. And point guard is the hardest position to learn out the blocks, a center can make a difference from Day 1.

The Lakers can find a guard in free agency, when a draft is holding two bigs that can play....forget the weakness, you take them.

[EArl]

Okafor is actually a good offensive rebounder.

[dockingsched]

I don't get why people feel Okafor and Randle are a 'bad fit' offensively. I think they'll be terrific.

This garbage thought is derived from the perception that two post players are not suppose to play effectively together. I hate when so called analyst and experts try to justify it and can never fully explain it.

I've been watching ball for 30+ years....and they've been mentioning that crap for the same amount of time. The logic of it is senseless to me, I mean the Lakers have dealt with this situation 5 times over the course of their history. If that notion was so true then how did Kareem and Worthy make it work ? I mean both were dominating post presence, both commanded double teams. The difference is Worthy could extract his man from the block and face up and beat him off the dribble with his explosive first step. Julius who did some work with Worthy will be just the same if teamed with Okafor. He won't depend on working out the post.

I mean I get it when you have two post players that don't fit, when their skill sets are opposite. I remember people questioning this when Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon had to do it in Houston. Then they found out Olajuwon had the better post game, and Sampson was able to utilize his strengths.

There is no doubt in my mind that Okafor and Randle could work, one reason being Julius has and will always have the better perimeter game.

I think going back in history to discuss why people are wrong who don't think two post players work is the wrong approach to take. Everything that happened prior to the 2001-2002 is kinda irrelevant since that's when the league went from the old illegal defense rule to the new defensive 3 second rule. That completely changed the way defenses could attack post players. Defenses can pack the paint in ways that they could never dream of before and that makes post play an entirely different animal than the days of Kareem and Hakeem which you mentioned.

Being able to effectively spread the floor in order to stretch the defense exponentially grew in importance from the illegal defense days, you have to use examples post rule change to more effectively drive any point home in regards to post play.

Personally I think people are right that having two players that play exclusively in the post playing together is not really the most desirable situation, and gives defenses a much easier time.

However, I don't think that would apply to Randle and Okafot for two basic reasons. Okafor is such a good passer and so good at anticipating doubles that a good offensive system will allow him to find his teammates and allow ball rotation to eventually find an open shot. Randle, I think, is going to initiate most of his own isolation offense from the mid range region with face ups and dribble drives. He's not going to be a back to the basket set up near the paint. I think people have Randle all wrong if they envision him as s traditional post player.

[oneseven]

I don't get why people feel Okafor and Randle are a 'bad fit' offensively. I think they'll be terrific.

This garbage thought is derived from the perception that two post players are not suppose to play effectively together. I hate when so called analyst and experts try to justify it and can never fully explain it.

I've been watching ball for 30+ years....and they've been mentioning that crap for the same amount of time. The logic of it is senseless to me, I mean the Lakers have dealt with this situation 5 times over the course of their history. If that notion was so true then how did Kareem and Worthy make it work ? I mean both were dominating post presence, both commanded double teams. The difference is Worthy could extract his man from the block and face up and beat him off the dribble with his explosive first step. Julius who did some work with Worthy will be just the same if teamed with Okafor. He won't depend on working out the post.

I mean I get it when you have two post players that don't fit, when their skill sets are opposite. I remember people questioning this when Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon had to do it in Houston. Then they found out Olajuwon had the better post game, and Sampson was able to utilize his strengths.

There is no doubt in my mind that Okafor and Randle could work, one reason being Julius has and will always have the better perimeter game.

I think going back in history to discuss why people are wrong who don't think two post players work is the wrong approach to take. Everything that happened prior to the 2001-2002 is kinda irrelevant since that's when the league went from the old illegal defense rule to the new defensive 3 second rule. That completely changed the way defenses could attack post players. Defenses can pack the paint in ways that they could never dream of before and that makes post play an entirely different animal than the days of Kareem and Hakeem which you mentioned.

Being able to effectively spread the floor in order to stretch the defense exponentially grew in importance from the illegal defense days, you have to use examples post rule change to more effectively drive any point home in regards to post play.

Personally I think people are right that having two players that play exclusively in the post playing together is not really the most desirable situation, and gives defenses a much easier time.

However, I don't think that would apply to Randle and Okafot for two basic reasons. Okafor is such a good passer and so good at anticipating doubles that a good offensive system will allow him to find his teammates and allow ball rotation to eventually find an open shot. Randle, I think, is going to initiate most of his own isolation offense from the mid range region with face ups and dribble drives. He's not going to be a back to the basket set up near the paint. I think people have Randle all wrong if they envision him as s traditional post player.

Exactly, it's as if nobody watched Randle at KY.
And to your point about the Shaq-rule defensive changes in the 2000s, I agree which is why I used Pau/Odom as an example. Deft passing bigs with skills that blend, not hinder. One who can back in and use either hand or pass out of a double, and one who can face up and drive or shoot. What will be an added plus too is Randle's beast offensive glass work on the weak side as D's collapse on Okafor.

[TylersLakers]

I think they'd be a great fit together offensively. Throw the ball to Okafor in the post, he's great at passing out of the post, ball movement to the other side of the floor and that creates a 3 on 2 situation on the opposite side which will give Randle either a) a good look at a mid-range J, which is something he was fairly good at before his injury (will be even better now), or room to drive it into the paint. What will really make them lethal is when Okafor can step out and hit a 12-15 foot shot.

Okafor catches in the low post, collects double team, kick out. Ball reversal to Randle on the opposite side, drive to the basket, have the D collapse on him, kick out to Okafor for a baseline/mid range jumper.

They're both such good passers that I don't think it will be a problem.

The problem will be defensively, where they both will grow over time.

[TylersLakers]

I have a sneaky suspicion however we're going to take Russell. So, I'm trying to get excited about him.

[DEEP3CL]

If we do that we're dead.....simply dead.

[TRKO]

Really enjoyed reading this thread. I'm a Timberwolves fan hoping we draft Okafor. A large majority prefer Towns, but Okafor's offensive game is too rare and good for me to pass up. If Okafor is there at 2 you take him. 66% and he was creating his own shot, not he wasn't the DeAndre Jordan of college ball. With Okafor's physical profile I think he will develop into a solid defender. Watching scouting videos it looked like a lot of his issues were technic and being out of position defensively. Those things can be fixed. He won't be a prolific shot blocker, but he will play solid defense and great offense. Daugherty is a perfect comp for him and had Daugherty played in this era he would have much better name recognition.

I'm a Russell fan too and the 76ers are going to get one heck of a guard. If Embiid is healthy and as good as I think he is, they will be a super tough team. Especially with Saric and 4 first round picks next year.

[Tarik_shaq]

Lol, somethig in my gut feeling is that minny drafts okafor, and we're all getting excited for nothing. I hope we DONT GET TOWNS. Okafor or bust

[TRKO]

Lol, somethig in my gut feeling is that minny drafts okafor, and we're all getting excited for nothing. I hope we DONT GET TOWNS. Okafor or bust

Why not Towns?

[Kilroy]

Lol, somethig in my gut feeling is that minny drafts okafor, and we're all getting excited for nothing. I hope we DONT GET TOWNS. Okafor or bust

Why not Towns?

Yeah... Why the hell not Towns? He's the only guy that no one seems to have a negative thing to say about.

That said, I think the fact he isn't working out and the ties between Okafor and Flip Saunders eventually win out and they take him first.
And we jump all over Towns.

[kblo247]

Im not a Lakers fan, but why not just draft Russell since he is the top Guard available and Kobe about to retire and just sign someone like Greg Monroe?
If Okafor is projected to have trouble rebounding, then that is bad. Most bad rebounders stay bad rebounders. Its not like shooting.

Russell will have a litany of problems too. He lacks athleticism, doesn't finish well with contact in the interior, and needs to pound the hell out of the ball to get shots off. And point guard is the hardest position to learn out the blocks, a center can make a difference from Day 1.

The Lakers can find a guard in free agency, when a draft is holding two bigs that can play....forget the weakness, you take them.

Not certain about it and I've said it. The big guys are assets but the two Gs may have better careers

Look at 96. I take AI every single day over 20 and 10 shareef still to this day for example. It's about not just the talent but the animal that's inside them. If you see an animal inside Russell or Muiday and work ethic, you take them.

Towns can play but he's been a 20mpg player who gets to go all out without fear. He has many flaws like the other 3 do, but I'm not buying at all that he's that much more talented and has more heart than Okafor, Russell, Muiday, or even Mario

[TRKO]

Im not a Lakers fan, but why not just draft Russell since he is the top Guard available and Kobe about to retire and just sign someone like Greg Monroe?
If Okafor is projected to have trouble rebounding, then that is bad. Most bad rebounders stay bad rebounders. Its not like shooting.

Russell will have a litany of problems too. He lacks athleticism, doesn't finish well with contact in the interior, and needs to pound the hell out of the ball to get shots off. And point guard is the hardest position to learn out the blocks, a center can make a difference from Day 1.

The Lakers can find a guard in free agency, when a draft is holding two bigs that can play....forget the weakness, you take them.

Not certain about it and I've said it. The big guys are assets but the two Gs may have better careers

Look at 96. I take AI every single day over 20 and 10 shareef still to this day for example. It's about not just the talent but the animal that's inside them. If you see an animal inside Russell or Muiday and work ethic, you take them.

Towns can play but he's been a 20mpg player who gets to go all out without fear. He has many flaws like the other 3 do, but I'm not buying at all that he's that much more talented and has more heart than Okafor, Russell, Muiday, or even Mario

Totally agree with this.

[Pointgod]

Im not a Lakers fan, but why not just draft Russell since he is the top Guard available and Kobe about to retire and just sign someone like Greg Monroe?
If Okafor is projected to have trouble rebounding, then that is bad. Most bad rebounders stay bad rebounders. Its not like shooting.

Russell will have a litany of problems too. He lacks athleticism, doesn't finish well with contact in the interior, and needs to pound the hell out of the ball to get shots off. And point guard is the hardest position to learn out the blocks, a center can make a difference from Day 1.

The Lakers can find a guard in free agency, when a draft is holding two bigs that can play....forget the weakness, you take them.

Not certain about it and I've said it. The big guys are assets but the two Gs may have better careers

Look at 96. I take AI every single day over 20 and 10 shareef still to this day for example. It's about not just the talent but the animal that's inside them. If you see an animal inside Russell or Muiday and work ethic, you take them.

Towns can play but he's been a 20mpg player who gets to go all out without fear. He has many flaws like the other 3 do, but I'm not buying at all that he's that much more talented and has more heart than Okafor, Russell, Muiday, or even Mario

I'm not buying the whole Towns is greater than everyone argument but it comes down to drafting Marc Gasol or James Harden. The thing is that if we draft Towns it gives us a legitimate reason to go after Kevin Love and Rondo which infinitely makes us more attractive to a free agent like Kevin Durant. It's pretty much a Towns or Okafor as #2 pick.

[Tarik_shaq]

Lol, somethig in my gut feeling is that minny drafts okafor, and we're all getting excited for nothing. I hope we DONT GET TOWNS. Okafor or bust

Why not Towns?

just feel like okafors offense will truly make up for his flaws and that he'd be unstoppable. i think towns wont be a reliable offensive threat as much as okafor. thats me though. but it looks as though everyone here on the board will be ecstatic if towns falls to us.