RealGM

please feel free to merge if need be---

so front page has it that kobe has given no indication about returning, and this year may very well be his last year...

don't you guys feel like D'angelo Russell may be the answer at SG?? I think I'm just super ecstatic about this pick that i want a little bit of both Dangelo and Jahlil...like Jahangelo...

but seriously, kobe leaving will leave a bigger gaping hole at SG than we already have at SF and PG...It gives kobe 1 full year to prepare D'angelo for his spot....then again, SG's are a dime a dozen (but not super great ones like kobe/harden/wade) whereas, center spot is very hard to fill

We've gotten half decent production out of every back up SG we put in there from Xavier Henry or Bazemore to Ellington. Its much tougher to find the same in place of a skilled 7-footer.

TheSpecialist wrote:but seriously, kobe leaving will leave a bigger gaping hole at SG than we already have at SF and PG...It gives kobe 1 full year to prepare D'angelo for his spot....then again, SG's are a dime a dozen (but not super great ones like kobe/harden/wade) whereas, center spot is very hard to fill

This is anything but a golden age for SG, so finding a high impact SG is more than a dime a dozen. That's point guards. But in terms of finding a replacement SG, I think it depends on what you think of Jordan Clarkson. If you think he can be a 17/7 PG moving forward, ideally you'd put a 3+D SG next to him and let those two work off of each other. There aren't a ton of them, but adding a guy like Arron Afflalo could have a lot of value to the Lakers. Or even a healthy Wes Matthews.

well based on Mitch interview everything is still up in the air with the selection. I trust whoever they pick, we've never picked high for a long time but given our track record with the likes of Eddie Jones, Van Excel, Bynum, and now Clarkson...I think whoever they pick at 2 will be great. I really don't any preference myself, IF I knew Marc was a for sure thing I'd be more inclined to taking Russell, I don't think he's a pure PG either, he's a combo guard who'll also be a weak defender as well due to lack of speed/athleticism.

TheSpecialist wrote:please feel free to merge if need be---

so front page has it that kobe has given no indication about returning, and this year may very well be his last year...

don't you guys feel like D'angelo Russell may be the answer at SG?? I think I'm just super ecstatic about this pick that i want a little bit of both Dangelo and Jahlil...like Jahangelo...

but seriously, kobe leaving will leave a bigger gaping hole at SG than we already have at SF and PG...It gives kobe 1 full year to prepare D'angelo for his spot....then again, SG's are a dime a dozen (but not super great ones like kobe/harden/wade) whereas, center spot is very hard to fill

Russell could be the answer. Not going to be. Jimbo needs a safe bet. Move on.

I think it's better to try to trade for an established talent at SG or steal one in FA, rather than trying to find one in the draft. So many of those guys flame out in the NBA.
If Clarkson continues to be able to create his own shot, if Randle lives up to the expectation that he can create for himself and others off the dribble as well as hitting his mid range jumpers consistently, and if we get a C that can handle the Offense running through him, all we really need is a guy that can move without the ball, finish and hit the outside shot. More like a Ray Allen as a Celtic type of player rather than a Kobe type... The need shouldn't be as great.

LApwnd wrote:well based on Mitch interview everything is still up in the air with the selection. I trust whoever they pick, we've never picked high for a long time but given our track record with the likes of Eddie Jones, Van Excel, Bynum, and now Clarkson...I think whoever they pick at 2 will be great. I really don't any preference myself, IF I knew Marc was a for sure thing I'd be more inclined to taking Russell, I don't think he's a pure PG either, he's a combo guard who'll also be a weak defender as well due to lack of speed/athleticism.

IDK, at least on Cowherd, Mitch was pretty clear there are 2 bigs in the draft and we've got the number 2 pick. We're going big unless something crazy happens to change their mind in workouts...but as Mitch said last year, workouts don't necessarily play a huge role in their draft board rankings, more so one piece of the puzzle.

I'm reading a fair few stories that we have a serious interest in Demarre Carroll.

crazyeights wrote:

LApwnd wrote:well based on Mitch interview everything is still up in the air with the selection. I trust whoever they pick, we've never picked high for a long time but given our track record with the likes of Eddie Jones, Van Excel, Bynum, and now Clarkson...I think whoever they pick at 2 will be great. I really don't any preference myself, IF I knew Marc was a for sure thing I'd be more inclined to taking Russell, I don't think he's a pure PG either, he's a combo guard who'll also be a weak defender as well due to lack of speed/athleticism.

IDK, at least on Cowherd, Mitch was pretty clear there are 2 bigs in the draft and we've got the number 2 pick. We're going big unless something crazy happens to change their mind in workouts...but as Mitch said last year, workouts don't necessarily play a huge role in their draft board rankings, more so one piece of the puzzle.

yeah I agree going big is the right away to go regardless of Okafor weakness. I do share the concern that Russell has Steph Curry potential though.

Makes sense to me... I almost put him in my predicted lineup for next season.

Slava wrote:I'm reading a fair few stories that we have a serious interest in Demarre Carroll.

He's the exact type of role player we need, especially at SF.

crazyeights wrote:

Slava wrote:I'm reading a fair few stories that we have a serious interest in Demarre Carroll.

He's the exact type of role player we need, especially at SF.

Yeah but for the age diff (28 vs 23) and the price diff ($10M vs $15M), I'd have to go for Middleton. Of course, they haven't been returning my calls so I guess it's all up to Mitch/Jim and maybe some input from B. Scott.

DadoTheRabbet wrote:

crazyeights wrote:

Slava wrote:I'm reading a fair few stories that we have a serious interest in Demarre Carroll.

He's the exact type of role player we need, especially at SF.

Yeah but for the age diff (28 vs 23) and the price diff ($10M vs $15M), I'd have to go for Middleton. Of course, they haven't been returning my calls so I guess it's all up to Mitch/Jim and maybe some input from B. Scott.

Of course there's an age difference. It explains why one's an RFA, and the other's unrestricted.

The RFA was one of the Buck's best players this season. They have new ownership that's come in and established a new culture and set a strong tone. I really liked the moves they've made this year....Again, why would they let him go?

Their highest paid player next year is OJ Mayo at $8M....The cap's going up after next year...even if they paid him $15M, the next season that'd look like a great deal. I don't see many RFAs being let go with the TV money coming in 2016, especially young two-way players who can shoot 40% from the 3.

i honestly think Russell has the highest ceiling of this draft, more so than mudiay or KAT...he's going to be ginobili with a better jumper, better court vision, less athletic, and less defense, and most likely a future allstar.

the thing with jahlil is that he already knows the hardest part for a bigman, which is post moves and counter moves...everything else is very correctable, especially his defense. His FT shooting will always be a problem though.

Manu Ginobili was pretty close in term ability and skills compared to Kobe, IMO.

well, could Russell be the next Manu ?

Well it comes down to Mitch will trade the pick. He does not seem to want young talent. He loves old players. So there will not be a pick in LA. Just a older player on the downside of his career.

I think D'Angelo Russell has the most superstar potential out of anyone in the draft, but Okafor is still the pick. This isn't a situation where you pick big over small(which is a completely stupid thought process) but the difference between the two is pretty substantial. Towns and Okafor are 1 and 2, miles ahead of the other prospects. Russell has some concerns regarding his athleticism and defense, but his offensive game is tailor made to how the NBA operates. Okafor will make more of an impact immediately and his floor is Al Jefferson, but Russell's floor is Evan Turner with a jump shot which is a pretty scary thought. Funny enough I think the player with the highest ceiling in the draft is Mudyai.

everyone is overthinking this pick. Russell can easily be a bust. Not a lot of athleticism there, and he doesn't have enough size to be a legit shooting guard. I like him, but he's far from the sure thing everyone is making him out to be. Meanwhile everyone is nitpicking Okafor, who will be an absolute monster.

We're picking Towns or Okafor, as we should. You just don't have an opportunity often to have a player like that fall into you lap. We'll end up signing a wing or guard in free agency within the next two years anyways.

You guys really want to see a small core of Randle/Clarkson/Russell? I'd much rather see Okafor/Randle/Clarkson

laduane1 wrote:Well it comes down to Mitch will trade the pick. He does not seem to want young talent. He loves old players. So there will not be a pick in LA. Just a older player on the downside of his career.

That is not true, and we're without a doubt keeping the pick unless Lebron/Durant/Westbrook are available.

Towns or Okafor