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Lakers action on Draft Day:

1. Pick #2 - Lonzo Ball, PG, 6'6 + 6'7" Wingspan (WS)
2. Pick #27 - Kyle Kuzma, PF, 6'9" +7'0" WS

Traded #28 pick to Utah for #30 and #42

3. Pick #30 - Josh Hart, SG, 6'6" + 6'8" WS
4. Pick #42 - Thomas Bryant, PF/C, 6'10" + 7'6" WS
5. Signed undrafted PJ Dozier, SG, 6'6" + 6'11" WS

Wouldn't say it was the absolutely perfect draft. But it was as good as a draft as anyone had. I thought we nailed almost every pick with regard to fit. Hart potentially could start for us and is guaranteed to play big minutes. Bryant could be decent, at the very least will be a G-League guy. Kuzma i'm sure will play a role also.

A, but only because Indiana were being cock blockers

B+. Lonzo and Hart are great picks, Kuzma and Bryant not so good though.

OMG.. I just wrote a huge report on this and was trying to click between tabs and accidentally stayed on the edit post page and hit a bookmark instead of a tab and lost it alll.... AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!



Long story short, A. It was so good though, if I find myself inspired to write it again then I'll post it later. ****!!!!!

i see some glimpse of Myles Turner in Thomas Bryant. about Kuzma he has different game with Randle and Nance, so its a nice addition. Josh Hart probably will be what Anthony Brown supposed to be.

I'm just hoping Thomas Bryant has the stones to choose #24 as his number.

Excellent, couldn't gone better on paper. Time will tell how well we truly did on the floor.

I really like how the FO brought in some nastiness. Hart seems like a really tough, physical guard. Our perimeter guys over the last few years have been really bad in terms of toughness, and competitiveness. So it will be nice to see more blue collar, mature players going forward.

How can you grade a draft before anyone has played a minute in the league? If you base in punditry then we got nearly equal value to our slots for everyone it seems. No one slipped into our laps and it doesn't appear that we reached.

Other than that there is no way to know how any of these guys will translate to the league until they play. Ball seems ready in some areas but will have to improve in others. Hart may be more ready fundamentally than the rest actually. He's not projected to be a star but he looks like he can be a "serviceable" role player.

I was extremely pleased with the pick - I realize even more that the Lakers might lose Paul George if he gets traded and signs a long term contract, but the Lakers needed a point guard in the worst way and Russell was a pretty good point guard, but as Magic Johnson pointed out - he was not a natural leader or a franchise player. By trading him, the Lakers gets rid of a really bad contract and Brook Lopez is really a good player that adds an inside presence that the Lakers have not had in awhile. The other trades for the lesser picks were also pretty good too

First of all, we have had a lot of luck go our way with Magic joining the organization. We were lucky the ping pong ball went our way this summer so everything right now is gravy!!

As for the picks, my initial reaction was Lonzo Ball, all the way at #2. Lonzo Ball type of transcendent talent that are unselfish and elevates the team are very rare to find. Lonzo can also shoot from mid court with accuracy. However, I do worry about how his game will translate to NBA with taller and faster defenders. The other worries are his defense and that form that prevents him from a mid-range game. That said, Magic and Pelinka will surround him with shooters so we dont have to rush his mid-range game or force him to adjust/improve his game in any dramatic way in the beginning. Ball, alone, will determine whether this draft class was a success or failure for the Lakers.

As for the rest, I was hoping for a defensive minded PF at #27 like Bell or DJ Wilson or even Ojeleye. Wilson was the only one that was out of play at #17 but the Lakers surprised me and decided to go offensive minded PF with Kuzma. Kuzma with Wilson was one of the top risers in the combines. At 6'9.5" with a wingspan of 7'0", Kuzma is an athletic PF who has good NBA size and runs the floor well especially to catch Lonzo's passes on the fly. I think they could be a dynamic combo down the line. The only worry is Kuzma's defense but Magic seems to be looking for guys that have strong upside in either offense or defense and then ask them to work further on their weakness side. I like the switch from defensive PF to offensive PF pick here as Kuzma could be a big surprise offensively.

With one of the late first rounders, I was hoping we could trade down and Magic did not disappoint. We traded down from #28 to #30 and added #42. Great job!!

With the #30 pick, I thought we would pick up a guard, Frank Jackson/Evans or pick a center in Bradley. Magic decided to go for SG Josh Hart. Hart is a winner and more mature than other prospects. He is over 22 year old and can really shoot the ball hitting over .400% from long distance. He is a 2 way player that hustles and plays strong defense which is sorely needed. A bit surprised that we didnt go younger, more athletic but really like the Hart pick to put a shooter next to Ball.

With the unexpected #42 pick, the Lakers went high risk, high reward with Thomas Bryant. Bryant is 6'10" with a HUGE 7'6" wingspan who was originally a mid to late first round pick before falling. He hustles, diving for balls, and has potential as a stretch 5 as he shot 38% on almost 2 shots per game from long distance. He can also be a decent weakside help (avg 1.5 blocks a game) and can run the floor to finish with Lonzo. I love the potential and the pick at #42.

Lastly, I was hoping to buy a late pick or sign an undrafted player at the point guard position. I really hoped for Mason (went to Sacramento #34) or Sumner (#52) or Bell/Ojeleye. We didnt buy another late 2nd rounder but did sign PJ Dozier who was considered an early to mid 2nd round pick. PJ (20 year old, 6'6"- 6'7" with 6'11" WS) is another good potential, really athletic defensive player that can play well with Ball but will need to improve on his shooting. Solid pickup especially as a two-way contract. He could really surprise and could turn into a Cooper type for us.

A few surprises but very happy with the haul and the direction of Magic and Pelinka.

My only change would of been the Kuzma pick. I wish we went with Ojeleye. But then again I wasn't high on Nance and seems like I was wrong on that.

Lakers24gm wrote:My only change would of been the Kuzma pick. I wish we went with Ojeleye. But then again I wasn't high on Nance and seems like I was wrong on that.

yeah i agree, apart from that i would have done everything else the same. Ojeleye i think could have been a guy to really help us now moreso than Kuzma will.

Magic interview on the drafts picks particularly Kuzma, Hart and Bryant. He talks about the draft night and what they wanted. Magic also talks about the team and what to expect including Randle. Randle is in great shape and is working on the right hand. Good stuff on the draft picks and team.

Spanish_Laker wrote:B+. Lonzo and Hart are great picks, Kuzma and Bryant not so good though.

This is what I think too

I like Kuzma more than the others. I just see so much versatility and ability to adapt to the NBA game.

I like #2 and #30 the best.

Michael Lucky wrote:I like Kuzma more than the others. I just see so much versatility and ability to adapt to the NBA game.

Sounds like Magic agrees with you. He said, he was relieved when Portland went after Swanigan at #26. They really wanted Kuzma who has improved in every facet of the game from 3 pointers to defense. Defensive minded, stretch 4. Magic said Kuzma was in charge of guarding the opponents top fowards and did a great job. Kuzma could turn into the most athletic of the bunch.

Bryant needs time and patience. I expect Ball to start at PG. I expect Kuzma and Hart to get hearty minutes as a rookie too.