Okafor trade talk: Will he be traded by the deadline?

[BullyKing]

Im sure Magic hasnt FULLY familiarized himself with the Lakers pick situation in the 3 hours hes been in office(maybe hes known it all along), but I wonder how interested he would be if we were to add protection on their pick for them this year where they were basically guaranteed to keep it, and also gave them Okafor. Wonder what he would be willing to give up for that?

For example:
Lakers get: Jahlil Okafor, protection on picks 4-10 in 2017 draft.
Sixers get: ?

The Lakers keeping their pick would be huge for them down the road because if they were to lose it this year, they would also lose their 1st to Orlando in 2019. However if they keep it this year, Orlando would only get 2nd rd picks from the Lakers in the future. Would be very intrigued to see how much value Magic would be willing to give up in that scenario.

I think the Magic would actually have to agree to this trade so someone would need to compensate them for getting screwed out of a 1st. This came up last year when the Kings and Bulls were talking about a Gasol.

[LloydFree]

Just curious, but if the Lakers were to actually offer it up, would you rather have Brandon Ingram or D'Angelo Russell?

I'd take Russell over two Brandon Ingram's and anyone in this draft not named Jackson or Ball.

[TTP]

The LAL pick is significantly more valuable at this point than D'Angelo Russell. Russell hasn't shown much in 1.5 years to indicate he'll be a star player, and furthermore he hasn't shown much (if any) statistical improvement this year, which is a red flag.

He's definitely shown statistical improvement. He's maintaining TS% despite an increase in usage and increased his assist rate without sacrificing his turnover rate. He's getting to the line more and shooting better there. His rebounding, steal, and block rates have all increased. His 3 point % is more or less the same as last year but he's creating more of his own shots.

RPM likes him a lot more this year too (60th/69 among PGs last year, 20th/89 this year).

The main area he seems to have regressed is getting to the rim and finishing there, a weakness he showed in college as well.

He's improved, but not very much. Overall still a disappointment. And it's not like he's growing into his body in a major way like his teammate Ingram. There isn't a lot of upside in terms of physical development.

So overall, his "Superstar equity" is severely diminished versus when he was drafted. That's why he doesn't have near the value of the LAL pick anymore, which projects top 6 in a super strong draft. At this point I'd be happy if he ends up as good as C.J. McCollum.

Top 6 but not top 3*

The top 3 of Fultz/Ball/Jackson is very strong but I don't think I'd prefer DSJ/Monk/Tatum over Russell. I don't see superstar upside with them either.

A lot of the value of the pick comes from being unprotected next year if it doesn't convey this year but there's a lot that can change in a year, especially with the Lakers adding one of those top 3 guys (plus just time value of money).

[LongLiveHinkie]

Russell's shooting hasn't been as good or consistent from deep as expected, so I would not deal the Lakers pick back to them for him. That said, I doubt the Lakers move a major franchise piece two days after taking over. This stuff probably happens in the summer if at all, and it won't involve Okafor. That ship has sailed.

[Agnostifarian]

Just curious, but if the Lakers were to actually offer it up, would you rather have Brandon Ingram or D'Angelo Russell?

Russell. Ingram has always been a fake top prospect, to me.

Peas in a pod.

[TTP]

Russell's shooting hasn't been as good or consistent from deep as expected, so I would not deal the Lakers pick back to them for him. That said, I doubt the Lakers move a major franchise piece two days after taking over. This stuff probably happens in the summer if at all, and it won't involve Okafor. That ship has sailed.

It doesn't look too impressive when looking at the raw percentage but consider that only 67.9% of his 3s for his career (and 65.9% this year) have been assisted. Put him in a Ben Simmons lineup and that number likely creeps up towards the 80s.

[Winejk]

Magic, Bird, and Vlade. You just have to take advantage of one of the former player's.

You forgot Ainge.

[ckchen]

Just curious, but if the Lakers were to actually offer it up, would you rather have Brandon Ingram or D'Angelo Russell?

I'd take Russell over two Brandon Ingram's and anyone in this draft not named Jackson or Ball.

Seriously I fail to see what anyone is seeing in Russell at this point that would give him this kind of value. This is like people still talking about Mudiay without realizing he's also terrible.

[JojoSlimbiid]

lol @ trading the pick for Russell do people actually watch games or just look at stats on a webpage? D'Angelo is a future 6th man at best, he is a terrible basketball player. I didn't realize it sooner but yeah game-day threads and rumors are really the only things I should be coming in here for, some of these basketball takes are horrendous.

[TTP]

lol @ trading the pick for Russell do people actually watch games or just look at stats on a webpage? D'Angelo is a future 6th man at best, he is a terrible basketball player. I didn't realize it sooner but yeah game-day threads and rumors are really the only things I should be coming in here for, some of these basketball takes are horrendous.

Yet what you posted here should be considered superior analysis?

[LongLiveHinkie]

Russell's shooting hasn't been as good or consistent from deep as expected, so I would not deal the Lakers pick back to them for him. That said, I doubt the Lakers move a major franchise piece two days after taking over. This stuff probably happens in the summer if at all, and it won't involve Okafor. That ship has sailed.

It doesn't look too impressive when looking at the raw percentage but consider that only 67.9% of his 3s for his career (and 65.9% this year) have been assisted. Put him in a Ben Simmons lineup and that number likely creeps up towards the 80s.

It will prob go up, but I'm still not trading him for that Lakers pick. I think Russell is a better fit here than he is as a player. As a player I don't think he's really all that good. Lakers pick gets us a shot at Jackson, so I think will be a far superior NBA player.

I mean I'd trade for Russell, but not for our 1sts.

[51X3RF4N]

Now the Pistons are taking offers for Drummond, and the Nets are lowering their price for Lopez. I swear, GM's just messing with BC because he tried to play them.

[KKell2507]

Now the Pistons are taking offers for Drummond, and the Nets are lowering their price for Lopez. I swear, GM's just messing with BC because he tried to play them.

Remember when Woj said Centers werent going to get moved at the deadline like 2 or 3 days ago lol

[Cheatergriffin]

lol @ trading the pick for Russell do people actually watch games or just look at stats on a webpage? D'Angelo is a future 6th man at best, he is a terrible basketball player. I didn't realize it sooner but yeah game-day threads and rumors are really the only things I should be coming in here for, some of these basketball takes are horrendous.

Other than fultz,ball,jackson and maybe isaac (dont think dennis smith is a good fit), russell imo would be a better fit than the remaining prospects with our main core (jojo ben) going forward. So you would need it to fall to 4 for best case scenario.

If it doesnt convey yeah the unprotected 2018 looks nice, but its more big heavy than anything. Doncic would be nice, but honestly have to see more of him to give a good take. From what ive seen i wasnt blown away.

Or u package it with something else for a proven star.

For all the hype if how deep this draft is i think is a bit of hype itself. Imo theres 3 studs who fit anywhere any team, after that isaac,tatum,smith jr, monk, fox should be good, but u can argue why russell is a better fit.

[MR28]

lol @ trading the pick for Russell do people actually watch games or just look at stats on a webpage? D'Angelo is a future 6th man at best, he is a terrible basketball player. I didn't realize it sooner but yeah game-day threads and rumors are really the only things I should be coming in here for, some of these basketball takes are horrendous.

Seriously. I couldn't believe that. Jesus.


Even if you don't like the fit of players this year or next, that pick/player has a ton more value than Russell.

[HotelVitale]

Russell's shooting hasn't been as good or consistent from deep as expected, so I would not deal the Lakers pick back to them for him. That said, I doubt the Lakers move a major franchise piece two days after taking over. This stuff probably happens in the summer if at all, and it won't involve Okafor. That ship has sailed.

It doesn't look too impressive when looking at the raw percentage but consider that only 67.9% of his 3s for his career (and 65.9% this year) have been assisted. Put him in a Ben Simmons lineup and that number likely creeps up towards the 80s.

But if you don't need him to create long 2s and 3s at high volume then he doesn't do anything at all well, nor does he project to. The optimist view on Russell as a prospect--which for some reason became the consensus view--was that he was a special shooter in college whose 41% from 3 told the story better than his 75% from the FT line. And that his ability to make cool passes from a standstill meant that he could easily acquire great passing skills in the pn'r and on the run.

Neither of those look to be fully true and, while I still like him well enough, he seems like he'll mostly be a volume streak shooter who can use his slither and stop-start to get shots off. If you have other people that can create as well or better, his value diminishes quite a bit.

EDIT: those dissing Russell (slimbiid, ckchen, etc) sound like they're talking about a totally different player than the one I see. He's crafty with the ball and plays at a nice pace, and his stroke is pretty nice. He nestles between defenders and uses space well, he's just not that great at making tough shots now so he's not that great overall. No reason to say he's terrible, though, he just is what he is--and he's only 20.

[Mik317]

I think people think too much of the Lakers pick. Feels like we will get it next year after the Lakers decide to actually try to win (which now TBF could benefit us if Magic is bad at his new job) which makes it a lot lower in a worse draft. We could do a lot worse than Russell.

[Sixerscan]

I think people think too much of the Lakers pick. Feels like we will get it next year after the Lakers decide to actually try to win (which now TBF could benefit us if Magic is bad at his new job) which makes it a lot lower in a worse draft. We could do a lot worse than Russell.

Every year there's a reason the lakers aren't going to be garbage and yet they remain garbage. Now they have hired magic Johnson to run their team.

[LongLiveHinkie]

We're getting that Lakers pick this year. They are soooo going to get jumped in the lottery. 1 and 4 is destiny. 1 and 4 is life.

[XDevilBoiX]

I think people think too much of the Lakers pick. Feels like we will get it next year after the Lakers decide to actually try to win (which now TBF could benefit us if Magic is bad at his new job) which makes it a lot lower in a worse draft. We could do a lot worse than Russell.

Look at it this way, whoever is taken with that pick can't be worst then MCW can he? If it's not top 6 this year, I would like to take a chance on it next year. Can really pay off next year just like the 2019 Sac pick.

We can be in the same position as Boston atm, making the playoffs while having top 3-5 picks at our disposal. What's there not to like, we can use as trade bait to get a disgruntle star or a team looking to rebuild. There's so much possibility!!