pcbothwel wrote:LAL had the 2nd pick two years in a row and appearing to be laughable on the court and in the front office. But then the GOAT decides to just up and sign there. They werent a good franchise, but simply the Lakers and Lebron wanted to be in LA.
In fact, they drafted poorly enough that they had to include multiple future picks, both #2 picks, and solid filler in order to get AD...who stated he was going to LAL no matter what and was in the last year of his contract. The reason they gave up both Ball and Ingram is because both were underperforming.
The Lakers do have built in advantages, because they're the Lakers. But Ball and Ingram were decent picks and they drafted very well outside the top of the draft. Also if he was going there no matter what, why trade the value at all?
They drafted Ingram instead of Jaylen Brown and Jamal Murray also. Both players who were outperforming Ingram easily. They drafted Ball over Tatum, Fox, Isaac, Bam, and Mitchell. If they drafted better then they probably could of given up less to NOP.
I'm not even sure this is true wrt Brown vs Ingram. Ingram had a somewhat worse rookie year, but was also a year younger. As of now, they're more or less on the same trajectory of production (And interestingly, that trajectory looks a LOT like Bradley Beal). Brown also had the advantage of getting to play on a playoff basketball team his first few years. Lonzo over Tatum was a bit bad but they still got value out of the pick which is what matters. They found Bonga, Hart, Kuzma and Wagner, who are rotation players in the NBA. But you're right, the Lakers do have too many built in advantages to really judge, but they've also definitely maximized those advantages, unlike, say, the New York Knicks.
GSW is considered a great franchise, but they have struck out a ton Steph Curry is the only reason they matter. From 2016 until now they have continually struck out in the draft to help provide ancillary pieces around Steph. Taking Damian Jones over Zubac and Brogdan. Taking Jacob Evans over Spellman, Brunson, Graham, Mitchell Robinson, Gary Trent, and even Bonga. And now Wiseman over Ball. Overpaying to keep Klay and Green. We could go on.
I mean, Steph Curry is one of the all time great draft picks when you consider he was a throwaway #7 pick. Klay was a tremendous pick as well. Drafting Draymond late. Like Nate33 said, getting rotation players late is a massive victory. Getting a DPOY level player at #30 is an even bigger one.
