Official 2015 NBA Draft Discussion Thread [ft. TyCobb]

[ALL HAIL]

02-01-2015

1. Jahlil Okafor
2. Karl Towns
3. Kevon Looney
4. D'Angelo Russell
5. Mario Hezonja
6. Emmanuel Mudiay
7. Kristaps Porzingis
8. Stanley Johnson
9. Willie Cauley-Stein
10. Myles Turner
11. Justise Winslow
12. Kelly Oubre Jr.
13. Frank Kaminsky
14. Bobby Portis
15. Jerian Grant
16. Montrezl Harrell
17. Devin Booker
18. Justin Anderson
19. Delon Wright
20. Caris LeVert
21. Trey Lyles
22. Tyus Jones
23. Jarell Martin
24. Vince Hunter
25. Terry Rozier

Just curious Ty, I haven't seen a lick of Looney yet, but would you take him [for the Lakers] at three if Towns and Okafor were off the board?

I guess the answer's yes.

[TyCobb]

02-01-2015

1. Jahlil Okafor
2. Karl Towns
3. Kevon Looney
4. D'Angelo Russell
5. Mario Hezonja
6. Emmanuel Mudiay
7. Kristaps Porzingis
8. Stanley Johnson
9. Willie Cauley-Stein
10. Myles Turner
11. Justise Winslow
12. Kelly Oubre Jr.
13. Frank Kaminsky
14. Bobby Portis
15. Jerian Grant
16. Montrezl Harrell
17. Devin Booker
18. Justin Anderson
19. Delon Wright
20. Caris LeVert
21. Trey Lyles
22. Tyus Jones
23. Jarell Martin
24. Vince Hunter
25. Terry Rozier

Just curious Ty, I haven't seen a lick of Looney yet, but would you take him [for the Lakers] at three if Towns and Okafor were off the board?

I guess the answer's yes.

Yeah. He has a different kind of star potential than the scoring star potential of Hezonja and Russell. I'm gonna continue rolling with the theory that UCLA doesn't get enough touches for Looney offensively, and I'm sold on his defense over the other two guys (Mario and D'Angelo).

He loves LA, wants to play for LA, and has some serious physical gifts and potential. It's a perfect match really.

[ALL HAIL]

02-01-2015

1. Jahlil Okafor
2. Karl Towns
3. Kevon Looney
4. D'Angelo Russell
5. Mario Hezonja
6. Emmanuel Mudiay
7. Kristaps Porzingis
8. Stanley Johnson
9. Willie Cauley-Stein
10. Myles Turner
11. Justise Winslow
12. Kelly Oubre Jr.
13. Frank Kaminsky
14. Bobby Portis
15. Jerian Grant
16. Montrezl Harrell
17. Devin Booker
18. Justin Anderson
19. Delon Wright
20. Caris LeVert
21. Trey Lyles
22. Tyus Jones
23. Jarell Martin
24. Vince Hunter
25. Terry Rozier

Just curious Ty, I haven't seen a lick of Looney yet, but would you take him [for the Lakers] at three if Towns and Okafor were off the board?

I guess the answer's yes.

Yeah. He has a different kind of star potential than the scoring star potential of Hezonja and Russell. I'm gonna continue rolling with the theory that UCLA doesn't get enough touches for Looney offensively, and I'm sold on his defense over the other two guys (Mario and D'Angelo).

He loves LA, wants to play for LA, and has some serious physical gifts and potential. It's a perfect match really.

You have him at SF, getting spot duty at PF?

How do you think he'd mesh with Randle?

Most guys of his size usually start their careers at PF then move to SF later, after their skills become more refined ... But like I said before, I haven't seen him play yet.

I believe in Randle. I had him number on my board last year (though he was exactly what the Bucks needed), so I truly think he's a building block. it's really important that these young guys the Lakes draft are able to be on the floor together and compliment each other's games. I suppose that's why Myles Turner (or Towns) is so intriguing to me. Turner with Randle fits like a damn glove on both sides of the ball.

[TyCobb]

You have him at SF, getting spot duty at PF?

How do you think he'd mesh with Randle?

Most guys of his size usually start their careers at PF then move to SF later, after their skills become more refined ... But like I said before, I haven't seen him play yet.

I believe in Randle. I had him number on my board last year (though he was exactly what the Bucks needed), so I truly think he's a building block. it's really important that these young guys the Lakes draft are able to be on the floor together and compliment each other's games. I suppose that's why Myles Turner (or Towns) is so intriguing to me. Turner with Randle fits like a damn glove on both sides of the ball.

I had Aaron Gordon rated higher than Randle last year.

I believe Looney is in the same makeup that Randle is in that he is a cross between SF and PF. Looney is the same kind of rebounder that Randle is, although Looney right now uses his length instead of his body to get the boards. He's also a very unselfish player with a great BBIQ that can also be a point forward type of player like Randle, although he plays in more control. He's not a barrel his way to the basket player like Randle is, he's more of a find the open guy with his head up type of guy.

You could say it's redundant to draft Looney when you have Randle, but I'd be comfortable with those guys as the two forwards with a rim-protecting center, strong pick and roll guard who plays aggressive (Clarkson can develop into this), and a 3 and D shooter at the two-guard (which is why I've been wanting to add Terrence Ross from TO).

[ALL HAIL]

You have him at SF, getting spot duty at PF?

How do you think he'd mesh with Randle?

Most guys of his size usually start their careers at PF then move to SF later, after their skills become more refined ... But like I said before, I haven't seen him play yet.

I believe in Randle. I had him number on my board last year (though he was exactly what the Bucks needed), so I truly think he's a building block. it's really important that these young guys the Lakes draft are able to be on the floor together and compliment each other's games. I suppose that's why Myles Turner (or Towns) is so intriguing to me. Turner with Randle fits like a damn glove on both sides of the ball.

I had Aaron Gordon rated higher than Randle last year.

I believe Looney is in the same makeup that Randle is in that he is a cross between SF and PF. Looney is the same kind of rebounder that Randle is, although Looney right now uses his length instead of his body to get the boards. He's also a very unselfish player with a great BBIQ that can also be a point forward type of player like Randle, although he plays in more control. He's not a barrel his way to the basket player like Randle is, he's more of a find the open guy with his head up type of guy.

You could say it's redundant to draft Looney when you have Randle, but I'd be comfortable with those guys as the two forwards with a rim-protecting center, strong pick and roll guard who plays aggressive (Clarkson can develop into this), and a 3 and D shooter at the two-guard (which is why I've been wanting to add Terrence Ross from TO).

I can't say a word for or against Looney, but knowing Randle is my PF, I'd only draft Looney if I knew that he was etched as my SF going forward.

I can't believe you had Gordon ahead of Randle. Gordon's a career role-player--the fourth or fifth best player on a championship level team while Randle will be your first or second leading scorer.

And Randle, regardless of what Kuochak has on his draft big board, will never be a SF. He's as much a PF as Blake Griffin, and no one talks of making Griffin into one.

[TyCobb]

I can't say a word for or against Looney, but knowing Randle is my PF, I'd only draft Looney if I knew that he was etched as my SF going forward.

I can't believe you had Gordon ahead of Randle. Gordon's a career role-player--the fourth or fifth best player on a championship level team while Randle will be your first or second leading scorer.

And Randle, regardless of what Kuochak has on his draft big board, will never be a SF. He's as much a PF as Blake Griffin, and no one talks of making Griffin into one.

Funny you bring up Griffin, considering that's exactly the type of player that Gordon is minus some offensive output but plus more defensively.

[ALL HAIL]

I can't say a word for or against Looney, but knowing Randle is my PF, I'd only draft Looney if I knew that he was etched as my SF going forward.

I can't believe you had Gordon ahead of Randle. Gordon's a career role-player--the fourth or fifth best player on a championship level team while Randle will be your first or second leading scorer.

And Randle, regardless of what Kuochak has on his draft big board, will never be a SF. He's as much a PF as Blake Griffin, and no one talks of making Griffin into one.

Funny you bring up Griffin, considering that's exactly the type of player that Gordon is minus some offensive output but plus more defensively.

This year aside, Gordon will never be a rebounder like Griffin. His defense and intangibles are grade A, but everything else is blah.

He's Luc Mbah-Mtoue (I know I screwed up his name)--a great, great, great glue guy who I'd want on my team in the right role but not over much more dynamic players like Julius Randle.

Aaron Gordon's would've been perfect for Sacramento. They need a PF just like him. I was happy the Lakers got Randle, but being a fan of Gordon (I love athletic defensive players), I was disappointed he didn't slip to the Kings where he could've had more of an immediate impact IMO.

[TyCobb]

We'll see. He's still 19 years old. We'll see how he does without a top tier rebounder next to him in Vucevic down the road.

[Penberthy]

Randle has better handles and vision than Griffin, just like Lamar did. Which is why they could both play spot minutes at sf, unlike Griffin.

[Michael Lucky]

Can't help but feel that some of you guys are overrating Looney because you happen to see him more. I do think he could be a good NBA player but I don't see how he's in the top 5 in this class.

[TyCobb]

Wonder who thats directed towards. Lol whatever.

Ive seen them all this except the Intl guys. Only Russell and the two centers have a as high of an upside as Looney.

[Michael Lucky]

Wonder who thats directed towards. Lol whatever.

Ive seen them all this except the Intl guys. Only Russell and the two centers have a as high of an upside as Looney.

Oh i definitely agree that he has one of the biggest upsides in this draft.

[TyCobb]

I think we'll see him continue to climb other draft boards come March.

Ford has him 6th, DX 9th, nbadraft.net 8th.

[TyCobb]

Watching Josh Richardson right now vs. Mississippi State. Very impressive. Would take him in the 2nd round with our pick. Picked a good game to watch as he just achieved a career high 28 points with 5 minutes left. Good calll, ALL HAIL.

[Sofa King]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/562728574067957762[/tweet]

[Sofa King]

Lakers could wind up with four picks in the 2015 NBA draft

As part of the Steve Nash trade, the Lakers owe their own first-round pick to the Phoenix Suns. If the pick lands in the top five of the draft, the Lakers will keep it -- sending instead their 2016 first-rounder to Phoenix (with top-three protection).

The Houston Rockets (33-15) sent their first-rounder to the Lakers in the Jeremy Lin trade. If Houston makes the playoffs, that pick will convey this off-season. Currently the Rockets are in third place in the Western Conference.

The worse the Rockets perform this season, the better the Lakers' pick will be -- provided Houston doesn't drop out of the playoffs altogether (unlikely, with a seven-game advantage over the ninth-place New Orleans Pelicans at 26-22).

The Lakers' poor record will also probably keep their second-rounder from going to the Orlando Magic as part of the Dwight Howard trade. The Magic only get the pick if it's in the 41-60 range, and the Lakers are currently slotted at 34.

Finally, the Lakers will get the second-rounder of the Clippers (33-16), but only if it's in the 51-55 range.

The Lakers and Clippers didn't make a direct deal, the pick coming with Lin, via Houston, via Toronto in the Clippers' Hassan Adams acquisition.


http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la ... story.html

[ALL HAIL]

Watching Josh Richardson right now vs. Mississippi State. Very impressive. Would take him in the 2nd round with our pick. Picked a good game to watch as he just achieved a career high 28 points with 5 minutes left. Good calll, ALL HAIL.

Unless the Lakers are somehow able to trade up and nab Justin Anderson, I'd take Richardson with that late first round pick.

I missed the game, but he's been solid all year. He reminds me of Eddie Jones, not as good, but he'd offer much of the same skills as a defender/glue guy.

For the life of me I can't figure out how absolutely no one has him on their draft board.

[miggs]

I don't watch much NCAA games but I caught one of Gonzaga's recent games, Sabonis' kid is a nice little prospect. Kid's a freshman there, seemed solid and it seems his last two games he's gotten double doubles. Thoughts ty or allhail?

[TyCobb]

Watching Looney at Stanford.

Alot of Lamar Odom to this guy. He does all the little things that go 'unnoticed' like Odom. He makes the right reads, crashes the glass, steps up when his number is called, can bring the ball up the court, guard multiple positions.

[TyCobb]

UCLA guards almost chucked this game away (had a 22 point lead!). Among the starting lineup... 47 FGA for the guards, 13 for the two bigs (Parker and Looney). Final score 69-67. Yeesh.