The #2 Pick

[H00PDREAMS]

i mean really who the hell is passing up a Calipari kid (Towns) or a 5 star recruit from Duke these days anyway! Youre passing up these two superior talents for some kid who played in China!? A complete enigma, a youtube sensation who can't shoot!

I remember when you guys wanted that mystery Aussie kid Exum that no one ever saw play. Yeah that was fun! Now ask yourself would you trade our 46th pick in 2014 who just happens to be Jordan Clarkson for Exum? Knowing what you know now? A proven Mizzu guy over a international youtube sensation any day of the week. Well guess what here we go again. You all are again considering another mystery player over the likes of proven talent from the ACC and SEC, two of the toughest conferences in college basketball. I give pass to all those that dont watch NCAA Hoops. For those that say that they do - give me a break.

Both these kids have way more talent than Oden and Nerlens Noel. Both top picks when they came out. Oden and Noel both arguably the best in their classes. However both big men had health issues which inhibited them. These kids, both way more skilled than either Oden or Noel, Okafor and Towns have none of those health concerns. Okafor and Towns maybe aren't going to be MVP caliber centers (Shaq/Timmy) but they will be all stars. Future All Stars (Noah/Bosh) who will be the building blocks of highly competitive NBA team. Together with pieces like Randle and Clarkson or in Minny Wiggins and Rubio, they will put their teams in the mix and could possibly be contenders for the next 10 years. Just add a free agent superstar or stars and just like that, WCF for sure.

Lakers will do the smart thing and get a big. Stop overthinking it.

[ALL HAIL]

I've been following the draft closely since 89. This is a site I began using around the onset of the internet:

http://www.ibiblio.org/craig/draft/1997_draft/1997.html

[NBAWestFan]

Okafor is no Duncan. Okafor is young man who spent a lot of time developing his post game and not all of the fundamentals
Duncan was more like Towns in term of work Ethic but none are as good as Duncan was after 1 year of college.

Okafor lacks the Defensive work ethic that Duncan and Towns have.
Towns lacks the Offensive skills that Okafor has.
Towns has more upside because he is willing to work hard on both ends of the floor.
Okafor has questions about his defense but his post skills are above average for a 6-11 big.

To win titles you need defense and guys willing to sacrifice for the team.
You have to have a defensive minded big to pair with Okafor
where as Towns you need to pair him with Offensive minded players who also can play D.

[ALL HAIL]

i mean really who the hell is passing up a Calipari kid (Towns) or a 5 star recruit from Duke these days anyway! Youre passing up these two superior talents for some kid who played in China!? A complete enigma, a youtube sensation who can't shoot!

I remember when you guys wanted that mystery Aussie kid Exum that no one ever saw play. Yeah that was fun! Now ask yourself would you trade our 46th pick in 2014 who just happens to be Jordan Clarkson for Exum? Knowing what you know now? A proven Mizzu guy over a international youtube sensation any day of the week. Well guess what here we go again. You all are again considering another mystery player over the likes of proven talent from the ACC and SEC, two of the toughest conferences in college basketball. I give pass to all those that dont watch NCAA Hoops. For those that say that they do - give me a break.

Both these kids have way more talent than Oden and Nerlens Noel. Both top picks when they came out. Both arguably the best in their classes. However both had health issues which inhibited them. These kids, Okafor and Towns have no of that. These two maybe arent going to be MVP caliber but they will be all stars. Future All Stars who will be the building blocks creating a highly competitive NBA team. Together with pieces like Randle and Clarkson or in Minny Wiggins and Rubio will be in the mix and or possible contenders for the next 10 years. Just add free agent superstar or stars and just like that, WCF for sure.
Lakers will do the smart thing and get a big. Stop overthinking it.

Agree with you, barring sine unforeseen event, there's no question the Lakers are drafting a big, but based in what I've seen, I'd take Exum over Clarkson. When you factor in Exum's reasonable long-term contract, the decision becomes even easier.

[H00PDREAMS]

I've been following the draft closely since 89. This is a site I began using around the onset of the internet:

http://www.ibiblio.org/craig/draft/1997_draft/1997.html

Thanks!

[H00PDREAMS]

Agree with you, barring sine unforeseen event, there's no question the Lakers are drafting a big, but based in what I've seen, I'd take Exum over Clarkson. When you factor in Exum's reasonable long-term contract, the decision becomes even easier.

I am glad someone here agrees. You have a point... But Time will tell I guess.

http://stats.nba.com/vs/#!/?PlayerID=20 ... rID=203903

[ALL HAIL]

Agree with you, barring sine unforeseen event, there's no question the Lakers are drafting a big, but based in what I've seen, I'd take Exum over Clarkson. When you factor in Exum's reasonable long-term contract, the decision becomes even easier.

I am glad someone here agrees. You have a point... But Time will tell I guess.

http://stats.nba.com/vs/#!/?PlayerID=20 ... rID=203903

The majority of people here of good mind are in favor of drafting a big.

There's a small group of those who think because Curry went off, they "gotta get one of those toys".

[DEEP3CL]

No, no, no. "He wasn't inept" -- come on. All the evidence we have, from statistical to anecdotal, shows he was great pretty much from the start. That wasn't just a matter of having David Robinson explain the game to him. Certainly, having a mentor and a partner like David was a big benefit. But Duncan was an elite defensive player on his own -- great size, great length, exceptional IQ and instincts and timing. I can see Okafor becoming a solid, maybe above average defender. He sounds like he's got a tremendous work ethic and a desire to get better. But there's nothing to suggest at this ridiculously early stage -- and I'm mainly going on scouting reports here -- that he's going to be anything like Duncan has been on D. He's going to have to prove that isht.

Look man all I'm say is that guys act like Tim was Russell or an early 70's Jabbar on defense.I watched Duncan in college all 4 years at Wake Forest. I remember vividly his first years in the NBA, he improved over time. For some to act as if Oakfor won't figure it out is just dumb quite frankly.

It's completely moot to even compare Duncan to Okafor or Towns, Duncan had 4 years to hone his skills while the game on the college level has changed 100 fold since Duncan. If Towns and Okafor stayed 4 years I'm pretty sure they'd be total beast on the defensive end of the floor.

[Luciferswings]

Duncan was the all-time leader in blocks in NCAA history when he finished college. Scouting reports raved about his D. He had gone toe to toe in pick up games with Alonzo Mourning at age 16. He was a superb defender from the get go, even if (as with all players) he improved.

[DEEP3CL]

The majority of people here of good mind are in favor of drafting a big.

There's a small group of those who think because Curry went off, they "gotta get one of those toys".

And those are the same guys who don't understand how grave a mistake it would be to draft these Russell's and Muiday's. If they follow the high school circuit and attended games they'd see guards come up like the Sun every day. I can name about 5 guys right now that will duplicate what those guys just did this college season . Hell Ben Simmons (6'10" F LSU) , Jaylen Brown (6'5" G Cal ) and Ivan Rabb (6'11 C/F Cal) will have guys salivating just the same next season.

Plain and simple you just don't ignore bigs when they're on the board to be drafted.

[H00PDREAMS]

Okafor is no Duncan. Okafor is young man who spent a lot of time developing his post game and not all of the fundamentals
Duncan was more like Towns in term of work Ethic but none are as good as Duncan was after 1 year of college.

Okafor lacks the Defensive work ethic that Duncan and Towns have.
Towns lacks the Offensive skills that Okafor has.
Towns has more upside because he is willing to work hard on both ends of the floor.
Okafor has questions about his defense but his post skills are above average for a 6-11 big.

To win titles you need defense and guys willing to sacrifice for the team.
You have to have a defensive minded big to pair with Okafor
where as Towns you need to pair him with Offensive minded players who also can play D.

Yep! Thats what I saw in Towns all year watching UK destroy others on the road to the Tourney. Thats exactly what I saw in Okafor as he helped to beat up teams in the ACC. Great observation. I agree with you. But when I saw Towns I didn't think Duncan. I thought "Oh this kid can play D!" He's got a dawg in him a'la Tyson Chandler. He commands the paint like KG used too in Minny. I saw Okafor's footwork and moves down low I immediately thought; "Woah this kid is blowing of these college centers who are guarding him." I knew he would get compared to Duncan. The kid was just too smooth on the block. Okafor had moves that I knew would make NBA scouts drool.

If I am the GM of the Lakers I am taking Okafor. I don't give a flying hell who is going to be next to him when the season begins. Irrelevant. I will figure that out later. Lakers take Okafor and figure the rest out later. Randall to bench? Flip Randall in the acquisition for Superstar or AllStar vet? The Lakers just have to take whats there and whats there is all good. Lakers should call Minny and gauge who they are going to take and prep appropriately. Get Okafor and let B. Scott make a defensive player out of one of their bigs. Teach Randall how to shoot. That's B. Scott's job. Just get the asset is what I am going to do as a GM. Get the best available player. In this case that best available player would be Okafor.

[Luciferswings]

Plain and simple you just don't ignore bigs when they're on the board to be drafted.

How did that work out for the Bucks in 2005? Or the Blazers in 07? Or the Clippers in 98?

[H00PDREAMS]

Plain and simple you just don't ignore bigs when they're on the board to be drafted.

How did that work out for the Bucks in 2005? Or the Blazers in 07? Or the Clippers in 98?

Towns and Okafor are way better and more skilled than any of those that you mention. Lastly they have no KNOWN health issues.
By the by, Bogut is tremendous in the playoffs. Certainly All Star caliber play as he has been keeping the likes of DeAndre Jordan B Griff and D'Howard at bay.

Bogut is what I am saying either player Towns or Okafor could be. A worst case scenario, simply a great and indispensable role player on a contender.

[tugs]

It's so easy to look back and assume it will be the same in the future.

[SD2042]

Stephen Curry refusing to work out with teams and trying to scare them off, so he could get drafted by NY, didn't help.

scared of minn lol....they had 2 chance at steph and passed with both picks

He didn't work out with Memphis either, so there's that.

The issue of upcoming players refusing to workout with certain teams has been going on for nearly the past decade, if not longer. I remember when Steve Francis stated he did not want to be drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies due to lack of marketing and lacking the top destination for acquiring free agents. The Grizzlies previously drafted PG Mike Bibby from the 1998 NBA Draft. Former Grizzlies GM Stu Jackson drafted Francis against better judgment and common sense to evaluate better talent.

My take is that it's a combination of issues such as the sports agent's attempts to place his client in the best situation with the best market. Family and friends maybe in the player's ear about what they feel is the best team for them. Sometimes the player themselves do their research into the teams based on their projected destination and in turn may talk to the agent about manipulating the necessary moves to get them placed at the desired destination.


http://www.thescore.com/nba/news/525985

[H00PDREAMS]

How many of you think Towns or Okarfor will attempt a Steve Francis move just to get to Los Angeles? I mean lets keep it real here. who would really want to play in Minny? Its cold there!

I think Jalen Rose brought this up and I laughed because it sooo true!

[PKABOOICU]

How did that work out for the Bucks in 2005? Or the Blazers in 07? Or the Clippers in 98?

Towns and Okafor are way better and more skilled than any of those that you mention. Lastly they have no KNOWN health issues.
By the by, Bogut is tremendous in the playoffs. Certainly All Star caliber play as he has been keeping the likes of DeAndre Jordan B Griff and D'Howard at bay.

Bogut is what I am saying either player Towns or Okafor could be. A worst case scenario, simply a great and indispensable role player on a contender.

i think the bolded line is key and a big selling point to draft one of those 2 centers.

we have to keep in mind that olowakandi was unpolished and had small hands. Oden was coming off a wrist injury prior to the draft iirc and his knee just took it to the next level. Bogut was slow but very skilled, actually kind of like Okafor but better defense..now bogut isn't the type of center to carry the scoring load, and i think Okafor can be.

that said, i don't see okafor being a superstar player...he is, at best, a 2nd option on a contending team which isn't bad at all.
Russell has all the tools to be a superstar in this league--he has the highest ceiling in this draft, imo, no doubt...towns is 2nd.
Mudiay is the type of PG you can find throughout the league...as far as Russell goes, you really can't find a ball handler who can shoot light outs with great court vision. His weakness is defense which can improve, just like okafor.

[Sofa King]

If a player is focusing on LAL as the best choice to succeed by winning championships, by all means try to push yourself in LA.

If the player wants to play in LAL to make more money, endorsements, better social scene, by all means go to Minnesota where you wont get distracted and have a Bynum complex.

[ALL HAIL]

You take a big because Russell is Jamal Crawford, I don't know isht about Mudiay (sorry), and it's a major, major plus to have an extremely talented bigmen on the payroll for cheap for the next five years -- it's very similar to the Seahawks having Russell Wilson under contract for pennies; they were able to use his discounted contract as a means to improve talent and overall depth.

Towns and Okafor are going to be good -- at best they're Hall of Famers, at worst they're really good role players.

I'll take my chances on the bigs.

[PKABOOICU]

You take a big because Russell is Jamal Crawford, I don't know isn't about Mudiay (sorry), and it's a major, major plus to have an extremely talented bigmen on the payroll for cheap for the next five years -- it's very similar to the Seahawks having Russell Wilson under contract for pennies; they were able to use his discounted contract as a means to improve talent and overall depth.

Towns and Okafor are going to be good -- at best they're Hall of Famers, at worst they're really good role players.

I'll take my chances on the bigs.

disagree...russell will be much better than crawford, simply because he's a pass first SG. thats a rare quality to have at the 2 guard position. Crawford is streaky, takes a bunch of contested shots to get himself going, has zero court vision, and somewhat better defense than russell.
Id compare russell to manu ginobili with a better shot...and he could end up being as good as James Harden, if not even better.