The #2 Pick

[Sofa King]

I disagree, I still feel like offensive savvy big men are too rare to pass up for PGs that come along every year.

Which PG last year was 6 feet 5 inches and had Rus or Mudiays skill set?

Which PG last year was 6 feet 5 inches and played for the Lakers?

I forgot his name, but I'm sure he got injured.

[LAKESHOW]

yeah, I agree with many others here. Russell is overrated. No athleticism. Doesn't have the explosiveness or hops to be considered top #2 pick. He would be taken to the woodshed by other point guards in the league, when he gets here.

[The Prodigy]

Let me ask you a question.....

You do realize that not only does Russell lacks athleticism, he lack explosion. You do realize most lead guards if not athletic are at least explosive. CP3 isn't all that athletic but he has explosion.

So I ask this, when Russell is asked to run the 1-5 or 1-4 screen /roll, how in hell is he going to evade or lose the big on that switch when he lacks real explosion ?

Could you please expand on the difference between explosion and athleticism?

I really don't have to explain that do I ? I mean you gotta know it's a difference between the two right ?

No, I don't, because there isn't one. "Explosion" as I see it falls under the umbrella of athleticism. I don't know how you define it, but God forbid you have to explain your rationale for anything.

[LApwnd]

so if Minn does take Okafor, I really don't think KAT is that "perfect" of a player, does Russell become more appealing? Just personally opinion but I think its going to take really quite long for KAT to develop into the player we would want him to be if ever does reach his full potential.

[DadoTheRabbet]

so if Minn does take Okafor, I really don't think KAT is that "perfect" of a player, does Russell become more appealing? Just personally opinion but I think its going to take really quite long for KAT to develop into the player we would want him to be if ever does reach his full potential.

Oh Hell No! KAT is a whole lot closer to a perfect FIT for the Lakers than anybody in the draft.

Now, if Okafor's Minnesota's pick then it's easy - Take KAT and be ecstatic. If Minne takes Towns, well then it becomes complicated because that only leaves a bunch of also-ran second options.

[DEEP3CL]

Lmao @ The Prodigy.....you're right it is a you see it. I mean you have several posters on here laying it out pretty much saying it's a difference yet you want to lump it as one. Go ahead and believe what you want. Guys have given examples of it yet you still lump it as one.


But I'm done with that, back to Okafor.....

[The Prodigy]

Lmao @ The Prodigy.....you're right it is a you see it. I mean you have several posters on here laying it out pretty much saying it's a difference yet you want to lump it as one. Go ahead and believe what you want. Guys have given examples of it yet you still lump it as one.


But I'm done with that, back to Okafor.....

I can find posters on here saying all kinds of things. That doesn't make them true. If you're unwilling or unable to provide a rationale for your argument then that's your prerogative. Carry on.

[crazyeights]

so if Minn does take Okafor, I really don't think KAT is that "perfect" of a player, does Russell become more appealing? Just personally opinion but I think its going to take really quite long for KAT to develop into the player we would want him to be if ever does reach his full potential.

Oh Hell No! KAT is a whole lot closer to a perfect FIT for the Lakers than anybody in the draft.

Now, if Okafor's Minnesota's pick then it's easy - Take KAT and be ecstatic. If Minne takes Towns, well then it becomes complicated because that only leaves a bunch of also-ran second options.

I'm gonna be stoked with either Okafor or KAT. It's hilarious, we finally had something amazing happen and guys are acting like it's the end of the world.

[LApwnd]

so if Minn does take Okafor, I really don't think KAT is that "perfect" of a player, does Russell become more appealing? Just personally opinion but I think its going to take really quite long for KAT to develop into the player we would want him to be if ever does reach his full potential.

Oh Hell No! KAT is a whole lot closer to a perfect FIT for the Lakers than anybody in the draft.

Now, if Okafor's Minnesota's pick then it's easy - Take KAT and be ecstatic. If Minne takes Towns, well then it becomes complicated because that only leaves a bunch of also-ran second options.

I'm gonna be stoked with either Okafor or KAT. It's hilarious, we finally had something amazing happen and guys are acting like it's the end of the world.

certainly not what I'm trying to convey with whoever we pick....would be satisfied with either of the two bigs but just think out of the 4 top talents, KAT will take the longest to reach his full potential and I think he is also the one with highest chance to not reach it either

[crazyeights]

Oh Hell No! KAT is a whole lot closer to a perfect FIT for the Lakers than anybody in the draft.

Now, if Okafor's Minnesota's pick then it's easy - Take KAT and be ecstatic. If Minne takes Towns, well then it becomes complicated because that only leaves a bunch of also-ran second options.

I'm gonna be stoked with either Okafor or KAT. It's hilarious, we finally had something amazing happen and guys are acting like it's the end of the world.

certainly not what I'm trying to convey with whoever we pick....would be satisfied with either of the two bigs but just think out of the 4 top talents, KAT will take the longest to reach his full potential and I think he is also the one with highest chance to not reach it either

With our history of developing big men, I don't see any reason to believe KAT or Towns won't be in the absolute best situation here.

Honestly the more I think about Bynum it was like we created something out of nothing. He had played 35 HS games before coming to the NBA. Whereas simply glancing at his wiki shows KAT is a prodigy:

As a freshman at St. Joseph High School, Towns led the basketball team to a state championship in 2012, earning himself the top position in the ESPN 25 national ranking of high school players.[5] Towns also led his team to state titles in 2013 and 2014.[4] Towns was selected at the age of 16 to play on the Dominican Republic national basketball team, which represents that nation in international competition.[5] Towns was eligible based on the fact that his mother is from the Dominican Republic. During 2011 and 2012 competitions, John Calipari, head coach at the University of Kentucky and a former NBA head coach, coached the team, which finished third in the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship and fourth place at the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men, falling one position short of qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Basketball Tournament.[6]

In December 2012, Towns announced that he was going to graduate a year early from high school and commit to play on the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team under Coach Calipari, who had coached him as part of the national team of the Dominican Republic. ESPN, which had ranked him as the top prospect in the 2015 recruiting class listed him as third-ranked in its 2014 class.[7] Towns graduated from high school with a 3.96 grade point average.[4] He was named the 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year.[8]

On January 6, 2013 Towns recorded a quadruple double with 16 points, 17 rebounds, 11 blocks and 11 assists, then on January 5, 2014 he recorded another with 20 points, 14 rebounds, 12 blocks and 10 assists.[9]

He's not some obscure player who is coming on strong at the last minute. The dude has been a baller since he was a freshman in HS. He's not nearly as far off as we think, and he'll come in and be relatively effective right away, it's just that when you see where he can GO he can get even better, especially offensively.

Worst case scenario, I see a smaller, smarter, saner, healthier Andrew Bynum.

[DadoTheRabbet]

Oh Hell No! KAT is a whole lot closer to a perfect FIT for the Lakers than anybody in the draft.

Now, if Okafor's Minnesota's pick then it's easy - Take KAT and be ecstatic. If Minne takes Towns, well then it becomes complicated because that only leaves a bunch of also-ran second options.

I'm gonna be stoked with either Okafor or KAT. It's hilarious, we finally had something amazing happen and guys are acting like it's the end of the world.

certainly not what I'm trying to convey with whoever we pick....would be satisfied with either of the two bigs but just think out of the 4 top talents, KAT will take the longest to reach his full potential and I think he is also the one with highest chance to not reach it either

Look folks... You remember that tension leading up to Lottery Day? "God, we need that! But we could lose it! Nervous as all hell!" Same here. All I'm saying is I don't want us having a draft-day bust. I think KAT offers us the best chance of avoiding that and that everybody else has a greater chance at being one. Not a great chance - a greater chance. IMO, the two with the greatest chance for success are Towns and Winslow and I doubt they're going to go for Winslow. Then I figure Minne will take Towns. Everybody else, just makes me a bit nervous.

Not saying the sky is falling - just hoping to snag a rainbow!

God, I wish it was June 25th!

[cashflo]

It will be Okafor or Towns.. One of the two big men and I'll be happy with either one!

Seriously both of these guys will be awesome and will get us closer to a championship than anyone else in this draft.. Point guards are over rated!
You need players who can get you easy baskets especially in a tight game.. Having a elite big is so important!

The real questions are what to do with the $$$ we have and whether or not Marc Gasol can play with Okafor or Towns...and can Randle play at small forward...and who do we take at 27 and 34..

Okafor Randle Kelly
Gasol Black Sacre
Randle Johnson 27 pick
Kobe Swaggy Brown
Clarkson Price 34 pick

[DadoTheRabbet]

Here's another question that's - sort of - on topic...

If we get Okafor we get NO paint defense. Do we take a chance on Robert Upshaw for the 34th pick just for that or is he too risky? I think he might have gotten his **** together this time but - as with Lamar - you never know.

[RingsDontLie]

I think Towns is a gamble, and Okafor is the sure bet. You just can't teach the footwork and skillset that Okafor has. Those things come naturally to him. Not to say Towns can't be a powerhouse, but rather have Okafor who is excellent at the offensive end. Bet on what is known in the draft, not potential.

[DadoTheRabbet]

I think Towns is a gamble, and Okafor is the sure bet. You just can't teach the footwork and skillset that Okafor has. Those things come naturally to him. Not to say Towns can't be a powerhouse, but rather have Okafor who is excellent at the offensive end. Bet on what is known in the draft, not potential.

Oh, you're speaking of offense. Sorry but offense is not my main consideration - it's all about defense. See, I don't give a good **** if my center can shoot a 15 footer. I want him to be an all-world defensive maven and the dunk champion of the world. Oh, and of course, I want him to be an excellent free-throw shooter.

i guess that's the reason Okafor does nothing for me and why I see Towns as the best fit for this team.

[DEEP3CL]

I get everybody concerns about defense. I gotta say it again, defense is an EFFORT situation. And most NBA defenses are designed to be a team effort. You just can't blatantly say Okafor won't give us defense. People act as if centers are blocking 20 shots a game. Fact is the average is about 2!. It's more so about changing shots.Okafor will be fine, hell he's already lost weight so that should show you he cares about how he's perceived. The weight loss is only going to help him.

[DadoTheRabbet]

I get everybody concerns about defense. I gotta say it again, defense is an EFFORT situation. And most NBA defenses are designed to be a team effort. You just can't blatantly say Okafor won't give us defense. People act as if centers are blocking 20 shots a game. Fact is the average is about 2!. It's more so about changing shots.Okafor will be fine, hell he's already lost weight so that should show you he cares about how he's perceived. The weight loss is only going to help him.

I see what you're saying about the weight loss. Thing is he hasn't shown any propensity for delivering on defensive "effort" thus far, and he's a lousy free-throw shooter. Yeah, all this may develop in time but I'd much rather have Towns, who has it all now instead of hoping that Maybe Someday Okafor will develop these qualities.

I mean, if Towns doesn't improve a whole lot in the future - no big deal. He's already got all the tools he needs to be a first-rate center. If Okafor doesn't do a lot of improving in mulitple areas - it's a big deal.

[The Prodigy]

I get everybody concerns about defense. I gotta say it again, defense is an EFFORT situation. And most NBA defenses are designed to be a team effort. You just can't blatantly say Okafor won't give us defense. People act as if centers are blocking 20 shots a game. Fact is the average is about 2!. It's more so about changing shots.Okafor will be fine, hell he's already lost weight so that should show you he cares about how he's perceived. The weight loss is only going to help him.

I see what you're saying about the weight loss. Thing is he hasn't shown any propensity for delivering on defensive "effort" thus far, and he's a lousy free-throw shooter. Yeah, all this may develop in time but I'd much rather have Towns, who has it all now instead of hoping that Maybe Someday Okafor will develop these qualities.

I mean, if Towns doesn't improve a whole lot in the future - no big deal. He's already got all the tools he needs to be a first-rate center. If Okafor doesn't do a lot of improving in mulitple areas - it's a big deal.

I agree that Okafor's defense and free throw shooting are valid concerns, but let's not act like Towns is a sure thing either. Yes, his shooting touch and rim protection are enticing but he also has his flaws. He gets pushed around in the post because he's top heavy with skinny legs. I also think his ability to defend the perimeter is overstated. On the offensive end he can look spastic at times.

Okafor and Towns are both very good prospects with strengths and weaknesses.

[crazyeights]

[instagram]https://instagram.com/p/244JoYrO6a/[/instagram]

[DadoTheRabbet]

I get everybody concerns about defense. I gotta say it again, defense is an EFFORT situation. And most NBA defenses are designed to be a team effort. You just can't blatantly say Okafor won't give us defense. People act as if centers are blocking 20 shots a game. Fact is the average is about 2!. It's more so about changing shots.Okafor will be fine, hell he's already lost weight so that should show you he cares about how he's perceived. The weight loss is only going to help him.

I see what you're saying about the weight loss. Thing is he hasn't shown any propensity for delivering on defensive "effort" thus far, and he's a lousy free-throw shooter. Yeah, all this may develop in time but I'd much rather have Towns, who has it all now instead of hoping that Maybe Someday Okafor will develop these qualities.

I mean, if Towns doesn't improve a whole lot in the future - no big deal. He's already got all the tools he needs to be a first-rate center. If Okafor doesn't do a lot of improving in mulitple areas - it's a big deal.

I agree that Okafor's defense and free throw shooting are valid concerns, but let's not act like Towns is a sure thing either. Yes, his shooting touch and rim protection are enticing but he also has his flaws. He gets pushed around in the post because he's top heavy with skinny legs. I also think his ability to defend the perimeter is overstated. On the offensive end he can look spastic at times.

Okafor and Towns are both very good prospects with strengths and weaknesses.

Again, the center's job is to patrol the Paint. If one can do perimeter defense, that's a nice bonus - not the main job. Certainly, any kid coming out of college is going to need to work on some things. I just see a whole lot more upside qualities that the LAKERS need in Towns than I do in Okafor. Defense being first, second and third among those. I want my draftee to come in already capable of great things on D and able to make his free throws when he gets fouled in the paint. Spastic? I don't care what he looks like offensively. Coaching his offense and doing the strength training - that he can work on but come in with D and free-throws. Hence, Towns is a significantly superior pick IMO.

Depends on the criteria you have. You're apparently of an offensive mindset. And, that's fine. To my way of thinking, however, D wins championships.