The #2 Pick

Pointgod · Post #1641 » by **Pointgod** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:54 pm

salmahayek wrote:I like Okafor...with him, Clarkson, and Randle...gives you an excellent core and we should be able to land a serious wing or two after Kobe's contract is up.

People cite Okafor's defense, but how are teams going to defend him? As for his defense in guarding small ball...go more to zones and half court traps. His defensive rebounding is a strength and if teams are playing small ball, I think that will help his offensive rebounding, as well.

The one thing I do worry about is his free throw shooting...however, that too should be able to be improved, as well. I think he will work on it more than,say, Shaq did.

The thing is how do you keep Okafor on the floor when you're getting blitzed by teams going small and there's practically a layup line to the rim?

Pointgod · Post #1642 » by **Pointgod** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:57 pm

Penberthy wrote:
NBAWestFan wrote:Russell - Potential to Be Curry Type and the Face of the Franchise

Okafor - Potential to be Al Jefferson and Face of the Lakers?
Okafor needs the ball alot like Shaq.

But the West is built for th Guards.

Russell and KD should be the Face of the Lakers in 2016

with Clarkson and Randle that is a solid Core

Russell
Clarkson
Durant
Randle
LA

Keep dreaming. Neither Aldridge or Durant is signing with a rebuilding team.

tviper · Post #1643 » by **tviper** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:59 pm

Haven't posted in a while, but coming out of hiatus on draft day 2015. I can't believe anyone is falling for this. Guys, PHI wants Russell. Therefore, Mitch is leaking this through Ramona to up whatever deal is on the table to trade back to 3. Just because you haven't read about a deal between LAL/PHI doesn't mean it isn't happening. Cousins is a smoke screen IMO.

moonpie · Post #1644 » by **moonpie** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:00 pm

chefy12 · Post #1645 » by **chefy12** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:01 pm

Okafor!

miggs · Post #1646 » by **miggs** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:10 pm

tviper wrote:Haven't posted in a while, but coming out of hiatus on draft day 2015. I can't believe anyone is falling for this. Guys, PHI wants Russell. Therefore, Mitch is leaking this through Ramona to up whatever deal is on the table to trade back to 3. Just because you haven't read about a deal between LAL/PHI doesn't mean it isn't happening. Cousins is a smoke screen IMO.

very interesting thought indeed, I wonder what we'd get additionally for pick swapping.

Welcome back btw

Rosque · Post #1647 » by **Rosque** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:18 pm

miggs wrote:
tviper wrote:Haven't posted in a while, but coming out of hiatus on draft day 2015. I can't believe anyone is falling for this. Guys, PHI wants Russell. Therefore, Mitch is leaking this through Ramona to up whatever deal is on the table to trade back to 3. Just because you haven't read about a deal between LAL/PHI doesn't mean it isn't happening. Cousins is a smoke screen IMO.

very interesting thought indeed, I wonder what we'd get additionally for pick swapping.

Welcome back btw

Our pick back would be what Mitch is probably going after.

But if KAT falls to 2 I could see them still take Russell to stick it to 6ers and hope they call for a trade.

Sedale Threatt · Post #1648 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:20 pm

tlifeset wrote:I wouldn't be disappointed if we draft Russell because he could be really good if not great... I'm just worried that we might be passing on a player of Lebron's caliber in Okafor. He has had all the expectations in the world and he has met every single challenge with flying colors - crushed them.

Now a player that has an incredible work out (Towns) and a player who is saying all the right things (Russell) are jumping him in the draft? Just seems odd to me.

Basically, my biggest concern is us overthinking this thing too much... we might have a prodigy dropping right into our laps for no real good reason other than the notoriously moronic T-Wolves are reactively choosing the wrong player and the best 3 point shooting team in the history of the NBA just won an NBA Championship with a 6' 8 center.

First of all, it's pretty safe to assume we're not dealing with a LeBron type prospect. Those guys come along only every 10 years or so, if we're lucky. He was pegged to be a can't-miss superstar, and he was. Okafor is very talented, but he's not on that level.

Second, it's not really odd at all. It's actually been pretty well chronicled. Whether these conclusions are right, we'll have to wait and see. The draft is an educated crap shoot. But the reasoning why Towns is going to go No. 1, and why Russell might jump Okafor, is sound.

miggs · Post #1649 » by **miggs** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:21 pm

I don't know that it's a good idea to play with the draft like that and try to force the sixers to trade for russell. I'd rather just take the player we want at 2, unless a trade is agreed up before.

Minhee · Post #1650 » by **Minhee** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:24 pm

I have always told friends that the lakers should draft Russell and leverage it to Philly, use it to acquire our first rounder back from next year.

My first option is draft Russell to keep him, but see if philly bites by giving our pick back if not then I am even happier with D'Lo.

PKABOOICU · Post #1651 » by **PKABOOICU** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:25 pm

i won't be mad with either kat/okafor/russell...all 3 of them are good choices...but i think russell has superstar potential

LAKESHOW · Post #1652 » by **LAKESHOW** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:26 pm

LOL. Jerry West didn't even want magic, he wanted to select Sidney moncrief over magic. Greatness he is! Perfect he is not.

LAKESHOW · Post #1653 » by **LAKESHOW** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:30 pm

Scouting 101. You don't rely on the workout. You rely on the tape. That makes the final decision. If the workouts make your decision, then mistakes happen. ala Michael Jordan. His final workout? He had Kwame brown taken top pick.

Post #1654 » by **dockingsched** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:32 pm

miggs wrote:
tviper wrote:Haven't posted in a while, but coming out of hiatus on draft day 2015. I can't believe anyone is falling for this. Guys, PHI wants Russell. Therefore, Mitch is leaking this through Ramona to up whatever deal is on the table to trade back to 3. Just because you haven't read about a deal between LAL/PHI doesn't mean it isn't happening. Cousins is a smoke screen IMO.

very interesting thought indeed, I wonder what we'd get additionally for pick swapping.

Welcome back btw

Why would Philly even contemplate a deal before the lakers actually draft Russell?

And why would the lakers, in one of the most important moments in its rebuild, draft a player they don't prefer just to try to trade him later on and risk not getting the player they actually wanted.

Anyway, just makes zero sense to me for philly to even discuss a trade before the lakers actually follow through with taking Russell.

DadoTheRabbet · Post #1655 » by **DadoTheRabbet** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:32 pm

5 hrs.

RingsDontLie · Post #1656 » by **RingsDontLie** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:45 pm

I say keep russell and don't trade him for cousins. I've been high on russell for quite some time. His skillset and feel for the game is simply too unique. Okafor would be a nice pick up. I'd hate to say this but Kwame brown had a lot of potential like Okafor. I am scared Okafor becomes Kwame.

Post #1657 » by **Slava** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:46 pm

The flip flopping:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan/status/614142044873850880[/tweet]

So far

Russell - Kevin Ding, Ramona Shelburne
Okafor - Mike Bresnahan

miggs · Post #1658 » by **miggs** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:50 pm

You need to direct your wording to the right person and not quote me, your aim's got to be better than that doc. Still I'll answer your poorly directed questions.

I wouldn't exactly put logic and sam hinkie in the same sentence, we love shooting down ideas and saying teams would demand more, yet time and time again we have seen some lopsided trades happen and you usually love shooting down such thoughts. YOU may be thinking with logic, however it's completely stupid to assume these GMs may think using that logic. We already know Phi's grand plan is starting to show its kinks with Embiid's reported setback so who knows what Hinkie is thinking.

RamonSessions7 · Post #1659 » by **RamonSessions7** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:52 pm

RingsDontLie wrote:I say keep russell and don't trade him for cousins. I've been high on russell for quite some time. His skillset and feel for the game is simply too unique. Okafor would be a nice pick up. I'd hate to say this but Kwame brown had a lot of potential like Okafor. I am scared Okafor becomes Kwame.

Because they are tall? Okafor-Kwame are not even close to similar prospects.

miggs · Post #1660 » by **miggs** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:52 pm

dockingsched wrote:
miggs wrote:
tviper wrote:Haven't posted in a while, but coming out of hiatus on draft day 2015. I can't believe anyone is falling for this. Guys, PHI wants Russell. Therefore, Mitch is leaking this through Ramona to up whatever deal is on the table to trade back to 3. Just because you haven't read about a deal between LAL/PHI doesn't mean it isn't happening. Cousins is a smoke screen IMO.

very interesting thought indeed, I wonder what we'd get additionally for pick swapping.

Welcome back btw

Why would Philly even contemplate a deal before the lakers actually draft Russell?

And why would the lakers, in one of the most important moments in its rebuild, draft a player they don't prefer just to try to trade him later on and risk not getting the player they actually wanted.

Anyway, just makes zero sense to me for philly to even discuss a trade before the lakers actually follow through with taking Russell.

and here's where I stood on the PHI-LAL pick swap idea, like I said re-direct your words to the right post doc

miggs wrote:I don't know that it's a good idea to play with the draft like that and try to force the sixers to trade for russell. I'd rather just take the player we want at 2, unless a trade is agreed up before.

Who do we pick