The #2 Pick

[Michael Lucky]

The guy is rondo. Helluva passer. Big whup. Cant jump. Zero defense. There is zero athletic ability on this kid. For a pick this high, we got possibilities. Okafor is a sure fire 7footer. Develop his low post game, and he will be a for sure low post presence. Regardless of who guards him in the nba. We got a guy who will get blown past by the likes of westbrook. Paul. Name it, they will abuse this kid, with his defensive liabilities. Instead of a 7footer who can play any center in the nba right now! Now, we gotta wait, and hope this guy can play chris paul of westbrook some day...

The fact you compare him to Rondo, shows that you have never seen him play. Comparing the worst shooting PG in the league to arguably the best shooting one in the draft.......

[DEEP3CL]

AK, you're going too far now. Okafor isn't a statue on defense man. C'mon.

No, I'm not. A stretch 4 in the league (Kaminsky) ate his chops in the post all night both times they played. I guarantee 100% that the front office looked at that and threw up a flag.

I also know Kaminsky isn't the only one to embarrass him in the post, but he's the best example given how gifted he is offensively.

Aside from that, how many 4's in the league are capable right now of hiding his shortcomings defensively? Bet we collectively cannot name 5 that are obtainable and capable of doing it at a championship level.

The organization loves Randle and while recent teams may not indicate it, they love having front courts that can buckle up and control the paint on both ends. With Randle you need to compensate with his shortcomings defensively already - so why draft a big who can't do that?

You make good points ak7, I just need a day or so to process this. Look make no mistake....DR is good, he's gonna help. Guys just need to temper their excitement for a minute, it takes lead guards a couple of seasons to figure it out. And most of that is just feel for tempo and mastering court vision.

Having to depend on free agency for bigs that aren't coming here is just stupid. I can bank on it that they're not coming. Mitch has lost his mind because he can't sell the franchise to guys anymore. Drafting is easy....they have no choice.

[Michael Lucky]

AK, you're going too far now. Okafor isn't a statue on defense man. C'mon.

No, I'm not. A stretch 4 in the league (Kaminsky) ate his chops in the post all night both times they played. I guarantee 100% that the front office looked at that and threw up a flag.

I also know Kaminsky isn't the only one to embarrass him in the post, but he's the best example given how gifted he is offensively.

Aside from that, how many 4's in the league are capable right now of hiding his shortcomings defensively? Bet we collectively cannot name 5 that are obtainable and capable of doing it at a championship level.

The organization loves Randle and while recent teams may not indicate it, they love having front courts that can buckle up and control the paint on both ends. With Randle you need to compensate with his shortcomings defensively already - so why draft a big who can't do that?

You make good points ak7, I just need a day or so to process this. Look make no mistake....DR is good, he's gonna help. Guys just need to temper their excitement for a minute, it takes lead guards a couple of seasons to figure it out. And most of that is just feel for tempo and mastering court vision.

Having to depend on free agency for bigs that aren't coming here is just stupid. I can bank on it that they're not coming. Mitch has lost his mind because he can't sell the franchise to guys anymore. Drafting is easy....they have no choice.

To be fair Russell is the most ready PG we've seen in a long time out of college. Not to mention his court vision is clearly elite.

[Mindflayer]

The guy is rondo. Helluva passer. Big whup. Cant jump. Zero defense. There is zero athletic ability on this kid. For a pick this high, we got possibilities. Okafor is a sure fire 7footer. Develop his low post game, and he will be a for sure low post presence. Regardless of who guards him in the nba. We got a guy who will get blown past by the likes of westbrook. Paul. Name it, they will abuse this kid, with his defensive liabilities. Instead of a 7footer who can play any center in the nba right now! Now, we gotta wait, and hope this guy can play chris paul of westbrook some day...

Russell has a 39" vertical. He certainly can jump. This guy is already a much better shooter that Rondo. No on can guard Westbrook or Paul. The question is whether Russell can get his versus the guards in the west.

[Wavy Q]

The guy is rondo. Helluva passer. Big whup. Cant jump. Zero defense. There is zero athletic ability on this kid. For a pick this high, we got possibilities. Okafor is a sure fire 7footer. Develop his low post game, and he will be a for sure low post presence. Regardless of who guards him in the nba. We got a guy who will get blown past by the likes of westbrook. Paul. Name it, they will abuse this kid, with his defensive liabilities. Instead of a 7footer who can play any center in the nba right now! Now, we gotta wait, and hope this guy can play chris paul of westbrook some day...

I'm sorry, but this is way off. He's a top two pick in the NBA Draft. Pretty sure he has athletic ability just based off that premise. Without even coming down to planet Earth from alternate reality land where you apparently stay at...

He's a decent athlete but he's not the fastest or best leaper ever for whatever thats worth. has tremendous length tho, people that say he plays no defense are flat wrong.

I can't believe people are freaking out over this and he hasnt played a single minute yet.

[RamonSessions7]

I understand not liking the pick, but comparing him to Rondo.....be honest, you've never watched one or the other play basketball.

[rand0m]

Rondo... ouch.... Where are you guys getting zero athletic ability and defense from? He's not a monster athlete but he CAN jump and he's LONG. He has everything to be above average on the defensive end. Don't expect him to shut down elite PGs but who does anyway? Offensively, he could be a star. He's already great off screens and pull ups. But his court vision is what I'm most excited about. Higher chance to bust than Okafur for sure, but also higher ceiling. I'm worried about our frontline like all of you, but when Mitch comes through it could pay off nicely.

[ChrispShots]

I wanted Okafor but in the end I trust Mitch & Co. with the pick. D'Angelo Russell has a lot of work to do. To all the people saying we broke tradition and always went for bigs, the bigs in Laker history were mostly traded/signed from FA. We always drafted our guards. :3

[moonpie]

I understand the fans that were high on Okafor or Towns are probably a little disappointed with this pick, but I truly believe we got a hell of a player here. Give him a chance to prove himself because I know he will.

[frozt]

Throw money at Jimmy Buttler now and pray for the perfect pairing.

[ak7]

Throw money at Jimmy Buttler now and pray for the perfect pairing.

I don't think Chicago will let him go. I'd rather throw money at a lower usage big who can run the floor, rebound and play D.

Would be nice if DeAndre Jordan left the team down the hall for us, but outside of putting on a purple and gold jersey, he's got no incentive to leave a contending team for us.

[frozt]

Throw money at Jimmy Buttler now and pray for the perfect pairing.

I don't think Chicago will let him go. I'd rather throw money at a lower usage big who can run the floor, rebound and play D.

Would be nice if DeAndre Jordan left the team down the hall for us, but outside of putting on a purple and gold jersey, he's got no incentive to leave a contending team for us.

Actually think with Russell now, someone like DeAndre makes a lot of sense. I just don't know if Jordan is the answer on a championship team 5 years from now.

[LAKESHOW]

Well, on a positive note. Deandre jordan is free. Land a guy like that, who can jump out of the building and snatch a russell pass and dunk. That does seem like a viable plan. So all is hiny and bright in Lakerland. WITNESS!!

[DrewBynum77]

I can sleep knowing that a max contract wouldn't be wasted on Goran Dragic

and rondo for that matter

This is another good point. There were all sorts of rumors that the Lakers were the only ones dumb enough to buy Rondo at this point. This seems to be entirely without basis now.

I wanted Okafor but the thought of Lakers getting Rondo infuriated me.

[ratra_1211]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XthTm8tiWmw[/youtube]

[NBAWestFan]

It all depends on the type of Basketball you want to Play.

If the Coach wants a solid Point who can pass and nail the 3 ball.

over an Al Jefferson type of player you have to match the Coach
with the point guard.

Russel, Randle and maybe Clarkson and a Big FA.

Looking at Houston,
Harden dominated games Offensively compared to Dwight.

How about that?

The Lakers go with a Guard in a guard driven league.

If Okafor played good D he would be a Laker.

Scott is big on D. D wins C's

If you C doesn't play D who does.

[urinesane]

I have a feeling the Lakers made a great move taking Russell over Okafor.

After spending months comparing him with Towns (Towns is much better than Okafor), I kind of got the sick feeling that he is not nearly as NBA ready as people are thinking. The main issue I had with Okafor is that unlike many of the other prospects, the weaknesses that he had were either ones that had negative markers for future potential (i.e. his bad ft% is not a good indicator for his midrange potential) or they were mental (which is always tough to gauge improvement potential).

His weak defensive rebounding and general laziness/disinterest in defense are mental (and somewhat physical with his slow reaction time/lateral speed). Which means the only way he gets better is if he improves mentally. Even though I don't think of Okafor as a low BBIQ player, I don't necessarily get the vibe that he challenges himself to improve his weaknesses.

Some players look at their game objectively and work hard at improving their weaknesses, some players know what got them to this level, and it's a lot more fun to try and improve something you are great at, than it is to get good at something you are bad at.

I am not confident that Okafor has the mindset needed to improve enough of his weaknesses to be worth a top pick and I think it will take a lot for him to be considered a franchise player.

Russell has a killer mentality and it's much easier to see him coexisting with Kobe for a bit before having the torch passed to him. It seems like even though he is very confident in himself, he does not feel entitled to anything. Which is really the mentality needed for a franchise player.

Plus LA is in the unique position of being a franchise that can somehow manipulate enough speculation to get awesome bigs for basically nothing. They are more than capable of getting a FA center that is proven and will fit much better with Russell/Randle.

Towns/Russell were the two franchise players at the top of this draft imo.

Even though Okafor has been a "winner at every level" I don't think he is a leader at the NBA level (or in college). He even said he went to Duke because that's where Tyus Jones wanted to go.

Russell and Towns are hungry to prove themselves at the highest level. I don't get that vibe from Okafor.

[davidfr94]

I think it Will be hard for Lakers fans during the first half of next season because russel Will hâve a harder Time getting used to the nba Level i dont think he is gonna come in and play réal good right from the start on The other end okafor Will hâve so Many touches on effense that he could average impressive stats. russel seems like a better choice thoug

[rzzzzz]

I have a feeling the Lakers made a great move taking Russell over Okafor.

Even though I don't think of Okafor as a low BBIQ player, I don't necessarily get the vibe that he challenges himself to improve his weaknesses.

Brett Brown got to the court 6:00 this morning and found Okafor working out. and he's already pretty ripped from weeks of conditioning before the draft. he's worked hard developing his game to this point; don't see him stopping any time soon.

[urinesane]

I have a feeling the Lakers made a great move taking Russell over Okafor.

Even though I don't think of Okafor as a low BBIQ player, I don't necessarily get the vibe that he challenges himself to improve his weaknesses.

Brett Brown got to the court 6:00 this morning and found Okafor working out. and he's already pretty ripped from weeks of conditioning before the draft. he's worked hard developing his game to this point; don't see him stopping any time soon.

What was he working on? I bet it was his post game.

Also, I think Okafor fit wise is much better off in PHI next to Noel than he is next to Randle in LA.

Towns was working out at the Wolves facility the night after the draft, after a full day of media, press, and touring the city.

Everybody is working on their games, doesn't mean it will be enough to change big flaws for some and it doesn't change the fit for LA with Okafor.