To the Laker fans that wanted Okafor...in Mitch we trust

[DEEP3CL]

How do you pass up RJ hunter tho...

That depends on what you are looking for? Hunter is a 3 but doesn't possess the elite athleticism of a typical 3. I saw him play, he lacked speed in lateral movement. I think the guy Anthony Brown from Stanford is a much better shooter and has great potential to be 3 and D. They took Nance because in a lot of ways he's a cheaper 4 with a better skill set than even Sacre.

[Sofa King]

How do you pass up RJ hunter tho...

That depends on what you are looking for? Hunter is a 3 but doesn't possess the elite athleticism of a typical 3. I saw him play, he lacked speed in lateral movement. I think the guy Anthony Brown from Stanford is a much better shooter and has great potential to be 3 and D. They took Nance because in a lot of ways he's a cheaper 4 with a better skill set than even Sacre.

All the players in the league and some in the D-League have better skill sets than Sacre.

[KobeBryant24]

I don't want Monroe or KLove near LA. Can't even think of a worse fit

What about tyson chandler or robin lopez paired with klove or LMA

[Michael Lucky]

Sounds like Mitch listened to the coaching staff for this pick. You can tell Byron is already in love with this kid.

[iamworthy]

Mitch was on the radio this morning and he said Byron had little to no input on who they were selecting.

[Michael Lucky]

Mitch was on the radio this morning and he said Byron had little to no input on who they were selecting.

well that's conflicting considering Byron said he was involved in the process. However, yes i'm sure Byron wasn't in the war room making the decision but I also seriously doubt that Mitch wouldn't at all listen to the coaching staff who got to watch Russell's workouts.

[kblo247]

Ireland said they voted and after the first workout it was 6-2 Dangelo with the 2 being Mitch and Jim. That the second work out sets is what swayed everyone. Mudiay shot better but wasn't good enough for 2, Okafor blew up and they ended it early, and Russell just went out there was amazing which made it unanimous. Jahlil shot himself in the foot with the two people he needed most. Props to Russell though

[iamworthy]

Mitch was on the radio this morning and he said Byron had little to no input on who they were selecting.

well that's conflicting considering Byron said he was involved in the process. However, yes i'm sure Byron wasn't in the war room making the decision but I also seriously doubt that Mitch wouldn't at all listen to the coaching staff who got to watch Russell's workouts.

On Byron Scott's influence in the selection of Russell:

(Byron was) not very influential at all. The coaches were present during the workouts, they are all veterans and they don't watch any college basketball, they don't attend any college games, there is just no time. They are smart enough to know that what they see in a workout or two is not nearly the body of work that you need to see to make a decision with a college kid. They were present, they conducted the workouts, I solicited some opinions, but Byron would have been happy with any of the guys we brought in to work out. He would have been very, very happy.

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/6/26/8852197/dangelo-russell-la-lakers-nba-draft-mitch-kupchak-interview

[Michael Lucky]

Mitch was on the radio this morning and he said Byron had little to no input on who they were selecting.

well that's conflicting considering Byron said he was involved in the process. However, yes i'm sure Byron wasn't in the war room making the decision but I also seriously doubt that Mitch wouldn't at all listen to the coaching staff who got to watch Russell's workouts.

On Byron Scott's influence in the selection of Russell:

(Byron was) not very influential at all. The coaches were present during the workouts, they are all veterans and they don't watch any college basketball, they don't attend any college games, there is just no time. They are smart enough to know that what they see in a workout or two is not nearly the body of work that you need to see to make a decision with a college kid. They were present, they conducted the workouts, I solicited some opinions, but Byron would have been happy with any of the guys we brought in to work out. He would have been very, very happy.

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/6/26/8852197/dangelo-russell-la-lakers-nba-draft-mitch-kupchak-interview

I heard the piece a few hours ago on the espn podcast. I just believe that Mitch was deflecting on the question the way it was asked. Colin made it sound like Mitch was just taking Byron's advice and leaving at that, so the response makes a lot of sense.

[Pointgod]

Mitch is going to have to earn my trust after last season's free agency debacle. And for you guys bitching about Okafor when are you going to realize that we drafted the player with the most superstar potential. The NBA game is changing and there's a premium on guards that can break down defenses and hit the 3 point shot. Okafor isn't going to bring anything to the team this year that Greg Monroe couldn't. Who cares if he's rookie of the year? I have no doubt he'll be a good center but his defense and lack of athleticism diminishing his effectiveness in the new NBA.

[Kobe System]

Imagine a front court of Bryant/Randle/Lopez. Who's gonna play defense?

Brook plays defense when healthy (which is hardly ever sadly), and Robin is a good defender

Yea. I am talking about Brook.

[Mirjalovic]

Mitch is going to have to earn my trust after last season's free agency debacle. And for you guys bitching about Okafor when are you going to realize that we drafted the player with the most superstar potential. The NBA game is changing and there's a premium on guards that can break down defenses and hit the 3 point shot. Okafor isn't going to bring anything to the team this year that Greg Monroe couldn't. Who cares if he's rookie of the year? I have no doubt he'll be a good center but his defense and lack of athleticism diminishing his effectiveness in the new NBA.

It's better to miss a player than sign wrong players.

We still have great cap flexibility, and Russell, because of you so called free agency debacle.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Pointgod]

Mitch is going to have to earn my trust after last season's free agency debacle. And for you guys bitching about Okafor when are you going to realize that we drafted the player with the most superstar potential. The NBA game is changing and there's a premium on guards that can break down defenses and hit the 3 point shot. Okafor isn't going to bring anything to the team this year that Greg Monroe couldn't. Who cares if he's rookie of the year? I have no doubt he'll be a good center but his defense and lack of athleticism diminishing his effectiveness in the new NBA.

It's better to miss a player than sign wrong players.

We still have great cap flexibility, and Russell, because of you so called free agency debacle.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Well apparently he didn't get the memo with Nick Young We got lucky with Russell and we're a less attractive destination to all but a few major free agents. And we don't have a ton of future assets. Better to take a chance on young players that can be moved down the road than zero value players like Jordan Hill.

[Sofa King]

Well apparently he didn't get the memo with Nick Young We got lucky with Russell and we're a less attractive destination to all but a few major free agents. And we don't have a ton of future assets. Better to take a chance on young players that can be moved down the road than zero value players like Jordan Hill.

You have to start to understand why their value went down. You know how to raise their values? When they start playing better.

Nick Young's value tanked when he had some awful games and got regulated to the bench. I expect he should play better next year when the focus is not on him anymore. He's a great role player. Not so much when he is the only option on offense.

Jordan Hill also is the same. When you stick some better players next to Hill like Gasol, he can provide the energy and lift when needed. Stick him as your primary low post option to play with a declining Boozer, his game and strength as an energy player got diminished.

He may not be worth the contract now, but could be the best option if nothing works out in free agency. Then he can play along side with Randle where Randle will command most of the attention in the post.

[dockingsched]

Mitch is going to have to earn my trust after last season's free agency debacle. And for you guys bitching about Okafor when are you going to realize that we drafted the player with the most superstar potential. The NBA game is changing and there's a premium on guards that can break down defenses and hit the 3 point shot. Okafor isn't going to bring anything to the team this year that Greg Monroe couldn't. Who cares if he's rookie of the year? I have no doubt he'll be a good center but his defense and lack of athleticism diminishing his effectiveness in the new NBA.

It's better to miss a player than sign wrong players.

We still have great cap flexibility, and Russell, because of you so called free agency debacle.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Well apparently he didn't get the memo with Nick Young We got lucky with Russell and we're a less attractive destination to all but a few major free agents. And we don't have a ton of future assets. Better to take a chance on young players that can be moved down the road than zero value players like Jordan Hill.

Jordan hill doesn't have zero value. He's a good contributor that can be a legitimate rotation player on a good team.

This is a player that almost the entire fan base one summer ago believed had a lot more to give but was just being held back by D'Antoni. All he needed was a coach that would give him more PT.

I think it's totally unfair to now turn around in insight and act like Kupchak went against the very wise fanbase's better judgment by re-signing Hill.

[aaron_gray]

Mitch was on the radio this morning and he said Byron had little to no input on who they were selecting.

I hope Nance gets to play before Kobe's career ends, because Clarkson would have been buried away at the end of the bench last year had Kobe not torn his rotator cuff. Maybe Byron didn't like Clarkson because he didn't pick him.

[LAKESHOW]

Ireland said they voted and after the first workout it was 6-2 Dangelo with the 2 being Mitch and Jim. That the second work out sets is what swayed everyone. Mudiay shot better but wasn't good enough for 2, Okafor blew up and they ended it early, and Russell just went out there was amazing which made it unanimous. Jahlil shot himself in the foot with the two people he needed most. Props to Russell though

nice