2017 Lakers Draft Pick Discussion

[AcecardZ]

Losing this pick would have been devastating!

Something tells me we don't end up taking Lonzo Ball. Just a gut feeling.

[Spens1]

Yeah here's hoping Boston go with Ball or Jackson so we take Fultz at 2. Honestly i really want fultz and really don't want to deal with Lavar's BS, i think we've suffered enough as a franchise without having to tolerate his nonsense for the next 10-15 years.

[Spens1]

"I hope we use the #2 pick to take Okafor"

Trust no-one

and we were all begging not to take Porzingis at 2.

Then again Scott would have ruined him thats for sure.

[Lakernut4ever]

Yeah here's hoping Boston go with Ball or Jackson so we take Fultz at 2. Honestly i really want fultz and really don't want to deal with Lavar's BS, i think we've suffered enough as a franchise without having to tolerate his nonsense for the next 10-15 years.

So many enamored of the Ball hype...glad to see some objective opinion...Lakers should keep their options open...even trading the 2nd pick as long as a team offers a lopsided deal favoring us.

[milesfides]

First of all, let's stop demonizing Lavar Ball. One, a lot of what he says comes from a good place. College players get exploited. He doesn't want his son to be exploited. Everything he does is really trying to gain ownership of how his son (kids) are getting marketed. He's taken lessons from Stephon Marbury and Kanye West, and there definitely an element of owning rather than letting your kids get pimped out by the system. That's not to say he doesn't have an abrasive personality, but has he been a detriment to his son's performance so far? No.

Second, Lonzo Ball seems to have a balanced and mature take on all of this. He's letting his dad do his thing without letting it get to his head nor his heart. I actually respected how he honored his father - who works tirelessly for his kids' success. He acknowledges his father's contributions to him as a player, rather than being embarrassed by him - and this is what the entire media and many fans expect.

I actually like how he's his own man, how he focuses on the court while acknowledging what his father is trying to do.

Lavar could say or do anyrhjng; but so far, it seems Lonzo has a pretty good head on his shoulders by all accounts.

Make no mistake though, Ball is a special point guard - he's not a perfect player, but he's about as dominant of a playmaker as we've seen in college basketball.

He will make his teammates better, no question, and that's a fundamental team need because most of our players are selfish spoiled brats.

[TyCobb]

Yeah here's hoping Boston go with Ball or Jackson so we take Fultz at 2. Honestly i really want fultz and really don't want to deal with Lavar's BS, i think we've suffered enough as a franchise without having to tolerate his nonsense for the next 10-15 years.

So many enamored of the Ball hype...glad to see some objective opinion...Lakers should keep their options open...even trading the 2nd pick as long as a team offers a lopsided deal favoring us.

Could it be that some have actually watched him play basketball beyond his final game against Kentucky? Gee, no that can't be possible...who would do more than watch highlights to form an opinion on a player!?

Think For Yourself and Question Authority. Applies everywhere. Don't be lazy.

[KobeBryant24]

Watch on YouTube

[Michael Lucky]

First of all, let's stop demonizing Lavar Ball.

yeah sure, maybe, if the reports that he wouldn't let his kids see their ill mother at the hospital for fear that it would ruin their game is untrue.....

[milesfides]

Let's stop pretending we know the dynamics of the Ball family.

How great is your family and your role in it that gives you the right to judge others?

If you're in the NBA and your mom is hospitalized with a stroke, then speak on the matter. If you're a sorry sack of **** and you don't sacrifice for your own family, then stay in your lane.

[Michael Lucky]

There are no requirements of personal experience (ironically something that i actually have and i'm sure many others have as well) to speak out on such a thing. You don't just turn a blind eye to things under the excuse that it's none of your business. If something is an obvious moral wrong, you have every right to express your thoughts on it. It's so easy to just ignore. We're a progressive society not one stuck in the dark ages.

[trevm37]

Yeah here's hoping Boston go with Ball or Jackson so we take Fultz at 2. Honestly i really want fultz and really don't want to deal with Lavar's BS, i think we've suffered enough as a franchise without having to tolerate his nonsense for the next 10-15 years.

So many enamored of the Ball hype...glad to see some objective opinion...Lakers should keep their options open...even trading the 2nd pick as long as a team offers a lopsided deal favoring us.

Could it be that some have actually watched him play basketball beyond his final game against Kentucky? Gee, no that can't be possible...who would do more than watch highlights to form an opinion on a player!?

Think For Yourself and Question Authority. Applies everywhere. Don't be lazy.

I watched every single UCLA game this season, and I value Fultz, Fox, Smith, Jackson, and Taytum ahead of Ball. Ball is a longer project than Ingram, Russell, and Randle.

[TyCobb]

I watched every single UCLA game this season, and I value Fultz, Fox, Smith, Jackson, and Taytum ahead of Ball. Ball is a longer project than Ingram, Russell, and Randle.

I'll take your word for it... what did you see?

Here’s what I saw witnessed:
- A guy come in and completely turn a program around by instilling confidence in his teammates and raising their BBIQ.
- A guy that orchestrated the #1 offensive in college basketball and literally had every teammate with an eFG% 54.0 and above.
- Improved his team’s pace of play 16.4 seconds per possession to 14.5.
- A smart decision maker who only needed 18.1 USAGE % to lead the NCAA in assists.
- A smart shot taker who made 73.2% of his 2 point attempts.
- Lone freshman on 1st All American team, College FR of the Year.

[NBAWestFan]

I also don't think Ball is a given

If he ain't changing his shot, He should not be a Laker.

His Daddy has to be kept off the floor or at least 20 rows up and for not be aloud to sit behind the Laker Bench.

If Josh Jackson is a better defender I would take him.

In today's NBA I think the Ball's game is not needed, Watch GSW and the Spurs.

You need good defenders who are great shooters and a team

If we do select Ball I like his passing, unselfish play.

His shot is horrible and looks like to long of a release.

[milesfides]

Oh grow up. You're going to play the morality card? Do you know the extent of how colleges exploit players?

That a father tries to wrest control from this toxic and rigid system could be seen as courageous from a certain point of view.

I'm not taking sides, but Lonzo's father definitely has rational motives, whether you agree or not, but also recognize that trying to shut him up or belittle him can also be seen as paternalistic, racist, classist, etc.

I don't have a bone to pick in the fight, because I only care about the player and how he performs. How he negotiators his relationships is his own cross to bear, and as our own Kobe has shown, as long as a player is professional and does his job, who cares. Don't buy BBB shoes. Ignore what Lavar says. Who cares. Curry's wife Aeshya said some stuff but I already forgot because who cares.

Lonzo balls out and that's all that matters.

[Slava]

I watched every single UCLA game this season, and I value Fultz, Fox, Smith, Jackson, and Taytum ahead of Ball. Ball is a longer project than Ingram, Russell, and Randle.

I'll take your word for it... what did you see?

I'm interested to hear how you see his game transitioning to the NBA level.

Here's what I wrote of him as my main concerns:

He has some otherwise glaring weaknesses though, the majority of his offense comes in transition, doesn't have a drive and kick game, can't score off screens etc. NBA level defenders can throttle his transition games and force him to create offense in half court sets, which doesn't seem like a strength.

You can add his defensive issues as another concern.

[NBAWestFan]

I watched every single UCLA game this season, and I value Fultz, Fox, Smith, Jackson, and Taytum ahead of Ball. Ball is a longer project than Ingram, Russell, and Randle.

I'll take your word for it... what did you see?

Here’s what I saw witnessed:
- A guy come in and completely turn a program around by instilling confidence in his teammates and raising their BBIQ.
- A guy that orchestrated the #1 offensive in college basketball and literally had every teammate with an eFG% 54.0 and above.
- Improved his team’s pace of play 16.4 seconds per possession to 14.5.
- A smart decision maker who only needed 18.1 USAGE % to lead the NCAA in assists.
- A smart shot taker who made 73.2% of his 2 point attempts.
- Lone freshman on 1st All American team, College FR of the Year.

I think Ball is a good player but if you compare his game vs Fox from the last game
Fox out played him and his shot was exposed in a big game. Fox is quicker, scored a lot more points.
Ball was too slow to defend Fox.

Ball needs tall center type to pass to have success like Shaq, Duncan, KD, Kareem, Gasol.

The Lakers don't have one of those type of players. Ingram is the biggest guy with mobility they got.


I want to see the Lakers team Defense improve and to draft players that hustle on D game in and game out 81games
and still put up 12 to 20 points a game. Who in the top fits that?
I don't see that in Russell or Randle. Randle has to go unless you get Embiid which is not happening.

[Spens1]

Fultz going #1, Ball going #2. I could see Ball playing his entire career with the Lakers. He wants to be on the Lakers more than any other team, Once he's on the Lakers, I don't see Ball ever going to another team.

Watch on YouTube

well he is a better leader which is what i do love about him, he did a good job leading (until the last game where he sucked). Fultz does have a mark against him for not being able to do anything at Washington.

I wish we didn't have to deal with his father because Ball himself has a good head on his shoulders and seems really humble and respectful, but still has that motivation and drive for the most part, he's coming in far more mature than Russell at least.

[TyCobb]

I watched every single UCLA game this season, and I value Fultz, Fox, Smith, Jackson, and Taytum ahead of Ball. Ball is a longer project than Ingram, Russell, and Randle.

I'll take your word for it... what did you see?

I'm interested to hear how you see his game transitioning to the NBA level.

Here's what I wrote of him as my main concerns:

He has some otherwise glaring weaknesses though, the majority of his offense comes in transition, doesn't have a drive and kick game, can't score off screens etc. NBA level defenders can throttle his transition games and force him to create offense in half court sets, which doesn't seem like a strength.

You can add his defensive issues as another concern.

I feel like I've been saying why he will translate, but I also know that it hasn't been all within the same post. I'm a terrible writer so I get turned off halfway through the post when I try to bear down and put something together. There's like four drafts in my user account, a lot in response to princeinrevolt quotes that I just said F it, let it play out and they will see for themselves in time.

Anyways, Lonzo will transform the way we play. We know with Luke that Golden State is our model. Talking with Michael Lucky before, he acknowledges that they play a more motion offense instead of a heavy PNR type style. This is great, because they have players who weren't head and shoulders above one another at ISO scoring--until Durant came that is...

Ball is so great at playing to his strengths and hiding his weaknesses. His awareness and feel for the game is off the charts. He will be what Morey, and probably even D'Antoni, wishes Harden would be. A player who willingly distributes the ball to the high percentage looks, whether that be at the rim, behind the three point line, or looks leading to the free throw line.

What we know about NBA defenses is that a lot of the players already have the athleticism, length, and smarts that the college basketball teams won't showcase as often on a nightly (in college weekly) basis. But Lonzo's unselfishness and willingness to pass counters that by early passes, constant running (can't wait to see how many miles this guy runs a night on SportsVu), and smart-critical passes. Simply put, that ball never sticks and he inspires his teammates (well, we'll see about the pro's who are ego-driven with entitlement) to run the floor and equally share the ball.

I can remember Walton yanking Russell out of games because he wasn't playing fast enough for his liking--this won't be an issue with Lonzo. He creates transition opportunities when they necessarily aren't there to begin with. I cringe when I read he doesn't have great athleticism when it comes in all different forms, speed or power. He is a speed guy and he has bounce. He creates extra transition opportunities from a)playing the passing lanes so well, b)his strong weak side rebounding ability, and c)his early passing. I can't stress that enough. Passing the ball in the air will always beat those feet moving on the ground.

People can talk about pulling up for a j going to his right, but he gets to the rim or shoots deep threes. He doesn't take those low efficiency shots. Now, he will have to go against better rim protectors in the NBA, so he must improve his floaters to keep his rim FG% impressively high like it was in college. He is very shifty while in the air and he uses his left hand quite well to finish.

He does have a drive and kick game, so I don't agree with that assessment. I would worry about his ability in pick and roll if he was a scoring guard. He passes on 74% of PNR. When he doesn't have the Ball, 1.54 PPP on cuts, active and instinctual. And his low usage puts those cuts in play a lot, again because he constantly moves the ball--quick decision maker.

Defensively is where I don't see him get any respect that he deserves. People talk about him getting abused by Fox in the last game, but it was really Bam who took out Welsh with foul trouble and Ball with his screens. Not to mention Ball pulled his hamstring and was laboring the whole time down the stretch. The only thing that got exposed that game was the lack of depth shown from UCLA bigs. Lonzo has great hands, has no problem guarding guys with his body on them (that will be more effective when he adds bulk to his 6'6'' frame), and until then he has great timing to meet them at the rim. He is a hustler and reads offenses almost as good as he runs them. He doesn't get fooled by pump fakes, always stays grounded with his feet, moves them well with his short choppy footwork. Active hands leading to those runouts. Head of snake energy on defense.

All in all, he'll change the dynamics of our offense. He'll take the ball out of our slow decision makers (Julius and to a degree Russell) and give the ball to them in positions where all they have to do is make the next pass or take the open look. He controls the tempo of the game on offense. What he does need to work on his tightening his handle, work on his floater, change his alignment on FT's, and add muscle like any other teenager. He has such an advanced feel for the game for someone his age, it's refreshing.

As always, like reports on Looney's hips, things can change, but what we know now and have seen from Ball--it appears to be a great package.

[Slava]

I'll take your word for it... what did you see?

I'm interested to hear how you see his game transitioning to the NBA level.

Here's what I wrote of him as my main concerns:

He has some otherwise glaring weaknesses though, the majority of his offense comes in transition, doesn't have a drive and kick game, can't score off screens etc. NBA level defenders can throttle his transition games and force him to create offense in half court sets, which doesn't seem like a strength.

You can add his defensive issues as another concern.

I feel like I've been saying why he will translate, but I also know that it hasn't been all within the same post. I'm a terrible writer so I get turned off halfway through the post when I try to bear down and put something together. There's like four drafts in my user account, a lot in response to princeinrevolt quotes that I just said F it, let it play out and they will see for themselves in time.

Anyways, Lonzo will transform the way we play. We know with Luke that Golden State is our model. Talking with Michael Lucky before, he acknowledges that they play a more motion offense instead of a heavy PNR type style. This is great, because they have players who weren't head and shoulders above one another at ISO scoring--until Durant came that is...

Ball is so great at playing to his strengths and hiding his weaknesses. His awareness and feel for the game is off the charts. He will be what Morey, and probably even D'Antoni, wishes Harden would be. A player who willingly distributes the ball to the high percentage looks, whether that be at the rim, behind the three point line, or looks leading to the free throw line.

What we know about NBA defenses is that a lot of the players already have the athleticism, length, and smarts that the college basketball teams won't showcase as often on a nightly (in college weekly) basis. But Lonzo's unselfishness and willingness to pass counters that by early passes, constant running (can't wait to see how many miles this guy runs a night on SportsVu), and smart-critical passes. Simply put, that ball never sticks and he inspires his teammates (well, we'll see about the pro's who are ego-driven with entitlement) to run the floor and equally share the ball.

I can remember Walton yanking Russell out of games because he wasn't playing fast enough for his liking--this won't be an issue with Lonzo. He creates transition opportunities when they necessarily aren't there to begin with. I cringe when I read he doesn't have great athleticism when it comes in all different forms, speed or power. He is a speed guy and he has bounce. He creates extra transition opportunities from a)playing the passing lanes so well, b)his strong weak side rebounding ability, and c)his early passing. I can't stress that enough. Passing the ball in the air will always beat those feet moving on the ground.

People can talk about pulling up for a j going to his right, but he gets to the rim or shoots deep threes. He doesn't take those low efficiency shots. Now, he will have to go against better rim protectors in the NBA, so he must improve his floaters to keep his rim FG% impressively high like it was in college. He is very shifty while in the air and he uses his left hand quite well to finish.

He does have a drive and kick game, so I don't agree with that assessment. I would worry about his ability in pick and roll if he was a scoring guard. He passes on 74% of PNR. When he doesn't have the Ball, 1.54 PPP on cuts, active and instinctual. And his low usage puts those cuts in play a lot, again because he constantly moves the ball--quick decision maker.

Defensively is where I don't see him get any respect that he deserves. People talk about him getting abused by Fox in the last game, but it was really Bam who took out Welsh with foul trouble and Ball with his screens. Not to mention Ball pulled his hamstring and was laboring the whole time down the stretch. The only thing that got exposed that game was the lack of depth shown from UCLA bigs. Lonzo has great hands, has no problem guarding guys with his body on them (that will be more effective when he adds bulk to his 6'6'' frame), and until then he has great timing to meet them at the rim. He is a hustler and reads offenses almost as good as he runs them. He doesn't get fooled by pump fakes, always stays grounded with his feet, moves them well with his short choppy footwork. Active hands leading to those runouts. Head of snake energy on defense.

All in all, he'll change the dynamics of our offense. He'll take the ball out of our slow decision makers (Julius and to a degree Russell) and give the ball to them in positions where all they have to do is make the next pass or take the open look. He controls the tempo of the game on offense. What he does need to work on his tightening his handle, work on his floater, change his alignment on FT's, and add muscle like any other teenager. He has such an advanced feel for the game for someone his age, it's refreshing.

As always, like reports on Looney's hips, things can change, but what we know now and have seen from Ball--it appears to be a great package.

Well put together and probably a better assessment of Ball than even his draft express profile. This is the first time I actually realized he might transform the tempo we play at, which was Luke's main frustration from last season. His activity wasn't entirely apparent to me from watching just the tourney games but if he plays every game like that, that's an entirely different profile of a player.

[PICKnPOP]

Lonzo on the lakers makes too much sense. One thing a lot of people are not thinking about is our chances at the other Ball brothers in the future. Lavar has already said he sees them all playing on the same NBA team one day.


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