2017 Lakers Draft Pick Discussion

[LakersSoul]

Lakers Draft Workouts:
1. Thomas Bryant
2. Kuzma
3. Williams-Goss
4. Beachem
5. Dom Hawkins
6. Andrew White

Out of this group, only Bryant and Kuzma are projected late first or early second rounders. Williams-Goss is projected as a late second rounder. Good to see the team with due-diligence on so many players.

http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-draft-workouts-bryant-kuzma-williams-goss-beachem-hawkins-white/2017/05/22/

[Spens1]

Kuzma is projected in the 40's right? I know Bryant is expected to go in the early 2ndish so working him out isn't ridiculous

I'd say we should be working out Giles, Adebayo, Jeanne if we're looking at bigs.

[Jon Snow]

DraftX has LA picking up Giles at 28. His past injuries worries me. Agree on they should schedule workouts including him as well. I think they will in the coming weeks. Jordan Bell is intriguing. Big Bam would be a steal.

[MrWaffles]

Watching some of these workout vids posted by lakers nation, gotta admit it's pretty nice seeing magic Johnson out there and a relatively young and relatable looking person like pelinka representing the front office to these draftees and eventually free agents

I agree, not to mention Ryan West right next to magic. You can tell they are doing their homework with a new approach compared to our last FO. It's not just Mitch making the decisions anymore, it's a group.

[aaron_gray]

Man White is intriguing. His 3p attempts and ft% are where they need to be to statistically project him as a good shooter at the next level. Shame he'll basically be 24 at the start of the year, but that doesn't mean he can't be a solid contributor (Gorgui Dieng for example came in at 24 for the Timberwolves and has been very solid). I honestly don't know how much interest there will be for guys like him but this is the part where I wouldn't mind having another late 2nd just to make sure he doesn't go undrafted and thus sign with a contender. I'll probably go full TyCobb on this guy if his standing reach turns out to be greater than 8'9.

[Slava]

Wonderful read on Lonzo from a D1 scout

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c2vDypRdI1n7kOZ4lfhN5EOckW05b7IedRm1OS7bK70/edit

[iamworthy]

Wonderful read on Lonzo from a D1 scout

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c2vDypRdI1n7kOZ4lfhN5EOckW05b7IedRm1OS7bK70/edit

Here's the tweet:

Read on Twitter

[LALifer49]

Watching some of these workout vids posted by lakers nation, gotta admit it's pretty nice seeing magic Johnson out there and a relatively young and relatable looking person like pelinka representing the front office to these draftees and eventually free agents

I agree, not to mention Ryan West right next to magic. You can tell they are doing their homework with a new approach compared to our last FO. It's not just Mitch making the decisions anymore, it's a group.

It's not like our last FO did a bad job with later drafting considering they picked up Clarkson, Nance, and Zubac in the last 3 years...

[Michael Lucky]

DraftX has LA picking up Giles at 28. His past injuries worries me. Agree on they should schedule workouts including him as well. I think they will in the coming weeks. Jordan Bell is intriguing. Big Bam would be a steal.

well with the 28th pick you can pick a high, risk high reward guy.

[Michael Lucky]

Wonderful read on Lonzo from a D1 scout

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c2vDypRdI1n7kOZ4lfhN5EOckW05b7IedRm1OS7bK70/edit

Kind of a double edged article. It promotes Lonzo's vision but at the same time points out the fact that he plays the 2 better than the 1. I'm more an more convinced that Russell will still play the lead guard position.

[Slava]

Wonderful read on Lonzo from a D1 scout

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c2vDypRdI1n7kOZ4lfhN5EOckW05b7IedRm1OS7bK70/edit

Kind of a double edged article. It promotes Lonzo's vision but at the same time points out the fact that he plays the 2 better than the 1. I'm more an more convinced that Russell will still play the lead guard position.

I think he still says Lonzo is a lead guard but he is so unlike other leads like Chris Paul who like to pound the ball a lot and only pass to teammates to shoot or finish. Lonzo on the other hand trusts his teammates and often advances the ball to put them in a position to make decisions.

[Michael Lucky]

Wonderful read on Lonzo from a D1 scout

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c2vDypRdI1n7kOZ4lfhN5EOckW05b7IedRm1OS7bK70/edit

Kind of a double edged article. It promotes Lonzo's vision but at the same time points out the fact that he plays the 2 better than the 1. I'm more an more convinced that Russell will still play the lead guard position.

I think he still says Lonzo is a lead guard but he is so unlike other leads like Chris Paul who like to pound the ball a lot and only pass to teammates to shoot or finish. Lonzo on the other hand trusts his teammates and often advances the ball to put them in a position to make decisions.

From that aspect it does sound a lot better, since Ingram and Russell do like to create their own offense.

[Kilroy]

It's not about who Ball is today... Who he is today would likely get crushed in the NBA.

It's about who he might become after growing and adapting to the NBA.
With a player like Ball you have to look at what he brings to the table and then identify where you think those skills can be maximized on the court in the NBA... And then anticipate how you'd make that happen... You look for POTENTIAL impact like we did with Russell...

So you draft him if you think he can be a 1 guard and you hope he will one day.

So even though he may have not been an ideal 1 in College, you look at his skills and see he has the fundamental assets to fill that role. Then you think about college and his team and you think maybe being a PG in College isn't as valuable as it is in the NBA so maybe elite players don't focus on that for the year or so they're there...
And I think at the end of the day you realize that regardless of all the issues he has in his game at the 1, (all college players have issues) you see that he still has great potential to become a big 1 guard in the NBA, if he buys in and works at it.

So if you want him at the 1, you ask yourself if you think he has the drive and desire to make those adjustments, and pick him accordingly.

I'm still on board, because... "Wouldn't it be great if..." Ball achieved that goal for P&G?
That's what it's all about right?

Picking Fultz at the 2 is a no-brainer if you need a 2, or a better 2. But how much impact is there? Not seeing anything earth shattering.... And if Fultz is gone, and you're afraid of dreaming about Ball at the 1, do you still draft him with the second pick? Probably not... Because how much impact is he likely to have at the 2? Maybe less than Russell at the 2... And I think the safe money is on Russell at the 2 isn't a top 2 pick in this draft.

So the passing skills and lead guard ability is a trans-formative quality in the NBA. Even the hope a player can do it is enough to elevate them... That's because FO's draft based on the future, not the past... They dream and grasp at potential.

[Slava]

Ball is going to be a guy that puts up mediocre boxscore totals but leads the team in every plus minus stat. That's why you're going to have the GB flooded with Lonzo ball is a bust threads for years until people actually recognize how good he is.

[Michael Lucky]

Ball is going to be a guy that puts up mediocre boxscore totals but leads the team in every plus minus stat. That's why you're going to have the GB flooded with Lonzo ball is a bust threads for years until people actually recognize how good he is.

I have to disagree with you here. He's an elite rebounder for his position. He actually is the type that will fill the assists/rebounds/spg totals. He's pretty instinctive like Russell at getting steals. In terms of scoring i think more of Avery Bradley. He'll get double digit points simply from cutting and set 3s with Russell feeding him for scoring opportunities.

[moonpie]

Draft prospect of the day: Jawun Evans (PG, Oklahoma State)
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jawun-Evans-76420/

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[will]

Lonzo to the Lakers. Please make it happen.

[LakersSoul]

Lakers Draft Workout (May 23, 2017)

1. Kadeem Allen
2. Artis
3. Djitte
4. JJ Frazier
5. Josh Hawkinson
6. LJ Peak

http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/170523-draft-workouts?cid=tw2

Potential summer league invites?

[BEazy]

If we can steal Harry Giles I'm all for it. That would be a sweet pick at 28th.

I'd also be happy with Bam at the 28th as well.

[Mrewn]

Read on Twitter