2017 Lakers Draft Pick Discussion

[Mulhollanddrive]

How desperate are you guys to get rid of Deng?

Would you trade down to 4 to dump?

[ozymandias818]

If I were the Lakers I'd try to dump that pick with the quickness. This news that some think the Celtics will take Jackson seems dumb (and I like Jackson a lot but he's a distant 3rd best prospect behind Fultz at #1), but we should capitalize on trading the #2 (especially while teams may think it can net them Fultz) when its value is at its highest.

[Michael Lucky]

How desperate are you guys to get rid of Deng?

Would you trade down to 4 to dump?

No. There is absolutely zero rush to get their contracts off the books. The warriors have this league on lock down for a minimum of two years (earliest projection of the big 4 splitting up), more than likely 4 or 5 years in reality. I'm more interested in maximizing our youth development while the Warriors dynasty runs its course.

[Pointgod]

Well i do prefer Tatum over Jackson or Fox.

Why?

Can shoot (on and off the dribble), rebound, score at all three levels, can hit free throws. Fox can't score outside 10 feet nor can he really play make, Jackson can only score outside 10 feet if it's off the catch and shoot. While Jackson has good play making abilities it's not like a whole tier better than Tatum's. Tatum's defense doesn't project as good as the former two, but then again there are so many athletic players that are terrible regardless of their defensive potentials.

I like Tatum but I don't see how he fits on a team with Randle, Ingram and possibly Paul George. I like Tatum but he seems to have a low ceiling, so so athleticism and okay defense. I have him as a top 7 player but I think there are much better options with our high pick.

[NBA Fiend]

Before the draft lottery the Suns GM said he had a fever and the only prescription was Lonzo. With all the rumors floating around I'm wondering if Suns offered Warren and the Miami pick next year for the pick swap and Deng if that would work. Don't know if the Suns would be willing to eat Mosgovs contract. As always I thank you for your continued support.

[Michael Lucky]

Why?

Can shoot (on and off the dribble), rebound, score at all three levels, can hit free throws. Fox can't score outside 10 feet nor can he really play make, Jackson can only score outside 10 feet if it's off the catch and shoot. While Jackson has good play making abilities it's not like a whole tier better than Tatum's. Tatum's defense doesn't project as good as the former two, but then again there are so many athletic players that are terrible regardless of their defensive potentials.

I like Tatum but I don't see how he fits on a team with Randle, Ingram and possibly Paul George. I like Tatum but he seems to have a low ceiling, so so athleticism and okay defense. I have him as a top 7 player but I think there are much better options with our high pick.

His shooting fits a whole lot better with the players you mentioned than someone like Jackson. Either way picking a SF isn't ideal (whether Jackson or Tatum) if you are sold on Ingram being your so called "untouchable piece".

[Pointgod]

Latest from Ford... Its basically whats been speculated on this thread but with "sources"

http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/19641152/latest-nba-draft-intel-boston-celtics-los-angeles-lakers-lonzo-ball-josh-jackson-more

Celtics might pull a surprise at No. 1

Markelle Fultz has been atop my Big Board since version 2.0, and his only real challenger most of the year has been Lonzo Ball.

But Josh Jackson, who was No. 1 on Big Board 1.0, has emerged as an intriguing option for the Celtics and team president Danny Ainge (even though he canceled a workout with Boston this week, according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman and Marc Spears).
2017 NBA draft

Get ready for Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and the 2017 draft, with analysis from Chad Ford and other ESPN experts.

"I've picked Danny's brain for years," one GM said. "Jackson is an Ainge player all the way. Tough, athletic, long, versatile, elite motor. If he's keeping the pick, Jackson just to me, far and away, is the most Celtics-type player for them to draft. From all my conversations with them, I'm convinced they'll take Jackson No. 1."

He's correct in that Jackson fits the prototypical Celtics mold. Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown all fit that description, and all were first-round selections by Boston (Rondo via trade).

Jackson has yet to work out for the Celtics, according to his agent, B.J. Armstrong, who said that Jackson has worked out twice for the Lakers and once for the 76ers. Jackson is also scheduled to work out for the Suns before the draft.

"We have great respect for Boston and Danny Ainge," Armstrong said. "That's a championship-caliber organization and Josh brings the things that I know Danny values. He can defend his position at an elite level. He can rebound for his position at an elite level and he can pass for his position at an elite level. All the championship-caliber teams are looking for players who can do those three things. And I know they want winners.

"We're in dialogue with Boston. We're very respectful of them. They have the No. 1 pick and can select whoever they choose. We just need to see how things play out over the next week."

While Armstrong declined to give specifics about why Jackson hasn't worked out there, other league sources believe that it's likely that Jackson's camp feels that both the Lakers and Sixers would give Jackson a larger role from day one.

A number of agents have expressed concerns that the Celtics might not have enough playing time for their clients to develop properly, given the depth and experience of their roster. (Ball also declined a workout with Boston.)

Fit is a question mark for Jackson as well, with both Jaylen Brown and Jae Crowder already on the roster.

Don't the Celtics need players with differing skill sets? Isn't Jackson a bit duplicative, especially given the arrival of Brown last year?

Another GM doesn't see it that way.

"Jackson will be better than all of those guys [at his position in Boston]," the GM said. "Danny's looking for a star, and I think Jackson has as much or more star potential than Fultz or Ball. Everyone on the Celtics is an asset. Danny can move them all. He'll take the player he likes the best. Period. He'll figure out fit in the summer."

What do the Celtics have to say about this? They're staying mum on whom they're taking No. 1, but a source says the franchise is strongly considering options other than Fultz and that Jackson is one of those options.

"We like him a lot," the Celtics source said. "But we like several guys a lot. We've got a week to figure it out."

If Jackson doesn't work out for Boston, would that scare the Celtics away? "Absolutely not," a Celtics source said. "That's true for Josh and Lonzo and anyone else. We've done our homework. The workouts are nice, but they're not mandatory. We'll select the best player."

Will the Lakers trade the No. 2 pick?

It's a big week in L.A. Fultz held his first workout with the Lakers on Thursday, while Ball will work out for the team a second time on Friday. The session will take place at an undisclosed location where Ball can demonstrate his work ethic, a source told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. Additionally, the Lakers are working toward finalizing a first workout with Jayson Tatum this weekend.

Add future workouts from Jackson and De'Aaron Fox to that equation, and we'll have a good idea whom the Lakers are looking to draft with the No. 2 pick. Sources say that if the Lakers keep their current pick, it's down to those five players.

The top candidates, according to sources, are Fultz, Jackson and Ball, and the latter still appears to be the team's favorite.

But another scenario has piqued the franchise's interest. The Lakers held internal discussions about trading back two spots to No. 4 if the Suns were to offer them a 2018 first-round pick. The Suns hold their own 2018 pick (which currently projects to be a high lottery pick) as well as the rights to the Miami Heat's 2018 pick. The latter pick is top-seven-protected in 2018 but unprotected in 2019.

The Lakers believe that Ball or Jackson might be available at the No. 4 spot. If not, the Lakers are still very high on Fox and Tatum, and believe that securing an additional prospect might be worth dropping two spots in the draft.

The Kings are another potential trade partner for the Lakers. They hold the rights to the fifth and 10th picks and have discussed moving up in this year's draft.

At No. 5, the Lakers might still be able to choose between Fox and Tatum (and potentially Ball), or just take the best prospect who's available. And at No. 10, other strong prospects -- such as Malik Monk, Dennis Smith, Frank Ntilikina, Lauri Markkanen, Kennard and/or Zach Collins -- would likely still be on the board. (It should be noted that the Lakers are not considering taking Smith with the No. 2 pick.)

The Lakers are looking for strong shooters, and several of the aforementioned prospects would help the franchise fill that void.

"The draft is so deep, it might be worth dropping out of the top two to get a couple of potential All-Stars," one rival GM said. "I'm not sure the gap between guys like Fox, Tatum and [Jonathan] Isaac is big enough to stop the Lakers from pulling the trigger. They'd be able to address two needs at really affordable contracts."

From what I'm hearing, it sounds like the Lakers are unwilling to trade their pick if it means dropping out of the top five spots in the draft. They want to get at least one young player with star potential out of this draft, and feel confident they can acquire a veteran star during free agency in 2018.

I swear to God if Fultz is on the board and we pass on him I'm going to throw a remote through my tv.

[Michael Lucky]

Pretty sure if Fultz wasn't a clear consensus #1 that Jackson would be the automatic pick for Boston. At some point Ainge has got to draft someone that can at least shoot the ball.

[Goudelock]

Pretty sure if Fultz wasn't a clear consensus #1 that Jackson would be the automatic pick for Boston. At some point Ainge has got to draft someone that can at least shoot the ball.

Danny Ainge must believe in the theory that says, "In order to beat the best, don't try to imitate them. Instead, do the opposite".

Which in Boston's case, means drafting players and filling the team with players who can't shoot. I mean, you're not going to get better shooters than the Dubs, so why even try?

[Pointgod]

Can shoot (on and off the dribble), rebound, score at all three levels, can hit free throws. Fox can't score outside 10 feet nor can he really play make, Jackson can only score outside 10 feet if it's off the catch and shoot. While Jackson has good play making abilities it's not like a whole tier better than Tatum's. Tatum's defense doesn't project as good as the former two, but then again there are so many athletic players that are terrible regardless of their defensive potentials.

I like Tatum but I don't see how he fits on a team with Randle, Ingram and possibly Paul George. I like Tatum but he seems to have a low ceiling, so so athleticism and okay defense. I have him as a top 7 player but I think there are much better options with our high pick.

His shooting fits a whole lot better with the players you mentioned than someone like Jackson. Either way picking a SF isn't ideal (whether Jackson or Tatum) if you are sold on Ingram being your so called "untouchable piece".

Good points but I think it's easier to teach Jackson to shoot than Tatum will become more athletic and develop defensive instincts. Also I think Jackson could play 3 positions from shooting guard to power forward which makes him easier to fit with the rest of the team and possibly George. Josh Jackson surrounded by 4 shooters could open driving lanes and mitigate his shooting. Tatum is a safe pick though if we end up trading down.

[AcecardZ]

Anybody know Pelton's projections?

1. Ball
2. Fultz
3. Issac
4. Smith
5. Collins
6. Jackson
7. Anunoby
8. Tatum
9. Markannen
10. Fox

Imagine if this is close to real, I wonder if Sac would do #2+deng for #5(Jackson) and #10(Markkanen)
Then by some miracle Minn or someone takes Moz off our hands for space
Clarkson for a 2018 1st
Randle for a 2018 1st

So much space in 2018

WestbrookOrIT (32) Russell (16) 2018 1st
Russell (16) Jackson (32) 2018 1st
Ingram (32) JamesOrGeorge (16)
JamesOrGeorge (16) Markkanen (20) Nance (12)
Zubac (30) Markkanen (10) Nance (8)

I don't see Lebron ever leaving the Eastern Conference as long as the GS juggernaught is still intact.

[Pointgod]

Pretty sure if Fultz wasn't a clear consensus #1 that Jackson would be the automatic pick for Boston. At some point Ainge has got to draft someone that can at least shoot the ball.

I think at this point Danny Ainge is better off trading picks because he has no **** idea what he's doing. He thinks he's smarter than he really is which leads to picking Jaylen Brown over Marquis Chriss when the Celtics needed front court help. Ainge loves his smokescreen but it makes zero sense when you're picking first.

[iamworthy]

Who initiated lonzo's second workout? I'm hearing conflicting stories.

[Michael Lucky]

Who initiated lonzo's second workout? I'm hearing conflicting stories.

i have no idea. But it is a bit strange that the second workout is being directed by the player himself. Despite all the possible smoke screens i think the part of where Lonzo's side is a bit concerned about being the pick is very real.

[BEazy]

I feel if we trade down we might get Dennis Smith Jr. I feel like he's gonna be special.

[Lakernut4ever]

I feel if we trade down we might get Dennis Smith Jr. I feel like he's gonna be special.

Get DSJ and Markannen for number 2 pick

[One Love]

If you LOVE Ball or Jackson you don't get cute and draft them at #2... If they trade down, they want DSJ or Tatum... I have a funny feeling that Russell & the #28 will go to Philly for #3 & the Lakeshow take Ball & Jackson... Magic is a "locker room" guy & Russell isn't his guy... Magic willl put his stamp on the team at the draft boys... The new era starts next Thursday...

Do you "Believe in Magic Baby"...

[LakersSoul]

I feel if we trade down we might get Dennis Smith Jr. I feel like he's gonna be special.

Get DSJ and Markannen for number 2 pick

IF Magic & West love Ball or Jackson and think either can be a franchise player, okay, then we pick them. If not, then it makes all the sense in the world to trade down especially if Sacramento is offering 5 & 10. I would love to add any two between Tatum, Markkanen and DSJ.

Here is ride down the rabbit hole but...

If we miss on one of these guys with the 10th pick (highly possible), then I would consider trading down with the 10th pick and add 2-3 other picks at the end of the first round. Then trade a late first rounder for 3 second rounders from Philly or Boston.

Trade #2 to Sac for #5 and #10
Pick #5 Tatum/DSJ
Trade #10 to Portland for #15, #20, #26
Pick #15 Kennard (or Mitchell)
Pick #20 Anigbogu (or Allen)
Trade #26 to Philly for second round #36, #39, #46 and a second rounder in 2018
Pick #28 Bell (or DJ Wilson) with Houston pick
Pick #36 DJ Wilson (or Ojeleye)
Pick #39 Tony Bradley (or Frank Jackson)
Pick #46 Sumner (or Tyler Dorsey)

- Adding Kennard will make Clarkson expendable (trade before 2018 summer).
- Adding Anigbogu/Bell/Wilson/Bradley would make Brewer and Black expendable. (Decline Black and trade Brewer before 2018 trading deadline).

We get younger, add more talent and shed salary for 2018 summer.
We end up with 4 first round picks and 3 second round picks plus a future 2018 second rounder from Philly!!

That would be a perrrrfect draft night!!

[Slava]

If we trade down, I'd rather pick Issac than Tatum, Fox or even Jackson. My wish list right now 1. Lonzo 2. Fultz 3. Issac

[Tzar]

I don't know why everyone thinks that sac is going to give up 5 and 10 in such a deep draft. DJS could (unlikely but still possible) go 10 and he could end up being a franchise cornerstone. I see no incentive for Sac to trade 5 and 10 in this draft. I also see no movement in that regard on the Sac board.