2017 Lakers Draft Pick Discussion

[SashaTheMachine]

Going to Vegas for the first weekend of summer league. Looking forward to that Lakers Celtics matchup. We just better not have JJ in the purple and gold.

[Sushisensei26]

Going to Vegas for the first weekend of summer league. Looking forward to that Lakers Celtics matchup. We just better not have JJ in the purple and gold.

Awww snap!!! Me too.

[DEEP3CL]

This is all coming about because the Celtics want Jackson, but with the Lakers at 2 they can't risk us taking him even if Ball is our actual target. Then working out Fultz and and pub'in him up after the workout made Boston get antsy. They were unsure about taking Fultz all along, it's obvious to anybody that watches ball knows they need wing help badly...especially if they lose Avery Bradley in free agency.

So Josh Jackson was the Celtics target even though he didn't workout for them, the Lakers have played this like a person walking through a field of land mines in stealth mode. Everybody and their momma knew Philly needed a real guard, they can't depend on Simmons being the only real ball handler. So Philly wanted Fultz who also didn't plan on working out for them until today.

Now with all this known both Philly and the Celtics couldn't get their actual targets unless they did some deal.....basically flipping picks, but Ainge is punking Colangelo into forking over the '18 pick we owe them and probably that Sacramento pick as well. Steep price to pay.

When it came out that Magic made a run at #1 from Boston, you had to know it was a better chance of getting a cold drink in hell before Ainge forked over his pick to Magic. Either way I'm good with how it turns out, we get Zo the player we wanted all along.

Media already gushing about Philly having a big 3 but it's young and will take awhile for it to come to reality. With the Lakers having the 2 pick we can still jack it up if we take Jackson.

[Mirjalovic]

Read on Twitter

this is what you get from Fox.

[Danny Darko]

Yeah I don't buy your conspiracy theory. Seems fairly simple to me. Fultz is at the top of the Lakers draft board and Lonzo is second.

What I find funny is how quickly the 76ers got into the trade discussions with Boston after Jackson's workout. Jackson must have layed an egg.

And the Celtics looking to actively move back to get Jackson doesn't say anything? If Fultz is so good, why the need to move back?

Its kind of perplexing and its all too understandable that the common man call out Ainge on his stupidity on this but I refrain myself from going that far. I trust Ainge in anything and everything much more than I do Byran Colangelo. Given the Celtics place in the league and the assets they've acquired, why would you second guess the man?

For Philly, moving the 3rd and next year's first rounder to acquire the best talent available makes sense until you realize Ainge is a suave cat in negotiations and Colangelo is an idiot. Universally the deal for Philly is getting praise but I'm not so sure Ainge isn't going to screw another GM when all is said and done.

I disagree here... Philly going and getting their guy actually makes more sense considering the roster and need. Russell makes more sense if we are offering him but that trade works well for Philly and I think gives Danny the bullets to go get Butler.

[SashaTheMachine]

Going to Vegas for the first weekend of summer league. Looking forward to that Lakers Celtics matchup. We just better not have JJ in the purple and gold.

Awww snap!!! Me too.

It's liiiiiiiiiiiit! Now only if slava can grace us with his presence from Europe.

[TheHartBreakKid]

Yeah I don't buy your conspiracy theory. Seems fairly simple to me. Fultz is at the top of the Lakers draft board and Lonzo is second.

What I find funny is how quickly the 76ers got into the trade discussions with Boston after Jackson's workout. Jackson must have layed an egg.

And the Celtics looking to actively move back to get Jackson doesn't say anything? If Fultz is so good, why the need to move back?

Its kind of perplexing and its all too understandable that the common man call out Ainge on his stupidity on this but I refrain myself from going that far. I trust Ainge in anything and everything much more than I do Byran Colangelo. Given the Celtics place in the league and the assets they've acquired, why would you second guess the man?

For Philly, moving the 3rd and next year's first rounder to acquire the best talent available makes sense until you realize Ainge is a suave cat in negotiations and Colangelo is an idiot. Universally the deal for Philly is getting praise but I'm not so sure Ainge isn't going to screw another GM when all is said and done.

I think Ainge has done a great job, but he's also far from some genius. That being said, this move actually makes lots of sense to me, for the simple reason of Isiah's existence in this team. Look, I get it, if Fultz is going to be this good, you trade take him on a rookie contract and years of control over Isiah. But Isiah is a proven thing, and Fultz isn't. In a vacume, I think Fultz's potential is high enough that you take him over IT, but you have to consider the current situation the Celtics are in, specifically, the fact that they are trying to win now, and their contract situations.

if you pick Fultz, I doubt Isiah resigns with this team, considering the knows that in the long run, the Celtics are probably going to need to make a decision. Why would you resign with the Celtics if you are Isiah, knowing that as soon as Fultz is ready to take on the responsibility as the lead guard, Isiah is likely to be traded to accommodate a more proper fit in the backcourt next to Fultz (like a player they already have, in Avery Bradley). Now, unless you want to lose Isiah for nothing, you may have to trade him now, where he won't have too much value as a one year rental.
Note: I don't believe that Isiah and Fultz are a good backcourt fit at all. I would much rather have one of them with Bradley in a winning team. Now, you could have keptFultz as a sixth man and do a three guard rotation for the next couple of years, but like I said, I'm not sure why Isiah would commit to such a situation. Not to mention Smart/Rozier, etc. The Celtic's problem isn't their backcourt....it's their frontcourt that needs improvement.

Again, if you think Fultz is a sure thing as a superstar, you don't do this....i mean if Fultz was Lebron James at the PG position, you take him even if it means giving up Isiah for literally nothing. But obviously, the Celtics weren't THAT impressed by Fultz, and while they still probably had him as the best player in the draft, they believed that they were better off with someone like Josh Jackson in terms of fit, or Jimmy Butler, if they were to make a trade. However, you simply don't pick up Josh Jackson as the first pick, espeically when the Sixers are willing to give you another lottery pick next year just to move up. You also don't trade the number one for Butler, especially if the number 3 is still the best offer the Bulls will receive.

The move makes perfect sense to me, but honestly, it's very risky to say the least. Things that could go wrong include A. Isiah not commiting either way (unlikely). 2. No trade for Jimmy happening and Jackson being a bust while your division rival gets the future best point guard in the league. 3. Boston continuing to stack up good but not great players with their new additional assets, remaining not good enoughto win a title, and wasting this amazing opportunity considering the rare situation they were in in terms of assets and current talent.

[Danny Darko]

You don't think Butler is in play and you think it is a center piece? I don't think either is true

[jay51024]

Read on Twitter

"Except that all the executives, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the draft, agree that the Lakers will use their second pick in the draft on UCLA’s Lonzo Ball.

With conviction, the executives view the quintuplet as Ball, Washington’s Markelle Fultz, Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox, Kansas’ Josh Jackson and Duke’s Jayson Tatum."

[DusterBuster]

"Except that all the executives, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the draft, agree that the Lakers will use their second pick in the draft on UCLA’s Lonzo Ball.

With conviction, the executives view the quintuplet as Ball, Washington’s Markelle Fultz, Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox, Kansas’ Josh Jackson and Duke’s Jayson Tatum."

Boooooooooo!!! I want to see Lavar lose his mind on national TV if the Lakers don't pick him.

[karkinos]

Celtics drafting jaylen brown only to follow that up with josh Jackson is hilarious

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[TheHartBreakKid]

You don't think Butler is in play and you think it is a center piece? I don't think either is true

I think Butler is in play, I'm just saying unless it's a three team trade, things could always fall through, so unless it's a three team trade/ the whole thing is contingent on Butler, then the Celtics could be making a mistake. Though I definitely think something is in theworks with Butler.

[LakersSoul]

Lakers are in a vulnerable position here... do they take Ball, the perfect prospect for the Lakers, or do they send him to Phoenix who like him as much as Philly likes Fultz? These Deng and Mozgov contracts continue to haunt us. If they are serious about bringing in those '18 FA's, might have to act now...

Unless the Lakers are very lukewarm on Lonzo, I think the only way I'd make a deal with Phoenix would be with the Suns taking back one of Deng or Mozgov, and them sending us one of their valuable '18 picks back. I don't think they'd make that deal though.

Just like Fultz, the Lakers have to make a decision on if Ball or Jackson can become that franchise player for the team. If not, the Lakers HAVE to consider trading down and pick up assets. Boston thought the difference between Fultz and Jackson wasnt big enough so they are looking to trading #1 pick for 3 assets, netting themselves #3, 2018 pick and a future #1 pick.

The Lakers must have conviction that Ball/Jackson will become a star. If not, they have to pick up 3 assets as well. I would prefer #5 and #10 this year then trade #10 for more assets. Another option is #4 and a 2018 pick depending on the protection.

Lakers must load up on assets to eventually trade and keep themselves flexible.

[TheHartBreakKid]

Lakers are in a vulnerable position here... do they take Ball, the perfect prospect for the Lakers, or do they send him to Phoenix who like him as much as Philly likes Fultz? These Deng and Mozgov contracts continue to haunt us. If they are serious about bringing in those '18 FA's, might have to act now...

Unless the Lakers are very lukewarm on Lonzo, I think the only way I'd make a deal with Phoenix would be with the Suns taking back one of Deng or Mozgov, and them sending us one of their valuable '18 picks back. I don't think they'd make that deal though.

Just like Fultz, the Lakers have to make a decision on if Ball or Jackson can become that franchise player for the team. If not, the Lakers HAVE to consider trading down and pick up assets. Boston thought the difference between Fultz and Jackson wasnt big enough so they are looking to trading #1 pick for 3 assets, netting themselves #3, 2018 pick and a future #1 pick.

The Lakers must have conviction that Ball/Jackson will become a star. If not, they have to pick up 3 assets as well. I would prefer #5 and #10 this year then trade #10 for more assets. Another option is #4 and a 2018 pick depending on the protection.

Lakers must load up on assets to eventually trade and keep themselves flexible.

Absoloutely. It really depends on how high the FO is on Lonzo, compared to Fox imo. If you trade down, Fox is almost certainly the pick. does the FO think Lonzo is that much more of a sure thing than Fox to pass up the chance to get rid of Moz/Deng? I'm not sure. All i know is if Lonzo becomes a star, and we missed out on him just to get rid of Deng or Moz, that's simply unacceptable.. While if Lonzo doesn't become a star and we end up not being able to move those contracts, it would certainly suck, but I wouldn't call it "unacceptable". Simply, Lonzo is more likely to be a star than not to be a star, and in terms of the potential upside, you don't make that move unless you believe Fox has the same upside.

[MelosSoreWrist]

Read on Twitter

this is what you get from Fox.

Thats a Curry like 42% from 3. Just have to get him shots where he's not guarded.

[TheHartBreakKid]

Read on Twitter

this is what you get from Fox.

Thats a Curry like 42% from 3. Just have to get him shots where he's not guarded.

And we need to remove the fans to decrease pressure. That and having someone pass him the ball in rhythm everytime.



Honestly, I like Fox, but that's concerning. I bet even Rondo would make well over 50% of his threes in a similar drill.

Small sample size of course, and I think Fox is more likely to be a Wall level shooter than a Rondo level shooter.....the bigger problem is he probably won't be a wall level athlete, defender, and most importantly, a wall level playmaker.

[jigga_man]

Celtics drafting jaylen brown only to follow that up with josh Jackson is hilarious

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It's really puzzling. I know JJ fits the profile of what Ainge likes in a prospect. He's an athletic swingman that can D up can can't shoot, but they have enough of those on their roster. Their biggest weaknesses they have outside of rebounding is having someone to create their own shot consistently besides Isaiah Thomas. Fultz can play both guard spots, is a good shooter, can be an elite shot/playmaker and potentially replace Thomas who is due for a big contract next year.

[karkinos]

Still doesn't make sense to draft a wing when they already drafted jaylen and they are shopping for wing free agents

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[LakersSoul]

Celtics drafting jaylen brown only to follow that up with josh Jackson is hilarious

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It's really puzzling. I know JJ fits the profile of what Ainge likes in a prospect. He's an athletic swingman that can D up can can't shoot, but they have enough of those on their roster. Their biggest weaknesses they have outside of rebounding is having someone to create their own shot consistently besides Isaiah Thomas. Fultz can play both guard spots, is a good shooter, can be an elite shot/playmaker and potentially replace Thomas who is due for a big contract next year.

Two scenarios:

1. Boston and Ainge like Jackson so they trade #1 to get more assets plus their preferred pick in Jackson.
2. Ainge and Boston might be preparing to make a big move. Moving more established players plus picks for top stars.

With the new CBA and potential trades options, the teams really have to add assets that is why I favor us trading down the pick if we are unsure about Ball or Jackson. I can easily accept Tatum, DSJ or even Makkanen if we add more assets.

[TyCobb]

Lakers do not need to get involved with this 76ers/Celtics business. Just take Ball and mind your own business. You think by taking Jackson and then selling him to Celtics will work? They are likely using Jackson as a smokescreen. After Fultz, Ball is the second best trade chip. You take Jackson, Celtics laugh and draft Ball, then sell him for a bunch of assets to Phoenix. Tatum is their (Celtics) guy--not buying this Jackson association.