So... Draft Prospects?

Yeah no kidding, especially with the talented tall guards we have and dire need at the 3, to take a 6'3" guard at this point no matter how good he is. Same thing with Simmons, of course you take him.

 

this is all assuming the FO plans on keeping the young core intact. they may not.

in fairness, the guy most people pining for (porzingis) would have caused an even BIGGER stir had the lakers drafted him 2nd.

and i don't feel like i'm convincing myself that russell was a good pick, either, nor do i feel i have to convince myself should the lakers make an unexpected pick again. i'm not the lakers. if they screw up the draft, i'll admit it and hold them accountable as a fan. i just don't think they screwed up last year.

 

Pretty easy Hield is a better shooter and scorer all around. Ingram can't play more than one position right now. He's just too small.

 

That's funny calling Ingram too small, with his height and jaw dropping length, and Hield being 6'3". When we have guards that are already "good" and taller and are desperate for a great SF of the future. Who could play the 2 at some point or now or whatever depending on matchups due to his weight.

 

i think he inverted the names, given the rest of his contributions to this thread.

although i'd argue with people who suggest ingram can play anything but the 3. each player can only play one spot, reasonably. your position is about who you can defend as much as how you play on offense. as long as teams keep playing fast sharpshooters at sg, guys like ingram can't play that spot. they gave up on the durant at 2 experiment very early in his career, and they're still quite hesitant to use him at 4, even with the way the league has changed over his career.

i won't argue that the lakers need a 3 more than a 2, but i will argue that we can't be sure the lakers are thinking that they're going to keep all the youngsters in perpetuity (or even next year).

 

He's also 4 years younger and is already a prolific scorer for his age. Add 4 years of actual NBA experience and body development, then you have yourself a player that might even be able to play 3-5 on any given night. Not to mention, Ingram plays on BOTH ends of the floor, not just offense. His length is an immediate advantage to most 3-4's in the league.

That's invaluable right there.

 

Remember Kobe's comments about how long Durant is trying to shoot over him, when Ingram closes out or helps.

 

With a desperate need for not only a 3, but a guy who can shoot the basketball Ingram is ideal. I mean to think this kid could grow another inch or two is potential is just ridiculous with that size and ability.

 

If the C Bags don't trade their pick, Hield would actually be a darn good fit with the C Bags. I take a look at what Stevens has done with Isaiah Thomas; Buddy is bigger, stronger, a dead-eye shooter, improving offensively, and competes defensively. In an open space and pace system the C Bags run, he'd flourish. You can always trade Isaiah who I'm sure has some trade value. Either way, C Bags probably don't do it and take a younger prospect with a higher ceiling...

Anyway, as for us, Hield isn't exactly what we need right now considering the way the roster is constructed but that could change. Mitch is probably looking to get better right away and would like players that could help us right away. We have a lot of cap space. The problem is we're dealing with a fairly mediocre free agent class and we're coming off a 17-win season. One of the ways that Mitch has improved us over the years has been through trades, so I wouldn't discount that as a vehicle in which he uses our draft pick or existing assets to use the same exact method.

I like Buddy, but I wouldn't use the number 2 pick on him. If he does end up coming to us, it's because A.) We weren't enamored with Brandon Ingram B.) There is an opportunity that Mitch can't pass up to add an impact player and grab Hield later on down the draft or a combination of those two things. I'm flexible and open to anything. My goal is to win basketball games. If we can find a way to accelerate that without giving up the farm, I'm all for it.

 

He's not gonna be #2, but we've been so focused on Simmons or Ingram, but have watched some film on him and full games as well. He is a very good player. He's a great shooter, can handle the ball, better ball handler and probably overall scorer than Simmons on Ingram. I like his game.

 

NO WAY Russell goes number one in this draft. Ben simmons, ingram, bender,skal>russell.

 

I admit to being on Team Okafor before the draft last year. When we took DAR I was pretty pissed. But with that, I conceded there was some merit to the selection. But this year, there's no convincing me that Brandon Ingram isn't the best option at the #2 pick for the Lakers going forward. The only other guy I'd consider for our pick is Ben Simmons.

 

i wanted okafor last year, too. but this should be the teaching point: we (and most draft experts) were wrong, and the lakers FO was right. furthermore, the lakers apparently had zinger ahead of okafor, and towns ahead of all them. they were right on. they've been right on a lot, imo.

so, yes, i want ingram. but i'm open to the possibility that i know less than the folks the lakers have evaluating this process. if they're sold on hield (who's been working out with our very own franchise legend, btw), i'm willing to wait and see.

 

Lakers will draft Ingram. He may be traded in a bigger package after the fact, but there is no way they take Hield over Ingram. I personally believe and hope they keep Ingram. I think he'll be something special.

 

I really hope we draft Ingram and keep him. After these playoffs, I believe having great, versatile wing players is probably the most important piece in winning the championship. The past championship MVP's since 2006 have all been versatile playmakers who could also defend and rebound (Lebron, Iggy, Kawhi, Kobe, Paul Pierce and Dwyane Wade) except for Dirk and Parker. Draymond Green would've probably taken the Finals MVP award if GS won and even though he most plays the center and power forward positions, his game is basically the same as a small forwards.

On the other side, Clippers have had a hard time advancing deep into the playoffs because they have been so weak at the shooting guard and small forward positions (and also lack of a bench) while the other premier teams have good to great players from those positions.

 

Simmons and Ingram I can agree on, but Bender and Skal? I don't think so,

 

It kills me. Literally kills me.

You have very young players that averaged: double-double and 13-3-3-1 and some here are ready to trade them for the right to select freaking Bender or some such?

Mindbottling...