As much as I like it, I honestly see our starting lineup for our next title run (I say run because who knows if it will be an actual title) Zubac Nance Ingram ? Russell With Clarkson as the only bench guy currently on the roster. Randle worries me in that we lost a season of evaluation. He's a mere two seasons away from us having to decide on a max deal for him. I actually have a lot of faith that Nance may end up being close to Randle (in the overall impact of the game, obviously not the same type of player), and we may let Randle walk or trade him for a better fitting piece.
I don't see the missed season on Randle being a negative at all. In fact it may drive his price down a bit. Probably not though considering he's the only one of the young kids to have shown anything of an elite talent in the NBA. We're all very enamored with Nance Jr. after his terrific play in Summer League, but seeing his effectiveness here makes me think Julius might have 30 rebounds in one of these games. Clarkson might have 40 points in one of these games if he got the ball as much as D'Angelo has gotten it.
In my defense I was saying stuff like this before summer league. Things like Randle might be more expendable than the others because we have Nance who could end up being just as impactful in a different way. But I still wonder if we will be able to keep both in 3 years, unless Nance can become versatile enough to play minutes at the 3,4 and 5.
LAWD HAVE MERCY if this kid starts poppin' 3 pointers. As more and more information comes out about him and the more I see him play, it's like how can this kid NOT have been selected in the 15-25 range? What am I missing here? I know he's had a bit of injury history, but there's been a lot less talented players taken in that range over the years. You know what, I don't care what I'm missing, Zublacca do your thing boss.
Teams didn't want to draft him because he wanted to come to the NBA right away. The Lakers were one of the few, if not only, teams that guaranteed that they wouldn't stash him in Europe for a few years. His buyout price was fairly low so that wasn't an issue. Teams just weren't ready to go all in on a 19 year old Euro player. He also only worked out with a couple teams.
But @Doc Brown has a good point about injury. It couldn't have possibly been an injury thing right? I mean hell Caris LeVert went in the first freaking round. I don't know what teams were doubting, but I'm glad they did. He looks like a steal so far.
So Shaw just said Zublaca was #16 on our draft board, so it's amazing we got him at 32 in the 2nd round
Throw this kid into the fire. I really like Tarik and I've come around to Mozgov, but this kid has the kinda size and touch that hasn't been seen in the league for a while. I really hope he gets significant playing time next season.
I don't even see black as a legit backup C, so I would hope Zuuuu can carry on this momentum into pre-season and just completly over take black for all of the backup C minutes.
I love the fact he came and grew up in Europe.. Obviously you can tell he's a smart kid. I know as he keeps developing his game&gets more explosive, adding lean mass as he lowers his body fat, he's gonna piece it all together for a great C.
really nice game in the last one. but i do think it's going to be a big adjustment for him to play with the big boys, literally and figuratively.
Great thing is Mozzie is going to speed up his development tremendously. And the other Timmy will make him faster, stronger and more exlosive. Some tangible % by start of the season. Literally starting from ground zero in that regard and has 3 months with the first wookie in the NBA. So picture him not as he is now, but smarter, more prepared and a "little" faster, stronger, more explosive.
Agreed. Having Mozgov around in practice should help both as a practice opponent and as a role model.
Absolutely...only the most illogical fans would say otherwise. Zu had that one turn around shot last night where he went glass to drop it in. Nice. One swat where Brown fouled negated it. He did not play in the fourth instead Auguste got the burn.
He has been the surprise of the summer league. I remember on draft night people were surprised he dropped to us and people were saying it was a steal. But now we got to see first hand that we may have drafted our center for the next 10 years. I mean, not saying it's a done deal. Probably still a greater than 50% chance he ends up being a career journeyman. But we certainly were not thinking there was a chance we could have gotten a player that MIGHT be that guy at 32.
There were some more plays last night in this Summer League coming out party for one of..... if not THE steal(s) of the draft ..... ..... that he just flat out looks more advanced than his rookie 19 year old never worked out with weights self. I think it's a combo of he has been on his own away from family since 15 because he loves the game and has been working his a** alone learning from clips of guys like Marc Gasol just like Kobe studied clips of Jordan before he became a rookie. And especially because at the end in Europe he was already playing against the roughness of full grown men pounding on him and him giving it back because of his size and coordination, even if they weren't as big as what he's going to face this year in the NBA. I think against 2nd stringers he will continue in an upward arc like Bynum used to get on, of these glimpses of domination. PLUS the kid is thrilled out of his gourd to be a Laker. Luke call up Kobe and ask that favor, come by practice once in awhile and work with this kid and any others who want it with that elite footwork in the post area. Can you imagine how high Zu would be to have Kobe work with him? Randle and DAR and Clarkson and Nance have already had the good fortune last 2 years year to learn from him up close and during games. It's my dream anyway that the Lakers and Kobe set something up like this very part time when Kob's in town and in the mood for some activity at his old stomping grounds. Talk a little smack with the boys too and scrimmage some with them. :Headbang:
Lakers are worth 2.7 Billion. Yes. Recent Forbes list. Lakers get paid 200 million a year from Time Warner, alone. If the Lakers have to max out 5 guys in the next 3 or 4 years, and it means they are winning titles, Lakers fans have nothing to worry about.
From this point on.... Zublacca - 4 years / 64 million Mozgov - 3 years / 3 million (QO in 4th year) Way to lock Zublacca up Mitch at a discount and get Moz for insurance on a cheap deal.
