2015 Nba Draft Discussion: Russell, Nance Jr., Brown

Because one is a 7 footer and one is a thin PG/SG hybrid? I think it's pretty easy to see actually why that's a focus.

 

I could easily see us falling to 2nd place. I could also easily see us staying at 4 or even moving up to 5 if the Magic keep up their pace.

It'll be tough to come by wins, but all it takes in our precarious position is a two game win streak and suddenly we're in a really bad spot.

 

Gotcha. Okafor is definitely less mobile than Towns. Towns to me looks like a Noah or a Chandler type. Okafor to me looks like an Al Jefferson, maybe a Tim Duncan type if he plays his cards right.

Timmy was never a great athlete, but he made it work for him to become one of the best PFs of all time. I don't know that Okafor has that in him, but he's certainly got Tim Duncan level talent in the post.

Towns might be a better fit for us overall. He's more of a defensive minded guy. He's got a decent little jumper. His post game is rudimentary, but it's already better now than when he first got to school. I'd say his ceiling is higher than Okafor's, but it'll take him time to develop there. Okafor meanwhile will come in and be able to hold his own offensively in the NBA. At least as far as a rookie can do that of course.

If we get either of them we hit a jackpot though. Towns could thrive with the right coaching/system/organization around him. Okafor should be pretty good no matter where he goes.

As for Mudiay vs. Russell- I think if Mudiay was in college he'd look just as good, if not better, than Russell. Mudiay is more explosive whereas Russell is more cerebral. People tend to see Mudiay though and think "oh he's just an athlete with no skill" but I disagree. He's got tremendous feel for scoring and for finding teammates. Russell tends to make less mistakes, but I'm also not sure he'll be as explosive in the NBA and I'm not even talking about athleticism. I really see Kevin Martin in Russell. I see shades of Tyreke Evans in Mudiay.

 

I have absolutely zero interest in Porzingis. If we end up with him I will be very sad.

 

I just hope we have really good scouts and Mitch is doing some serious homework. I almost fear the thought of getting the number 1 or 2 pick and taking the wrong guy, ending up with an Oden while the next team gets a Lillard.

 

I hope your right and contrary to my recent posts in this thread I am an optimistic person at the heart. But I've also seen this kind of stuff get away from us. The good news is that I definitely see MIN surpassing us soon as long as they stay healthy. Philly I think can pass us but I don't know they are very wise at the TANK GAME

 

there will be plenty of time to worry about that. Let's just hope that we keep our pick first.

 

I have just never been in a position as a Lakers fan to have a top 5 pick. I was born in '84, the highest pick I ever saw was the last one, and we drafted the guy I wanted. If we somehow ended up with the top 1-3 pick I wouldn't know what to do with myself lol, I'd be a wreck. Again, I'd be in fear of an Oden, a Kwame Brown, an Olowokandi, a Beasley, etc.. We never get a pick this high, the pressure would be something I've never experienced. Plus I see no sure things like I think they did back then with Magic and Worthy. And even then, they had to choose between Worthy and 'Nique, so it was a toss up.

 

I'm not all that worried about our scouting department. I think they're on top of their stuff. They are very thorough. One of them is Jerry West's son, so he's got the pedigree... Looking back at all the picks we've made, we've done about as well as anyone else in the draft. I posted it earlier, but our picks have for the most part been NBA level talent most of the time. That might not sound like much, but it's better than a lot of teams actually.

If we end up with the #1 pick, I'm going to cry with happiness and go buy an Okafor jersey right now. That kid, along with Randle, will be cornerstones for our franchise for years to come.

 

Oh I'm not worried about our scouts, I'm worried FOR them. This pick has to be right. I take Okafor #1, and even then I fear injury because of our recent history. After that, it gets cloudy, I think 2-5 are a toss up, all about what your need is, any of them can turn out great, or... Wes Johnson *shudder*