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

I really believe that it's a beautiful thing how this team typically plays everyone close but never has enough to finish the job. It might sound like blasphemy to some, but maybe Byron actually has an idea what he's doing. Keeping us close but doing just enough to help us lose. I'm against blatant tanking, but we at least compete. I still believe this team could have won a handful more games if the org wanted to.

 

3 gives us a 96% chance. Not too shabby. 2 would be the sweet spot, though. If we do this, let's do it right. Top 2 and not worry about it during the lottery; all we'll be concerned about is our positioning...

 

Those are must lose games and puts us at the 3, i doubt we out tank Philly and NYK. Even if they have a tougher schedule, they have more talent on the floor every night.

 

The lottery usually take place when Im driving home in heavy traffic. If we end up in 3rd, and lose our pick despite having a 96% chance of keeping it, my airbags are gonna get some use.

 

LOL! Lottery is on May 19. FYI

 

Actually, I think its just proof of how poor a team we are. Any well coached NBA team with talent can hang for about 3 quarters. I seem to remember how amazing it was in the 80s and 2000s how Charlotte, New Jersey, Clippers, etc. could give laker greatness a run for about 3 quarters and then the studs would come in and take over. I think all we are seeing is lakers getting the most out of their guys and skills but being overmatched by other teams who have the horses to beat them (but dont want to get injured or expend too much energy against a crappy team)

 

Hypothetical question time. If we get the first pick and Philly Hinkie, the mad man, offers Embiid and their lottery pick, let say no. 5, would you take it?

 

Great question. Who are we getting at 5? I might do that deal.

 

Clarkson/Mundiay
Kobe/Ellington
Embiid/Hill
Randle/Powell or Christmas
Young/Wes

Bench - Second Round Pick, Sacre, Price....

Not sure I love that lineup...but your question is a thought provoking one.

 

@TRD - That was my unstated thought (Sam Bowie, Ralph Sampson, Bill Walton, Andrew Bynum). Scary to trade for a guy who has an injury you know about. And I have already said with regard to Okafor that I think he has a Duncan type upside to him and that its a deeper draft than people realize (we have HOU pick and 2nd Round as a failsafe giving us license to gamble in late First Round). I guess we have to wait on that one and see where our picks fall. I am also not a huge fan of Mundiay at this stage from what I have seen but see the potential in him but think he goes at 3 if we have 1, and you then get into the question of who is available at 5? Which also got me thinking - if we had No. 1, is there a player out there whom we would even want (dream player who is attainable) that we would trade the pick to obtain? Honestly, no one is trading Durant, Westbrook, Lebron, Lillard...and I think Lawson is not worth No. 1 overall pick (which is why he is not a laker today). I like the hypothetical...something to tide me over until the ping pong balls fall.

 

I wouldn't take any of Philly's players. I don't trust Embiid's health for one. Second of all, he's not staying fit. I get there's only so much you can do when you're hurt, but he's not doing any type of weight training. Yeah, it's easy to flip the switch when you're that young, but it speaks of motivation and work ethic. So strike one is health, strike two is work ethic, strike three is he's on the 76ers. They're developing a losing culture over there. I don't know how much of that has rubbed off on the players. Their assistant coaches and training staff are not doing much to properly develop what they have. And none of those kids have lifted a weight since they've been there, every single one of them are twigs...that's discouraging.

 

Forgot Greg Oden on my list of big men who you knew were broken or bound to break despite their promise. I suppose I hesitate on Embiid because of all the Olajuawon upside comparisons pre-injury and pre-draft. If you could have a healthy Hakeem vs. Duncan in the same era - who would you prefer?

 

Hakeem is the best two way big man ever, so I'd obviously take him. But with the injury scares and work ethic scares, even if Embiid was healthy I'm not sure I still wouldn't go with Okafor over him.