Log in or Sign up

Draft Thread 2018: LA Has The #25 & #47 Overall Picks... And #39 Now

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by therealdeal, Dec 1, 2017.

Thread Status:: Not open for further replies.

Page 48 of 83

Khmrp - Lakers Legend -

Joined:

Jun 10, 2016

Messages:

12,084

Likes Received:

13,820

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

vasashi17 said: ↑

No one wants Sac hahahaha
Click to expand...

as it should always be lol

Khmrp, Jun 19, 2018

#941
Battle Tested20 Moderator Staff Member

Joined:

Oct 5, 2014

Messages:

9,213

Likes Received:

24,866

Trophy Points:

113

Occupation:

Technical Data Analyst

Location:

Fair Oaks, CA

Offline

Weezy said: ↑

Sadly I can’t read LFR’s piece here, because I’m not a subscriber to the Athletic. I am glad for Pete though, that’s a huge opportunity for a guy who quit his job to make awesome Laker videos for us.
Click to expand...

You might not be able to play the videos, but here is the entire article.

Jesse Buss and the Los Angeles Lakers’ scouting department have had a recent string of successes in the latter stages of the draft, snagging Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart in the late first or second round. A trade deadline deal sent Clarkson and Nance to the Cleveland Cavaliers for expiring contracts and the chance to acquire undervalued talent once again, this time with the 25th pick.

The Lakers began their pre-draft workouts May 7 with an emphasis on defense, outside shooting and conditioning. Most of the workouts have included six participants at a time, and several of the players have reported that the 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 drills were full-court competitions. Those sessions culminated in the Lakers’ Mentality Drill, a 90-second shooting competition designed to see how well players perform under fatigue. Playing with pace is an integral part of the team’s identity, and they appear to view the draft process through that lens.

Age and collegiate experience are common threads in the diamond-mining they’ve done in previous drafts, with Nance and Hart playing all four seasons, and Clarkson and Kuzma declaring as redshirt-juniors. This year may be different, as many of the more compelling prospects at No. 25 are just a year or two removed from high school.

I broke down film on six of those prospects through the lens of what the Lakers value and their corresponding needs. The first three — Kevin Huerter, Mitchell Robinson and Donte DiVincenzo — are on the fringes of attainability with the 25th pick, but close enough to be worthy of greater scrutiny. Each of them fits an archetype that the Lakers covet.

Here’s what the tape has to say about them.

Kevin Huerter, Wing Shooter (#22 in Sam Vecenie’s Top 100 rankings)

Wing shooters have a progression of responsibilities that make them increasingly valuable the further down the list they can get, and Kevin Huerter checks off several boxes before question marks begin to emerge. The most basic of these duties is spot-up jumpers, where the former Maryland star scorches the nets to the tune of 1.42 Points Per Possession (93rd percentile in NCAA) while demonstrating NBA range and beyond.

The ability to shoot on the move separates competent shooters from good ones and helps to determine the volume of attempts they’re capable of getting in an NBA game. Huerter quickly decelerates off screens and has a compact shooting stroke with minimal dipping on the catch. This allows him to exploit opportunities when he’s open for only a fraction of a second.

The shooter’s ability to read both his teammates and defenders further influences that volume. The Lakers run the same weakside, 3-man action seen below, and it’s Huerter’s responsibility to determine the route he should take around the screen to get open in these circumstances. His defender tries to shoot the gap here, so Huerter uses that against him, breaking off his route and settling into a position where the screener is between them.

I attended the Nike Coaching Clinic in Las Vegas several years back, where Creighton coach Greg McDermott demonstrated his closeout drills. He had three versions of a closeout, each with a different name. The Rondo Closeout was to be used against non-shooters, providing ample distance while daring them to shoot, ensuring that they didn’t get past their defender. The Korver Closeout was just the opposite, with the defender chasing the shooter off the 3-point line without fear of his ability to punish the defense at the rim. Finally, the Kobe Closeout was somewhere in between, where the offensive player was capable in either scenario and the window to deter him was narrow.

Huerter is somewhere between a Korver Closeout and a Kobe Closeout. He isn’t a particularly advanced ball-handler, but can attack overzealous defenders who scurry to prevent him from getting a shot up. He’s comfortable finishing with either hand at the basket, which allows him to attack closeouts effectively in either direction. This is the point of the shooter’s checklist where Kentavious Caldwell-Pope starts to become less efficient.

In many instances, there won’t be an opportunity to get all the way to the basket when attacking a closeout because the defensive big man has rotated over, and this is when the one dribble pull-up comes into play. Huerter checks this box as well, as he’s capable of side-stepping the closeout for a 3-point attempt or 1-2 stepping into a mid-range jumper.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Huerter’s game is as a secondary playmaker. As the Golden State Warriors have demonstrated over the last several seasons, a shooter’s gravity opens up opportunities for his screen-setters. Huerter has an excellent feel for when he’s attracted the attention of a second defender and has the size (6-7.25 in shoes) to deliver the ball to his teammates at a variety of angles.

Huerter spoke to this element of his game at his May 25 workout with the Lakers.

“It’s a big part of my game to be able to put the ball on the floor and make plays,” he said. “I think I have a pretty good feel for the game, so I get other teammates shots.”

He’s less reliable as a primary shot creator. While his passing ability still translates, his handle can get loose and high, making him susceptible to ball pressure. He’s predominantly a straight-line driver and doesn’t put much pressure on the rim in pick & roll situations. He doesn’t dip his front shoulder enough when utilizing ball screens and doesn’t square his shoulders to the rim quickly enough once he’s turned the corner. Those are fixable technique issues. His pull-up jumper and passing feel provide a foundation to build off of in ball-screen situations, but he has some work to do to be successful in them in the NBA.

Huerter is a pleasant surprise defensively, exhibiting quick feet and an understanding of team concepts en route to ranking in the 88th percentile among all NCAA defenders in Points Per Possession Allowed. He tends to turn his hips too early rather than sliding his feet, which can make him vulnerable to changes of direction, but he usually keeps ball-handlers in front of him in isolation situations.

Off the ball, Huerter is unusually engaged and communicative for a 19-year old, with bouncy feet that coaches love and a good motor. He isn’t particularly strong yet and can get picked off by off-ball screens, which is exacerbated by inconsistent trail technique, and needs to get better at staying attached to shooters. But he does an excellent job of tagging roll men and stunting toward ball-handlers on the weakside while having a good sense of when to hunt for steals or blocks.

Huerter initially dipped his toes in the draft waters, entering the process without an agent, and was quickly embraced for his performance at the NBA Draft Combine and in team workouts. He may have performed too well from the Lakers’ perspective, as teams ahead of them in the draft — most notably Atlanta and Utah — are rumored to be quite fond of him. A recent surgery on his right hand will keep him sidelined for approximately two months, but Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated has reported that Huerter has received a promise from a team in the 20s.

The Lakers ranked 29th in the league from 3-point range, illustrating perhaps the most glaring weakness of the team’s young core. Huerter’s ability to let it fly would be a welcome addition, and at just 19 years old, he has the potential to become much more than just a sniper.

Mitchell Robinson, Athletic Big (#35 in Sam Vecenie’s Top 100 rankings)

Mitchell Robinson has taken a more circuitous route to the draft than Huerter but is no less intriguing. The Chalmette (La.) High School product was considered to be a Top 10-15 recruit in his class, but never played a game in college, withdrawing from Western Kentucky to focus on his preparation for the NBA.

Robinson is a lithe athlete for a 7-footer, which is most apparent in transition, where he runs the floor like a wing and demonstrates an unusual level of comfort with the ball in his hands. The Lakers have a surplus of positional interchangeability in early-offense situations, where Robinson could be yet another weapon that is capable of rim-running, filling the wing or even pushing the ball up court himself off of a defensive rebound.

His athleticism and coordination make for a great highlight reel, but the more mundane moments of the game reveal his functional weaknesses. He’s doesn’t have much in the way of one-on-one moves, either on the perimeter or in the post. His offensive value in half-court sets is as a lob recipient off dribble penetration and on putbacks, where he’s quick off the floor for double and triple jumps.

He has the tools to be potent on pick & rolls, but this component of his game is still raw. He was a particularly uninterested screen-setter in high school and AAU, which will likely need to change to make an NBA coach feel compelled to play him significant minutes. The Lakers don’t have a big who can finish above the rim when rolling to the basket, and it’s easy to envision Robinson on the receiving end of a lob by Lonzo Ball.

Robinson has pick and pop potential as well. The release point on his jumper is relatively low, which prevents him from fully utilizing his length over contests, but his feet provide a quality base for a competent shot in the future. Ball and Brandon Ingram are fed a consistent diet of drop coverages by NBA defenses (more on this later), where the defensive big man hangs back in the paint, and that’s vulnerable to bigs who can pick and pop. That was the most frequent type of 3-point attempt for Brook Lopez last season. There are only a handful of bigs in the league who are a credible threat to roll to the basket or pop out for the 3, and Robinson has the (underdeveloped) tools to be one of them. Improvement in the pick and roll/pop is the lynchpin of his development.

The confluence of Robinson’s best attributes is exhibited in his rim protection. He makes the most of his 9-3 standing reach by contesting shots with either hand, demonstrating quick reflexes and proper timing. His quickness off the floor allows him to swat floaters and runners that cause other bigs to flail. He would instantly be the best shot-blocker on the Lakers’ roster.

His nimble feet could serve him well on the perimeter in a league that’s switching more and more, but that is more theory than reality at this point. He’s often disengaged and upright, leading to poor closeouts and defensive rotations. His interest level on the defensive end directly ties to whether or not he has an opportunity to block a shot. As is often the case with young, talented players, he’s far too reliant on his physical gifts, without the proper technique to supplement them. This issue is compounded by his conditioning, as he often looks winded relatively early in his shifts.

Few data points against high-level competition make Robinson’s game more difficult to evaluate, a problem that was compounded by his last-minute withdrawal from the Draft Combine. His agent, Raymond Brothers, conducted an open workout that multiple NBA teams attended, but if the Lakers have worked him out individually, they have done an excellent job of keeping that fact under wraps.

Robinson’s first NBA game will also be the first high-level, organized basketball of his life, and the resulting learning curve will likely be steep. He would represent a departure from the Lakers’ recent approach of using non-lottery picks to select more polished players, in exchange for the kind of ceiling that usually isn’t available at that point in the draft. His work ethic will determine his ability to reach it, so the Lakers will need to do their homework on the enigmatic Robinson off the court as well as on it. But the Lakers have been itching for a Clint Capela of their own, and it isn’t difficult to imagine Robinson filling that role once he matures.

Donte DiVincenzo, Pick & Roll Guard (#26 in Sam Vecenie’s Top 100 rankings)

Josh Hart’s former Villanova teammate followed up his 31-point performance in the NCAA championship game with an impressive showing in the 5-on-5 scrimmages at the Draft Combine, where he was arguably the best player to participate. DiVincenzo’s series of quality workouts have only solidified his position as one of the draft’s biggest risers in recent months.

He’s one of the most polished pick & roll guards in the draft, scoring a remarkable 1.11 PPP (97th percentile in NCAA) in these situations, while also excelling as a passer (1.02 PPP on pick & roll passes, 85th percentile). His lightning-quick dribble pickup is accompanied by rapid deceleration on a hard one-two step, allowing him to create and exploit separation from defenders on ball screens.

This ability is in short supply on the Lakers, where none of the young core cracked the 50th percentile as a pick & roll scorer last season. They faced a high number of drop coverages, which are designed to dare the ball-handler to shoot. DiVincenzo carves up this defensive coverage, which could have positive implications on the rest of the roster, as player-specific coverages (e.g., a drop coverage against Ball, but a different coverage against DiVincenzo) are challenging to execute.

Off the ball, he’s an adequate option as a spot-up shooter and off screens. He has a peculiar statistical profile in this respect, shooting better when he’s guarded (1.14 PPP, 73rd percentile) than when he’s open (0.98 PPP, 34th percentile). He hops well into his catch-and-shoot attempts and doesn’t have a lot of moving parts to his shot, but he isn’t the shooter that Huerter is.

DiVincenzo recorded the highest Max Vertical at the Draft Combine (42 inches), but his leaping ability only shows up in certain situations. He’s predominantly a two-footed jumper, just as Lonzo Ball is, which means he needs adequate space to collect himself and explode upward. That usually manifests itself on the boards, where he can get up and snag some impressive rebounds on both ends of the floor.

Villanova has historically produced highly competitive guards under Jay Wright — they don’t play much if they’re not — and DiVincenzo is no exception. He wins his fair share of 50/50 balls and battles on defensive rotations. He often gets belly-up with the offensive big when tagging in pick & roll situations, where he can show off his impressive leaping ability in space.

Athleticism and moxie will take him only so far though, and his lack of size (6-4.5 in shoes, 6-6 wingspan) is cause for concern since he doesn’t project to be a point guard in the NBA. The Lakers switched the third-most screens last season, and DiVincenzo defended just four possessions on pick & roll switches during his redshirt-sophomore year at Villanova. His ability to defend bigs in these situations will likely have a significant impact on the Lakers’ interest level in him.

The average half-court possession in the NBA yields approximately 0.95 PPP. The average pick & roll ball-handler yields between 0.82-0.83 PPP when he uses the possession himself, rather than passing. That is to say the number of guards who can call their own number on the pick & roll and be a credible threat is few and far between. DiVincenzo is one of those players and is a quality passer in these situations as well. In some ways, his game is reminiscent of Jordan Clarkson’s best attributes, without the frequent mental miscues and with more value as a defender. The Lakers will have to determine if that’s enough to overcome the questions about his ability to switch.

There is a decent chance that Huerter, Robinson and DiVincenzo will be off the board when the Lakers pick Thursday night. In Part 2 of my Lakers Draft Preview, I take a look at three prospects who might be more attainable.
Click to expand...

Battle Tested20, Jun 19, 2018

#942

Weezy likes this.
Khmrp - Lakers Legend -

Joined:

Jun 10, 2016

Messages:

12,084

Likes Received:

13,820

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

i say this yr will be like Nance yr, we're gona pick somebody nobody has mocked to us or eveb had a clue...my $ is on the French pg Okobo or whatever his name is...

Khmrp, Jun 19, 2018

#943
therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

Joined:

Sep 7, 2014

Messages:

28,475

Likes Received:

62,061

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

So if Mitchell Robinson, Donte DiVincenzo, and Huerter are off the board I'm looking for:

Jacob Evans- SG/SF. He's fallen down draft boards like a rock because I think he's been shooting poorly in workouts, but he's still one of the best 3 and D prospects in this draft. He was the captain of one of the best defenses in college and is a solid athlete. The shot might need some tweaking.

Khyri Thomas- SG. His height turned people off right away, but he's a smart player and possibly the best defender in the class. He's a better passer than people assume and he knocks down open jumpers. For a team in need of defensive intensity and shooting, he has it.

De'Anthony Melton- PG/SG. He'd make a solid backup to Lonzo and could play with him at times too. He's a solid defender and has tools to be effective all over the court. A good fit for what we're doing and I think capable of contributing within his first year based on how hard he works.

Gary Trent Jr.- SG. I know he came in smaller than we'd like and I dont love his approach to the game, but he's still a three point knockdown shooter and has a lot of tools to be successful in the league. He can be better than he looked, he just needs good coaching.

therealdeal, Jun 19, 2018

#944

abeer3 and TIME like this.
therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

Joined:

Sep 7, 2014

Messages:

28,475

Likes Received:

62,061

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

Battle Tested20 said: ↑

You might not be able to play the videos, but here is the entire article.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the sentiment here BT, but let's not copy paste Pete's articles. I usually dont mind getting around paywalls, but Pete deserves it.

therealdeal, Jun 19, 2018

#945

alam1108, Weezy, Battle Tested20 and 1 other person like this.
TIME Administrator Staff Member

Joined:

Sep 6, 2014

Messages:

5,800

Likes Received:

22,708

Trophy Points:

113

Occupation:

Lifelong Lakers fan.

Location:

LaLa Land

Offline

therealdeal said: ↑

So if Mitchell Robinson, Donte DiVincenzo, and Huerter are off the board I'm looking for:

Jacob Evans- SG/SF. He's fallen down draft boards like a rock because I think he's been shooting poorly in workouts, but he's still one of the best 3 and D prospects in this draft. He was the captain of one of the best defenses in college and is a solid athlete. The shot might need some tweaking.

Khyri Thomas- SG. His height turned people off right away, but he's a smart player and possibly the best defender in the class. He's a better passer than people assume and he knocks down open jumpers. For a team in need of defensive intensity and shooting, he has it.

De'Anthony Melton- PG/SG. He'd make a solid backup to Lonzo and could play with him at times too. He's a solid defender and has tools to be effective all over the court. A good fit for what we're doing and I think capable of contributing within his first year based on how hard he works.

Gary Trent Jr.- SG. I know he came in smaller than we'd like and I dont love his approach to the game, but he's still a three point knockdown shooter and has a lot of tools to be successful in the league. He can be better than he looked, he just needs good coaching.
Click to expand...

If I can't have Kyrie, then I'll settle for Khyri.

TIME, Jun 19, 2018

#946

Battle Tested20 and therealdeal like this.
vasashi17 LB's Resident Capologist

Joined:

Sep 6, 2014

Messages:

6,591

Likes Received:

20,201

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

I'm hoping the pick gets moved and we can add potential via the 2nd round cause you know somethings up then (ie Deng dump).

Anyways, looks like ESPN continues to neuter Woj while implanting an anti-Laker bias...hope the pay is good.

My dude Sham will be left unchecked and untarnished. Hope the Lakeshow can feed him some juicy bits as well.

vasashi17, Jun 19, 2018

#947

Weezy and therealdeal like this.
Battle Tested20 Moderator Staff Member

Joined:

Oct 5, 2014

Messages:

9,213

Likes Received:

24,866

Trophy Points:

113

Occupation:

Technical Data Analyst

Location:

Fair Oaks, CA

Offline

therealdeal said: ↑

I appreciate the sentiment here BT, but let's not copy paste Pete's articles. I usually dont mind getting around paywalls, but Pete deserves it.
Click to expand...

You're right. Good and fair point

Battle Tested20, Jun 19, 2018

#948

therealdeal likes this.
Weezy Moderator Staff Member

Joined:

Sep 6, 2014

Messages:

18,571

Likes Received:

75,399

Trophy Points:

113

Location:

Anaheim

Offline

therealdeal said: ↑

I appreciate the sentiment here BT, but let's not copy paste Pete's articles. I usually dont mind getting around paywalls, but Pete deserves it.
Click to expand...

Yeah that’s my bad, I didn’t mean to imply for anyone to post it, I just meant it sucks I won’t be able to read his stuff. But like I said I’m really happy for him.

Khmrp said: ↑

i say this yr will be like Nance yr, we're gona pick somebody nobody has mocked to us or eveb had a clue...my $ is on the French pg Okobo or whatever his name is...
Click to expand...

It’s possible, but I think with all the names who we are working out being listed almost daily, and real’s super comprehensive list and mock draft, I think we’ve heard every name we could possibly select by now and no one will really be a surprise.

Weezy, Jun 19, 2018

#949

therealdeal likes this.
therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

Joined:

Sep 7, 2014

Messages:

28,475

Likes Received:

62,061

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

For what's worth on Pete, he is on the same 3 guys we are. He just does a 100% better job of articulating why they'll work and what makes them special.

therealdeal, Jun 19, 2018

#950

abeer3 and LTLakerFan like this.
sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

Joined:

Oct 5, 2014

Messages:

31,610

Likes Received:

76,905

Trophy Points:

113

Occupation:

Your time is running out Ham

Location:

Laker Purgatory

Online

That's a little bold....

sirronstuff, Jun 19, 2018

#951

Battle Tested20 and therealdeal like this.
Weezy Moderator Staff Member

Joined:

Sep 6, 2014

Messages:

18,571

Likes Received:

75,399

Trophy Points:

113

Location:

Anaheim

Offline

Weezy, Jun 19, 2018

#952

Barnstable, alam1108, LaVarBallsDad and 1 other person like this.
abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

Joined:

Oct 5, 2014

Messages:

28,021

Likes Received:

75,609

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

was interested in simons; actually thought he might be our guy.

abeer3, Jun 19, 2018

#953
abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

Joined:

Oct 5, 2014

Messages:

28,021

Likes Received:

75,609

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

khyri, melton, and evans all interest me as defenders who know how to play. maybe in reverse order.

abeer3, Jun 19, 2018

#954

therealdeal likes this.
gcclaker Moderator Staff Member

Joined:

Oct 5, 2014

Messages:

9,011

Likes Received:

20,503

Trophy Points:

113

Location:

Wherever I am at the moment...

Offline

therealdeal said: ↑

De'Anthony Melton- PG/SG. He'd make a solid backup to Lonzo and could play with him at times too. He's a solid defender and has tools to be effective all over the court. A good fit for what we're doing and I think capable of contributing within his first year based on how hard he works.
Click to expand...

+1...

gcclaker, Jun 19, 2018

#955

therealdeal likes this.
vasashi17 LB's Resident Capologist

Joined:

Sep 6, 2014

Messages:

6,591

Likes Received:

20,201

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

Aaaaand Sham too gets muzzled...

So who's tuning in on Thursday? I can't, but I'll try to follow on Twitter (even if it's delayed in real time)...or someone can break the picks her at LB. Volunteers?

vasashi17, Jun 19, 2018

#956

abeer3 likes this.
therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

Joined:

Sep 7, 2014

Messages:

28,475

Likes Received:

62,061

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

abeer3 said: ↑

was interested in simons; actually thought he might be our guy.
Click to expand...

Simons I think made teams think in workouts he is really far from NBA ready. Listening to his interviews he seems really... naive? Just comes across like a young, young guy that doesn't really know what he wants to do here. Definitely worth a look, but I'm hesitant on the 1st round. Maybe if we trade back from 25 but I think there'll be other, more sure players at 25.

therealdeal, Jun 19, 2018

#957
Khmrp - Lakers Legend -

Joined:

Jun 10, 2016

Messages:

12,084

Likes Received:

13,820

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

vasashi17 said: ↑

Aaaaand Sham too gets muzzled...

So who's tuning in on Thursday? I can't, but I'll try to follow on Twitter (even if it's delayed in real time)...or someone can break the picks her at LB. Volunteers?
Click to expand...

wouldnt that add to the appeal/excitement? i dont want to hear the pick from woj minutes before silver....takes the fun out of not knowing

Khmrp, Jun 19, 2018

#958

therealdeal likes this.
LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

Joined:

Oct 5, 2014

Messages:

36,411

Likes Received:

60,589

Trophy Points:

113

Location:

So Cal

Offline

OK naive question. How does ESPN or anyone else get this information ahead of Silver calling it?

LTLakerFan, Jun 19, 2018

#959
vasashi17 LB's Resident Capologist

Joined:

Sep 6, 2014

Messages:

6,591

Likes Received:

20,201

Trophy Points:

113

Offline

LT: Team officials text their picks to insiders from the war room once they get off the conference call to league headquarters. By the time Silver picks up the decorative envelopes and peacocks his way to the podium, it's been tweeted out.

Speaking of which...any volunteers for Thurs nite? If anybody is watching live and posting the picks here, is appreciate it and I'll give you an e-hug...but I'm warning you, I get a lil handsy.

vasashi17, Jun 19, 2018

#960

LTLakerFan, JohnnyComeLately2k6 and therealdeal like this.

(You must log in or sign up to reply here.)

Page 48 of 83

Thread Status:: Not open for further replies.

Share This Page