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

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by LaVarBallsDad, Oct 14, 2014.

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  1. TIME

    TIME Administrator Staff Member

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    I thought the Russell numbers might be a bit friendly, but Towns seems about right to me IF he proves he can stay out of constant foul trouble and sustain 30-36 mpg. The player I thought they were friendliest to was Stanley Johnson. They have him scoring as much as Towns or Okafor.
     
    TIME, May 6, 2015
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  2. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    Yeah. In year one, Okafor will be better than Towns. Okafor's footwork is next level footwork. Towns domination is on college kids. He will need to adjust. I still take Okafor if we have the choice. I totally agree with Real on Towns scaring me regarding leg injuries. I'd rather take 20/9/1 for 10 years than 20/15/4 for 4 years.
     
    Savory Griddles, May 6, 2015
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  3. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    Anyone want some of this [​IMG] ?



    Jahlil Okafor to the Lakers? One of ESPN's draft experts projects a fall to Los Angeles.

    The NBA Draft lottery hasn't even happened yet, but that won't stop the mock drafts and other projections from piling up in the meantime. ESPN's Chad Ford took the reigns as general manager for every team, making selections based on what he felt would be the best fit. Duke's Jahlil Okafor doesn't just lose the No. 1 spot to Karl-Anthony Towns, he somehow drops past the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks to the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 4.

    It's a stretch to imagine Okafor "falling" that far, especially when the Knicks desperately need help at center, but Emmanuel Mudiay goes to New York in this scenario. The reason? Questions regarding Carmelo Anthony's fit next to Okafor, and Mudiay's physicality gives him a nod over Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell.

    Okafor's defense and free-throw shooting became big question marks as the college season progressed, but he's undoubtedly one of the best low-post operators coming out of college in years. For that, the Lakers would almost be lucking out to get a chance at taking the player who was once almost unanimously the top prospect in college. Here's what Ford had to say about Okafor, via ESPN (Insider):

    I'm not down on Okafor. And in fact, if this were the 2005 NBA draft instead of the 2015 one, I think he'd go No. 1. He's the most offensively polished big man I've scouted in years. But I do think there are legitimate concerns about fit with Okafor. His lack of defense, his lack of elite athleticism and his poor free throw shooting are all major red flags for teams that are emphasizing smaller, quicker athletes who can protect the rim in the NBA. With that said, at No. 4, he's a no-brainer in this draft and paired with last year's lottery pick Julius Randle would give the Lakers a very impressive young front line for the future.

    Will it shake out as such? You never know, and it's worth mentioning Ford was drafting based on what he felt would be best for each team, not what general managers or teams are "expected" to do. It'd be an interesting outcome, though, and a Randle-Okafor frontcourt would be plenty of reason to look forward to the future.


    http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/5/6/8560295/la-lakers-nba-draft-2015-jahlil-okafor
     
    LTLakerFan, May 6, 2015
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  4. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    If he's on the board, you take him. If you're at one or four (i get the argument for Towns). If he's wearing your team's cap come draft night, thank the basketball gods and consider yourself extremely lucky. He's going to be a franchise big man in this league for 15 years. How often does a player like that come along?
     
    JSM, May 6, 2015
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  5. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    JSM, May 6, 2015
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  6. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I just don't think Towns will score that much. I think in his first season he's going to struggle offensively to create for himself so whatever team takes him will have to be able to create for him. In the first season Okafor is going to score more; he's just a better offensive player right now and might be for their entire careers.

    They were definitely too nice to Stan Johnson. Unless his jump shot is 100% fixed and he finds himself on a team that needs scoring from their rookie, sincerely doubt he'll score more than 10-12 points a night regularly. My projections for Stan would be something like 11 points 4 rebounds 1.5 assists with 1.5 steals and a 0.4 blocks or something like that.
     
    therealdeal, May 6, 2015
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  7. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    Naturally, a lot depends on what teams these guys end up on. I honestly don't see 13 points as that big of a stretch for Towns. Maybe not right off the bat, but by the end of the season I think he will be fine. Same with Russell. There will be an adjustment period but the kid can flat out shoot. I can see him somewhere between 13 and 16 points a game by the end of the year, especially if he ends up in place like Philly where he would get plenty of minutes since they have no guards.

    The eye raiser to me was Cauley-Stein. Not so much the numbers but the thought of using a top five pick on a guy who probably won't contribute much to the stat line. I love his defensive versatility, but I'm just not sold on using a top 5 pick on him with multiple potential stars out there.
     
    ElginTheGreat, May 6, 2015
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  8. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    ElginTheGreat, May 7, 2015
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  9. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    all the talk about okafor's lack of athleticism ignores that he's pretty large. if you believed what some of these guys are saying, then marc gasol and Andrew bogut wouldn't be two of the best centers in the league. hell, tim Duncan wouldn't be the best pf of all time.
     
    abeer3, May 7, 2015
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  10. KareemtheGreat33

    KareemtheGreat33 - Lakers MVP -

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    The guy's huge with huge hands. He's the Khawai Leonard of Centers
     
    KareemtheGreat33, May 7, 2015
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  11. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    Exactly. I mean, with all the talk of his lack of athleticism, you'd think he is playing on one artificial leg or something. The guy is still real athletic for a dude his size. Duncan, Gasol 1, Gasol 2, Bogut, B. Lopez, Monroe, Hibbert..I could name more. They are all as athletic or even less athletic than "Cement Shoes" Okafor. And they all manage to do quite well in today's NBA.
     
    Savory Griddles, May 7, 2015
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  12. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I think people really are taking for granted Okafor's physical profile. It's what makes his potential floor so high. He's an enormous human being not only in height but weight. They say he slimmed down for the draft combine/workouts which is great, but his legs are still going to be enormous. A lot of these guys have growth spurts when they're in high school and end up with skinny, under-developed legs. Then they go through sub-par training methods in high school, don't train much at all in college, and end up going into the NBA with massive bodies that sway back and forth on flamingo legs. Hello Greg Oden, Andrew Bynum, and my fear with Towns.

    Okafor has been enormous his whole life. It builds strength through your thighs and butt having to lug that weight around your whole life. Sure he's not as explosive, but that's because he's literally a giant. With proper training he'll learn to use that giant body to play good defense instead of relying on athleticism. Hello Marc Gasol and hello Tim Duncan. I'm not saying he'll be them, but I think he'll be fine on that end.

    Oh yeah and here's him holding a ball like a melon
    :[​IMG]
     
    therealdeal, May 7, 2015
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  13. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    ^ more like a grapefruit
     
    tada, May 7, 2015
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  14. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    I think we should compromise and just specifically state "Cantaloupe" so there's no confusion as to which melon we speak of.
     
    Savory Griddles, May 7, 2015
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  15. lakerfan2

    lakerfan2 - Lakers All Star -

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    Mini watermelon works too.

    But for real though, the big man hands translate to bad free throws. Shaq, DeAndre, Dwight. It's impossible for them to actually get a decent grip on the ball.
     
    lakerfan2, May 7, 2015
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  16. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Oh posh. They can make it work.

    Kareem- 72%
    Hakeem- 71.2%
    P. Gasol- 75.3%
    M. Gasol- 75.8%
    Duncan- 69.6%
    Bynum- 69%
    Michael Jordan- 83.5%
    Kawhi Leonard- 80.2%
    Shannon Brown- 80.7%

    All either big men with big hands or little men with big hands. I shook hands with Shannon Brown once it was like my hand was wrapped up in an octopus. It's just about concentration and hard work.
     
    therealdeal, May 7, 2015
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  17. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    it also helps if you have range and a a soft jumper instead of just athletic with no accuracy.
     
    JSM, May 7, 2015
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  18. karacha

    karacha Moderator Staff Member

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    Remember that experiment they did with Vujacic, where he shot FTs wearing large gloves and was blindfolded? He still hit most of them. Some people can simply shoot... or they work on it if they can't. Some players just don't care that much.
     
    karacha, May 7, 2015
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  19. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    JSM, May 7, 2015
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  20. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    That picture is crazy. I know his hands are huge but still to see that basketball made to look that tiny = [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    LTLakerFan, May 7, 2015
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