Okafor is a gazelle compared to Marc Gasol so defensively it will be just a matter of reading the play then doing the correct adjustment.
Okafor's defense being bad is being so overrated that he just has to be okay and everyone will go crazy about how good a defender he is.
I think in the NBA P&R defense makes or breakes any team. I think Towns has a lot more potential to be a P&R defender compared to Okafor. Okafor could be amazing offensively and certainly will...but look at Al Jefferson or Brook Lopez or some of those guys. They are very good offensively, yet have little value compared to a Serge Ibaka, Noah, Chandler and those high energy defender. Also Towns can hit an outside shot here and there and is a very good FT shooter. Okafor will certainly be more ready and have an easier time adjusting to the NBA. His "bust" potential is much smaller than Towns but considering Randle can't protect the rim at all, I think Towns is a better fit next to him. Okafor likes to go inside, as does Randle. So they could take away space from each other and also struggle defensively as a tandem to protect the rim.
I think Minny takes Towns. Andrew Wiggins and Towns have a history together. Check out this video of them shooting 35 foot threes. Pretty impressive for a 7 footer. We're in an incredibly great situation though. We can't go wrong with either guy.
I think the Lakers are in a position to totally screw with Philadelphia. Now hear me out.... The worst kept secret is that D'Angelo Russell is who is on top of Philly's draft board. This is largely due to the fact that they have 3 young bigs (Noel, Embiid, Saric) so their front court is clogged and they see Russell as the cornerstone of their backcourt. So the Lakers can use Philly's wants to maximize the value of our own #2 pick. The Lakers can use #2 to pick up D'Angelo, trade down for Philly's #3 + additional compensation (future pick, or 2 of their 5 second round picks).... use the Philly pick to take whoever is still on the board between Okafor/Towns. I really would like to stick it to Philly and their never ending "extreme tank" project. For what it's worth, I'd prefer Towns over Okafor. I think Towns can develop the low post game over a few years, it probably will never be as nice as Okafor's, but Towns also has the ability to hit perimeter 3s if needed and has the potential to be a defensive anchor. You can't say that about Okafor and I doubt you ever could.
I see your point, but why would Philly want to do that? If they refuse, we both become losers by getting what we don't want. It's very counter-productive, and quite frankly, we're quite desperate ourselves.
I'd pick Okafor, and my reasoning has nothing to do with his or Towns's talent. While both of these kids are clearly very talented, I think Okafor will end up playing more games. Therefore, my pick is safer, so to speak.
Okafor next to Serge Ibaka would be perfect. I just don't see Randle as a great fit for him. Neither does Love fit well with him in terms of shot blocking and P&R defense.
Wolves will draft Town. We will try to sign Gasol, Monroe, or DJ to max deal. Once one of them give the Lakers the hint that they will sign with us, Mitch will draft D. Russell.
Unfortunately, free agents can't sign before July 1st, which is AFTER the draft. You can't bank on an agent signing with you and then all of a sudden, he bolts the other way, then you're screwed out a center.
Yeah I'm not picking anything but the best player. It's not worth it to mess with Philadelphia and get stuck with Russell when we actually need Okafor or Towns. Doesn't make enough sense to me. Pick the big guy, move forward happily. Having one of the talented young bigs shouldn't stop us from signing Marc Gasol if it's possible. You slide Randle up and turn him into James Worthy if you have to. This summer will be about one thing: get the most talent possible from every source you can. Draft the most talented player (Towns/Okafor), sign the most talented player you can (Gasol, Aldridge, Love, any of the RFA small forwards), and when the dust clears figure out the rotations as needed.
^^^ Great post, realdeal. I'm with you all the way. We need to improve the talent level around here. Let's do a Jerry West on this thing.
Exactly. The good news is that's all Mitch has been saying all year too. We need talent. Screw positions. If GS can get away with playing a 6'8" dude at Center, we can get away with playing a 6'9" dude at Small Forward and just crush teams under our size if we end up signing another big this summer. Slow the game down to a crawl and just pound away at them inside. It's not my first choice, but I don't care. We just need the best players we can get.
I can see more of a situation like the Cavs had with Wiggins last year.. Lakers should take the best center available. If Gasol, etc becomes available in a Sign & Trade...We might consider it. At least I would. But honestly, I think the Lakers FO is more in the mode of getting promising, young, cheap talent in the draft & keeping their $$ for Free Agents.
I don't see the Lakers sign/trading their rookie this season. There's too much positive buzz around Okafor/Towns. We were fortunate to get the #2 pick. I think trading it is kind of bad joo-joo. I'd rather keep the kid and start building the team.
The situation is a little different. Guys like Gasol, Jordan, and Aldridge, are ALREADY becoming unrestricted free agents. That means we can have both Okafor AND sign one of those guys. In the Wiggins-Love situation, Love still had a year left on his contract, and Clevland was looking to win now. I know as a Laker fan we want to get back to success fast, but we have to do it right and take out time with these guys. Unless someone is offering Steph Curry or Anthony Davis for the #2, it's not happening.
Yesterday I was leaning towards Towns, today I'm thinking Okafor. Towns seems to have the upside, and I love the fact that he talks to an imaginary friend during games, BUT Okafor has a 7'5 wingspan and ridiculously huge hands. I'm a big fan of long arms. That wingspan, with some work on his timing, may alleviate the "defensive concerns".
