Ss&r: Why D'angelo Russell Deserves Consideration At Number 2

We should take Russell, then call Philly and ask what they want in trade for Okafor. Or just buy the pick from them.

 

In all seriousness I think there will end up being several really good players in this draft. The top 5 to 7 guys all bring something to the table.

I'd pick Okafor or Towns. I think there will always be a need for skilled big men no matter how much the game changes. But I also think Russell, Mudiay, Winslow and a handful of other guys are going to be good.

Like others have said, I trust the front office and believe we will get this right. But At the end of the day, I can't see us passing on a guy as skilled as Okafor.

 

Oh yeah. I know. We are on the same page on this one.

 

Well there's some gender equality...... getting cold cocked like a dude by action hero Arnold. Speaking of the fairer sex, where the hell has Kasumi been? Was the "Tank" too much for her? Jazzy Girl saw it through the tough time this year.

 

And which one of those midgets is going to guard Embid and Noel and Towns and Okafor and Davis and Boogie, etc, etc? Our Davis too light, Sacre probably gone and Hill too small and probably gone. We need a BIG big time and have that dropped in our laps now. It's always been good big man over good small man.

Just teasing you Trevor..... I get where the article's coming from.

 

Bigs like Okafor/Towns come around once or twice every decade.

So the bottom line is, if we're picking a guard, they need to be on a Magic or Kobe level. If we're picking a wing, they need to be on a Durant or Lebron level.

I don't see that from Mudiay, Russell, Hezonja, Winslow or Johnson. So that ship has sailed when we got the #2 pick.

 

I absolutely agree that other players should be considered. What shouldn't be considered is taking those other players #2. If you aren't sold on whichever big Minnesota doesn't take & think Russell, Mudiay, or even Winslow/Hezonja/Johnson/WCS are going to be the best player in the draft, or that there aren't any superstars at the top of this draft, you take advantage of the fact that 28 teams picking after us don't share that opinion. See what kind of assets you can raid by trading down for the player you want or just for trading the pick. The last thing we want to do is pull an Anthony Bennett.

 

Everyone sees the writing on the wall. This 'trend' of perimeter-oriented basketball is coming to an end. After the Lebron/Durant generation, the league will be driven by bigs in the very near future. Led by Anthony Davis, Embiid+Noel, Towns and Okafor. It's inevitable and the Lakers simply cannot miss out on that.

 

Nothing against you, because tons of people say it every year, but the "come around once every" line drives me nuts. Last year it was Embiid is Hakeem 2.0, Wiggins was T-Mac with elite defense, Jabari was going to come in his rookie year matching Melo's scoring numbers. They may have gotten 1 out of 3 with Wiggins if he keeps improving. Our fanbase is guilty of this as well, Randle is talked about as if he's coming off a 20-10 rookie year when he didn't even play 1 full game.

For every Anthony Davis there's a Hasheem Thabeet. For every John Wall & Boogie Cousins there's a Wesley Johnson & Ekpe Udoh. The bottom line is none of these guys are once in a generation or once in a decade anything until they prove it in the NBA.

 

How can Phil pull that off now with Philly at 3 and wanting him?

 

And nothing against you as well, but your overreaction drives me nuts. Everyone is hoping to draft a player that has the potential to become a legend or HOF type player. If you don't like the phrasing, just let it go.

During the 90s draft, there was Kobe, Duncan and Shaq. (maybe KG)
During the 00s draft, there was only Lebron. (maybe Wade)

Those type of players only come once or twice every decade, so you're right..... players like John Wall, T-Mac, Boogie, Melo don't even qualify. We are still waiting to see who will be that defining player for this decade.

 

I don't think you see guys as big and polished as okafor very often. whether he ends up a tim Duncan or an al Jefferson or something worse, I don't know. but I don't think it's hyperbole to suggest that, based on current evidence, the two bigs at the top of this draft are quite exciting.

I think your russells, winslows, and mudiays--basically everyone else--is in every draft, every year. not every draft boasts two, big, coordinated, skilled guys. this is why getting #2 was so big, and why (no offense to OP) Russell probably doesn't deserve even consideration at that spot.

 

There's a new cottage industry on line now with writers claiming "sources" are saying Lakers not set on Towns or Okafor, whichever is there at 2.

 

What if he winds up as something in the ballpark of a "giant" Tim Duncan? Get this Al Jefferson talk the hell out of these conversations. In general, not you, abeer.

In this link which is freaking awesome if you're on the Okafor train, that southbaylakers posted........

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article14512424.html

........ a number of references to Timmy as a freshman compared to where Jahlil is now. Duncan was only ahead of him on defense at that age in his first year of college.