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

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

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  1. Chillbongo

    Chillbongo - Lakers 6th Man -

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    After this season, $16M is only 18% of the salary cap. Not bad for an all-star. Not bad at all.

    Yes - I like the theory of drafting young and rebuilding, but let me ask this:

    Isn't the point of rebuilding to be successful again? If you can get a proven 24 year old all-star caliber player.....why jump through the hoops of developing someone who could bust? You have someone who is already good. If winning is the objective of rebuilding, why not squander a draft pick when you get someone who is going to help you win, guaranteed.
     
    Chillbongo, Jun 24, 2015
    #5061
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  2. Doc Brown

    Doc Brown - Lakers Starter -

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    Randle / Black / Kelly
    Okafor / Upshaw / Sacre

    I'd love if that was our 4-5 rotation coming out of the draft. Rest of the cap room on positions 1-3. Yes please.
     
    Doc Brown, Jun 24, 2015
    #5062
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  3. lakerfan2

    lakerfan2 - Lakers All Star -

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    How is it guaranteed to win? Did the Howard trade not teach us a lesson?

    Nothing really is guaranteed. Just as much as Okafor can become a bust, Cousins could turn out to be the cancer we all thought he would be and just screw things up. Meanwhile, you have a high character player, who has shown to have a winning mindset, skills to perhaps provide 60-70% of what DMC can do from the get go, all on a rookie scale contract, and become the face of your franchise. Leaving you extra money to fill holes on the team in areas we desperately need.
     
    lakerfan2, Jun 24, 2015
    #5063
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  4. acetabulum7

    acetabulum7 - Rookie -

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    Not sold on him or Porzingis at all.
     
    acetabulum7, Jun 24, 2015
    #5064
  5. Chillbongo

    Chillbongo - Lakers 6th Man -

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    It's more guaranteed than a 19 year old who has never played against NBA talent. You can cherry pick the Howard situation, but he is the exception, not the rule.

    How skilled was Dwight in Orlando? How much post-game did he have? How much did he rely on his athleticism? DMC is more skilled than Howard and doesn't have a history of injuries. DMC has improved every season since getting in the league. DeMarcus wants to be a Laker.

    Remember when the Dwightmare started in ORL? He first said he didn't want to come to LA then changed his tune completely. He never wanted to be a Laker, never wanted to be 2nd fiddle to Kobe. If the same is the case with DMC I'll gladly eat my words.

    We need a moody, angry, hungry guy like DMC. F*** Dwight and his sorry a** comedy show.
     
    Chillbongo, Jun 24, 2015
    #5065
  6. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    Watching the ESPN draft preview. Jay Bilas still has Okafor #1 on his most talented board or whatever he calls it, but of course talking "fit", thinks Minny will go Towns. Jalen Rose says it gets tricky at 2 for us, because he doesn't think Randle and Okafor work together on the floor, not good enough defenders to be what we need. Bilas countered with something like "I don't think you let who you took at a lower position last draft dictate who you take higher this draft. Randle is good, but Okafor can be great". Says he thinks Okafor can be a 20+ point scorer in his first season. And then as they move onto guards, Bilas calls Russell "the best pure basketball player in this draft". This is all very confusing lol. And then you have this from Jay Williams, where I can't really figure out what he's saying. I guess he's disagreeing because of the "absurd" hashtag?

    I don't see where the "drive" knock is coming from, but then I'm not a scout. I see a lot of fire in Okafor in footage, he yells and pounds his chest when he makes a big score or and 1, he pumps his fist for teammates that hit shots. Is "drive" his work ethic, and desire to improve in this case? How can you know that in a 19 year old, and especially one who just helped his team win the NCAA title? I've heard elsewhere the whole "it's possible he plays ball because he's tall/big, not because he loves it", but he sure seems to be a fan of the game, and a Laker fan at that.
     
    Weezy, Jun 24, 2015
    #5066
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  7. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

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    looking more and more like we'll for sure take okafor #2. still wouldn't mind russell though

    fine by me. just as long as this cousins talk finally dies for good. clarkson-randle-okafor is exciting
     
    432J, Jun 24, 2015
    #5067
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  8. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    Some scouts questioned his work ethic and Coach K stated at one point that Okafor would have to step up his work ethic at the next level. I think that is where all of that started.
     
    ElginTheGreat, Jun 24, 2015
    #5068
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  9. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    I guess I just figured that's a given, everyone entering the NBA needs to work harder. That's what you do or you don't stay in the league, unless you're some crazy naturally talented freak.
     
    Weezy, Jun 24, 2015
    #5069
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  10. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Which of course he is. He's been enormous since day one unlike a lot of the bigs we've seen in recent years (including Towns).

    Maybe the apparent lack of "work" is due to the fact that he's been so gifted thus far that he hasn't had to work as much as other kids. Still though, I haven't seen anything that suggests he's UNABLE or UNWILLING to work hard to continue his development.
     
    therealdeal, Jun 24, 2015
    #5070
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  11. Chillbongo

    Chillbongo - Lakers 6th Man -

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    Despite all the talk I still feel like the Lakers are secretly enamored with Russell. I'd prefer Jah but I trust the Lakers.
     
    Chillbongo, Jun 24, 2015
    #5071
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  12. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    I trust our front office also. Well, not completely, but I trust they make the best pick and have a plan. I think they made the best pick at 7 they could last season, and probably the best pick of the 2nd round as well. I forget off the top of my head if any other 2nd rounders made the impact that Clarkson did, but I don't think so.

    Side note, back to the ESPN draft special, they had Tom Penn fill out our roster and he put Okafor at C and Lamarcus Aldridge at PF, adding them to Kobe, Clarkson, and Randle. I think he stated the obvious in saying LA was the best player that we could in this free agent pool, but whatever. Then Jay Williams had us taking Okafor, and Jalen had us taking Russell because we need a guard to replace Kobe and make other players better (but then Jalen had Booker at 4 to NY and Winslow at 5, so I think he was just trying to be different with his board for the sake of being different). If we do take Russell I'm just going to trust that we saw something special in him and that possibly we have a big lined up.
     
    Weezy, Jun 24, 2015
    #5072
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  13. EJones06

    EJones06 - Rookie -

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    Agreed completely. I'm personally of the convention mindset and feel we should go Okafor. Having said that, I might be more excited if we ended up taking Russell, because that would have to mean the Lakers truly see a star in the kid. And I trust their judgement in evaluating prospects. Free agency however, is another story.
     
    EJones06, Jun 24, 2015
    #5073
  14. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    I'm getting tired of the okafor/randle can't work defensively stuff. was Memphis a bad defensive team with zbo/m gasol? was indy a bad defensive team with west/hibbert? oh, wait, I forgot the ENTIRE NBA CHANGED OVER THE PAST 8 WEEKS!

    if anything, the lakers' prospective pair is more mobile than those guys.

    also, coach k basically said okafor is his best player since grant hill. this should mean something to people.
     
    abeer3, Jun 24, 2015
    #5074
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  15. YoungThundercat

    YoungThundercat - Rookie -

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    Holy crap @ 4:18. One handing an entry pass while walling off the defender with his off arm, immediate spin and score. Very excited for 15 years of this kid!
     
    YoungThundercat, Jun 24, 2015
    #5075
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  16. jerryr88

    jerryr88 - Rookie -

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    Lets hope we keep it screw the queens and cousins.

    In no way shape or form would i wanna help them become a better team :envy:

    Let them either keep cousins and keep being mediocre or trade him somewhere else for something other than our pick. If he's the one that wants out the queens shouldnt have ANY leverage
     
    jerryr88, Jun 24, 2015
    #5076
  17. LakersN4

    LakersN4 - Rookie -

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    Lmao that would be crazy. Trade #2 & Randle for Cousins & #6. Have Okafor fall to us at 6. If there's any merit to the Duncan comparisons, he'll have no problem playing PF next to a true C.
     
    LakersN4, Jun 24, 2015
    #5077
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  18. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    :D :D :D That'd be hilarious!

    Well actually between the two I think Cousins plays more like a PF. Cousins has a decent jumper for his size.
     
    therealdeal, Jun 24, 2015
    #5078
  19. jerryr88

    jerryr88 - Rookie -

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    That would be wild but i just dont see okafor falling to #6 that would mean mudiay/russell/porzingis/hezonja going before him
     
    jerryr88, Jun 24, 2015
    #5079
  20. LakersN4

    LakersN4 - Rookie -

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    Don't forget WCS, who also wouldn't be a bad grab at 6. I've seen mocks with him at 4/5.
     
    LakersN4, Jun 24, 2015
    #5080
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