Lakers Draft Day Prospects June 22, 2023

I am still wanting Jett. Lively would be great but just don't see him being there. Jett has a good offensive game and while only average on defense his weaknesses are fixable. Handy Ham will have that worked out in no time. I also think Howard helps us this year which is another big reason to draft. We need to build for the future but if we can do that and be better now we should go for it. Someone could unexpectedly fall but realistically for me right now is the guy.

 

Not against him in the mid 20s. I also think there's 4-5 guys between 17-27 who can contribute day one. With the new CBA, I think we'll see more and more contending teams looking to fill out their bench that route (day 1'ers) because most are already fighting the cap. Cost controlled assets for a few years will be huge.



We have some more workouts today

 

it's interesting because mid-1st rounders make more than vet mins (almost twice as much) but i'd bet most of them are less effective in their first two years than the better vet min signings for any given team. for example, we had brown and schroder on vet mins this year--was there a mid-first rounder who played better than them all season long?

so, if people start really relying on the draft to fill roster spots, we might see more experienced players move up draft boards, right? at least after the lotto.

 

Salary depends a little.

If you're a contender, your picks should be 25th-ish or later. That's under $2m in year one. Compare that to FA and you have to sign someone who's been in the league a maximum of 5 years to stay under $2m.
Price comp: 10+ year vet = 17th/18th pick.

Some value year 1'ers on the back half this year: Griffin (16), Braun (21), Kessler (22... Minny you're f***ing stupid!), Roddy (23).

The real value there is you pick your player, whereas in free agency you're fighting the other playoff teams for the same bargain vet. Much less certainty you get your guy.

Yeah, I think the value equation will shift pretty quickly in the back half of the 1st round. 22 and 23 year olds often have been automatic 2nd round-undrafted guys because their age has been a turn off. Typically they'll have a higher floor but a lower ceiling and that's not a sexy sell on draft night (maybe that's why we've been bringing in so many Van Wilder seniors this draft circuit). Guys like Reaves and the type of players Miami fills their roster (Martin, Strus, Vincent) will be in that range instead of undrafted.

 

Yeah, this idea that rookies can craft a role on a contender is a bit dreamy. Only Braun did that. So the best you get is your last rotation piece, if you strike (all other contenders haven't).
But there's definitely benefits, because your pick will have a longer contract and you don't have the pressure to hit in the FA market every year, not sure if that's enough to justify it

 

Nice, thanks for all the work. I get fixated on a few players and don't look further...lol. Posters like you are what makes this site what it is.

 

the league changing second round contract restrictions may alter my initial statement, though, in light of what you're talking about here. you don't need to dip into space/exceptions anymore to lock up 2nds.

maybe early 2nds will gain more value going forward.

 

In less than 4 days we’ll have new guys. LFG!

 

- Lively top 10
- OMP in the top 20
- Bufkin top 13
- Hawkins going early

 

lively and bufkin moving up should help us. means some guys projected to go lotto before might slip to us (wallace). though the article names george and smith, neither of whom would be high on my personal list.

once i saw the OMP film, i figured he'd shoot up the boards. kind of a taurean prince type. not flashy but effective in many systems.

when hawkins was being projected in the late 20s i thought i was missing something. he's reminiscent of two other sgs from uconn who had long, great nba careers (hamilton and allen). he's not as good as either, but i think he'll be a rotation player early and last a while. that's lotto material most years.

 

Yeah, was thinking the same. Not thrilled with either name they listed but I'm liking #17 more and more or even the notion of moving down to a Nets pick.

Wouldn't be mad at that addition at all, think he's a good playoff team fit. Like that he's working out for everyone that'll have him. I think he'd be a good target if we move back.

He never stops moving. I think he'll need to bulk up a little because they're going to try to kill him on those screens but the shot and motion is next level. He tries on D too, he's not very good there right now but the effort is there. I think he can improve to passable defensively. In a draft not littered with big wings, he'd be a guaranteed top 10.

 

Another batch today

 

Timme seems like he'll have at least a few years in the league. smart, high motor big guys find a way to get on rosters. more udfas, though.

also, obligatory:

 

On the draft

 

I sure hope we keep Vando. He’s such a key to our excellent D and there’s no reason as to why he can’t improve in the shooting category.

 

I hope so, but its highly unlikely he goes from being a complete non-threat as a shooter to becoming a viable one. That would require him being at least like 35% on decent volume. Right now he's at 29% on 0.5 attempts per game for his career and 30% on 1.3 attempts per game last season. Its really rare to see a player go from that to a shooter that actually needs to be guarded in a playoff series. I like Vando, but if we could get someone like DFS in the right deal you have to consider it. I'm not as high on O'Neale.

 

Timme was a baller collegiately. Be interesting to see if his game can translate to the pros.

 

sincere carry?

 

I’ve seen plenty of players work hard on their shot and significantly improve over the years. If Brook Lopez can do it…