We owe one to Orlando, but we would have our pick without question next season. You can't go two consecutive seasons without a first round pick. Now, we could pick the player then trade it, but the rules dictate that you can't go two consecutive seasons without a pick. So if we lose it this year, we are guaranteed next season. It can't go to Orlando...yet.
It's pretty complicated. If we lose it this season, we get 2017's for sure. Then we lose 2018 (Top 3 protected I believe). If we are in the Top 3 in 2018, I believe it turns into two 2nd rounders. If we get the pick this season, then we lose the 2017 pick (Top 3 protected). If we fall in the Top 3, then it goes to 2018 with the same rules as the previous scenario. In the second scenario, I believe the 2017 pick is given to Philly over Orlando. For instance, we get this year's Top 3 pick, then we get NEXT year's Top 3 pick (2017), then the 2018 pick goes to Philly no matter what and Orlando gets two 2nd rounders. I believe that's how it'll work but... it's complicated and my sometimes simple mind gets confused easily.
In other news everyone's favorite Grayson pulled from the draft. @Weezy will be happy to know DE is expecting Brice Johnson to go #32 to the Lakers.
I don't see how that's possible, but if it happens, heck yeah I'd be excited. I don't see how there are 31 players better than him in this draft though, and how one team doesn't take a shot on him before pick 32. Maybe it's because he's a senior and his ceiling isn't super high, but he looks like a great bench hustle big to have to me.
There's a handful of big 7 foot project types both here and overseas that could go ahead of him. If they don't, we could get a big 7 foot project type which I'm actually more than okay with.
I'd be cool with that too. I've been asking for that for 2 years. I'm over Sacre, give me a new 7 footer project with an actual ceiling left to reach, hopefully someone more athletic than our Canadian stiff.
Did anyone hear that thon maker might be draft eligible. The dude is 7'1 with handles. I'd take a look at him with the 3rd pick
I really doubt that he'd get drafted in top 5. nbadraft.net and draftexpress.com have him at the bottom of the first round. With that said, maybe we could do a Reggie Jackson-Thunder promise deal with him or trade for (or buy) a late 1st rounder.
Yeah take a look a page or two back. I posted the links from DE that show what his approximate value is right now. Everything I've read says most teams view him as a looooong term project and might be 2nd round pick even. He's got that long of a way to go even though he's a good kid who seems earnest.
With so many 6'10 to 7'0 players in this draft, I'd like to see (if we keep the pick) lakers trade it (if Simmons is not ours) for some more picks and an asset. Vandy's Big due to his poor performance in the last NCAA game is falling....he has a terrible FT % but a very good court awareness and might fall to Rd. 2.
i said this in the gameday chat, but we should have kobe represent our team at the draft lottery. screw byron (if he is even still our coach at that time)
For what it's worth: Draftexpress has Thon Maker right now sitting at #40 on their draft board. I expect workouts to really change things, but not that much. I don't think he's going to shoot up into the lottery, but he may be a late 1st round prospect to someone.
Nbadraft.net also has Thon Maker at #28, which would be possible he slips a few spots within that Lakers #32 pick. I would really want Thon Maker for the Lakers. I know he hasn't played competitively in college or overseas, but he's so fluid and has a lot of skills for 7'1... To be honest I thought he would be a lottery pick and am surprised he's projected as a late 1st rounder/early 2nd in a weak draft. I hope the Lakers front office are open to moving up into the first round to try to get him... Perhaps with Lou Williams + our 2nd may appeal to a team like Charlotte for their 24th pick? If all things went the Lakers way on draft night and we walk away with a core of: Maker Randle/Nance Ingram or Simmons Clarkson Russell It'd be kind of exciting watching that core grow together...
maker does seem like a lakers guy, to the extent that I could see him/his agent trying to put him in la.
Maker has a ton of problems with his game. He's a black hole, he's really really weak, and he has very little feel for the game. I think he's got some good long term projection but its really really long term. It's like that Bruno Cabulco or whatever his last name is that Toronto took a couple years ago. I'd be okay taking him at 32 as a project but I'm not giving up Lou to get him. Lou is a legit NBA producer and will be for a few more years. Thon might never be an NBA player and you'll have to wait a few years to find out. If we think Russell is a project, this guy is even a longer one.
maker reminds me a bit of ndudi ebi, maybe? there's bust potential there, which should scare enough teams off until late 1st/early second. but given the upside, I could see the lakers wanting him, and I could see his people wanting their guy in a major media market if and when he breaks out.
I'd take a chance on him if he's there in the second round, if not get Johnson if he's still on the board.
