DRAFT TALK Thread: Looking Like Lonzo

After a few pages of searching, I couldn't spot a "Draft Talk" thread, so I figured I'd start one. If there's one I missed, please feel free to merge this bad boy, fellow Mods.

Nice article from Kevin Ding here talking about which 4 players the Lakers are focusing in on if we keep our top-3 pick. So glad to see they're not foolishly getting Ball tunnel vision.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ht-but-the-numbers-say-theyll-be-left-wanting

 

We've been using the Tank thread, but this is fine JSJ.

I've been coming around on Fox since I listened to one of his interviews. I fought @abeer3 hard on a John Wall comparison just because I don't think he's got Wall's speed, but I ignored that they play a similar game so for that I apologize to abeer. I don't think Fox can be Wall in the NBA, but they have similar strengths and weaknesses coming out of school. Both play too athletic and neither could shoot. However, after listening to Fox in an interview he's a pretty bright kid. He's smart enough to recognize his weaknesses and work on them. I wouldn't be mad if he was their pick at #3.

I still think Ball is the best fit for the Lakers, but if they ended up with any of these kids, it's a win.

 

Agree with a lot of what you said. I'd be elated to land any of these 4 players. I'm just glad they're giving Fox a good hard look. This team could use an infusion of athleticism and both Fox & Jackson fit that bill to a T. I also love Ball & Fultz as prospects, so again, won't complain about any of them.

 

Yeah Fultz and Ball are no slouches athletically either. I'm not sure where we'd slot Jackson with Ingram on board as I'm not sure either of them could be full time SGs, but I'd love to have to figure that out.

 

We'd be foolish not to take a hard look at Fox if we keep the pick and plan on using it. He lacks a shot, but like Ding points out, he has so much else going for him, he plays incredibly hard and clearly has a strong desire to win. I like Ball a lot still, but I didn't see the same passion to win in him, and I barely know what Fultz looks like. Not a fan of Jackson though, don't see his game translating well to the NBA right away, looks like it would take time.

 

without hesitation

 

I will be so happy if we simply keep the pick.

 

I so too. I started liking him when I saw this right after the game they lost in the NCAA Tourney.

He started crying when talking about the media thinking the players don't care about this because they are one in done. He obviously loves his teammates and the journey of trying to do something special. These are the kinds of things Rob and Magic have been preaching. They want great players obviously but you have to have players who truly care and what to put forth that effort. Fox is certainly one of those guys and I'm sure it will come across again in the interviews this week at the NBA Combine.

 

I know highlights aren't the greatest way to watch film, but you can see important things still. For instance:

- Ball rarely beats Fox one-on-one in the half-court. The same is also true vice versa, but Fox still gets Ball a few times with some advanced handles, but Ball rarely exhibits that advanced handle. He usually relies on his change of pace and size overlooking the defense. That's not a deal breaker, but it is something to watch.

- Fox can be a stud in the pick and roll. If the guard doesn't fight through the screen, Fox has the sort of speed and athleticism to put pressure on the rim at all times. Either Ball was extraordinarily lazy on screens or UCLA asked him to sit on them for some reason. Fox punished them for it either way.

- Ball's ability to change the game in transition is obvious. He does a great job of pushing the break whereas even though Fox has intense speed, he's more likely to slow down and let the offense set up. That's not to say Fox isn't also effective in the fast break, but he's more ball-centric. Ball projects to be better without the ball in the NBA. Fox can develop that part of his game, but it's something he'll have to work on.

- Ball's influence on the UCLA offense is obvious in the two games. His practice of moving the ball makes their offense dangerous. Guys are quick to pass and the ball never really sticks on that team. If it does, it's with Ball and you trust him to make decisions. Fox and Kentucky move the ball similarly in the second game and you can see how the offense really picks up.

- Fox is praised a lot for outplaying Ball in the second game and it's definitely true, but the real star of the Kentucky game was Monk. His ability to knock down shots from deep changed everything and it changed the way UCLA played defense which opened up things even more for Fox. Fox definitely outplayed Ball. You can see Ball at the end not leaving enough of an imprint on the game and looking beat. It really looks like he was gassed and frustrated by the Kentucky defense.

- Fox is praised as an ultimate competitor, but I think both of these guys really enjoy the challenge of playing each other. I think Ball stepped up the first time and Fox stepped up bigger the second time. It'll be fascinating to watch these two battle in the NBA. I wouldn't be surprised if these are the two guards we're talking about in 3 years from this draft class while guys like Ntilinka, Smith, and Fultz fail to realize their potential (not that they will, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't pan out compared to these two).

- Despite the criticisms I still think that Fox and Ball are premier prospects. The things that they do well should translate to the NBA. Unfortunately the things they struggle with will too. For Ball it will be about whether or not he can utilize a pick and roll effectively and whether or not he can break down a defense when the time calls for it. For Fox it will be about whether or not he can hit a jumper and how effective he is when he's not controlling the ball. Either way, we'd be lucky to have these two players. I think Ball is a better fit next to D'Angelo than Fox. Ball's ability to inspire ball movement would really make the other young guys shine all the more. Honestly if we got Ball, he could turn Randle, Russell, and Clarkson into some great trade bait. Fox would be a good fit too with his defensive intensity and athleticism, but he'd take longer to fit in offensively I think and leave more responsibility on Russell's shoulders which so far hasn't been a great look for him.