BI is currently a better all around player than Kuz and has a higher ceiling. I love Kuz, but let's not get carried away. BI can be perennial all-star. Not sure Kuz can get to that level.
The same way a lot of people slept on Kobe. Back then, nobody wanted any part in high school players because they were such an unknown. Now the trend is to sign young players for their potential, but it's rare that some realize it. Now nobody wants any part of upperclassmen because it seems they've shown all of their potential already, when most players are just looking for a chance to breakout in a collegiate system that tends to focus on a team oriented offense, or one built around a high level recruit. Upperclassmen used to be the norm for evaluating talent, but the draft went away from that when KG and Kobe were drafted. They come more NBA ready, bodies a little more developed, and more fundamentals in their game to easily translate.
I wonder... in what area is he a better player? Certainly not on offense. Even distribution is doubtful, for two reasons. First, BI makes the most trivial passes when he is running the point. The rest is the "system". Second, Kuz has shown that ability as well, he simply has not been asked to concentrate on it, in the same manner BI has been. Defense, IMO, is equal, perhaps with a slight edge going to BI. But Kuz is an overwhelmingly better offensive player. It's not really close. In fact, he is probably #4, as far as offense goes we've had since ... Magic: Kobe, Shaq, Pau, Kuzma. Offense only. Fight me.
I get the trend, but you have to be an idiot to give up all that offense he must have exhibited during workouts and the combine, to follow an ideology? Laughable. Also why most of the teams in the league are forever mired in mediocrity.
Well, it's tough to gauge a players just from workouts and combines. I think anyone can agree with that. Someone can just get hot, like Kuz did, and catch some eyes, but could have fizzled out. I think it's a testament to our scouting department that looks beyond the workout and combine, like the multiyear scouting of Larry Nance Jr., and just keeping tabs on guys we like and see how they develop and progress over a period of time. Kuz may have fallen in that same category.
All I know is...suck it San Antonio. They were slated to pick Kuzma if we didn't. He's exactly the type of player that would slip to San Antonio in the late first. Glad we finally got a Spurs-like pick late in the draft.
That's not about getting hot. That only accounts for shooting. They are doing it wrong then. Skill is much more than just being able to shoot well. Footwork and such can and should be examined. Probably isn't. Well, sucks for them. Good for us.
I’m mean more in the sense that if the Lakers free agency this year and next goes as planned, meaning at a minimum you get Paul George this summer, then I see BI as more expendable than Kuz. BI is in line for what I would guess to be a max money offer before Kuz. If you have 2 or 3 max guys already (I.e. PG, Bron and/or Mandle) then you probably won’t be able to afford BI. This is all assuming that their respective progress continues as is.
The chemistry and competitiveness after all the smack talk between Kyle and Zo should be good for Lonzo since Kuz had the more impressive rookie year. Lonzo's going to be pushed by him I think.
Yeah I agree with this. They literally told themselves not to believe what their eyes were clearly seeing in workouts and one on ones. It's crazy to me but I'm glad they did it or he wouldn't have fallen to us.
Not sure who the other guy and gal are? But there's Karri. Don't piss her off she will hunt you down like a dog on line.
