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

I have said several times throughout the season I had a feeling Okafor ends up in a Laker jersey. I don't see much reason to think differently now.

 

It's not. In this era of modern day offenses, with rule changes, and some of the most efficient teams using multiple screens, multiple screens with weak side action misdirection's, ball movement, player movement, Towns is perfect in the right scheme. Without going too much into detail, he's the perfect 5 you want on the defensive side of the ball.

Okafor, on the other hand, has a lot to prove. There's an article I'll post about the concerns defensively with Okafor...

 

The only thing you missed was the part where Jay-Z walks in and tries to sell him on his own fragrance line. Or is that kind of thing just reserved for prima donnas like LeBron?

 

More concerning is how badly he struggles stepping outside of the paint in pick and roll situations, where he looks sluggish and slow-footed, showing poor awareness and being late to react on the fly. As gifted as he is offensively, he is almost just as poor on the other end of the floor. Duke was forced to play a very conservative style of defense on the pick and roll, with Okafor going way underneath screens to give himself a big enough cushion to recover and not get burned, which is certainly not ideal against the better guards he'll face in the NBA. He struggles hedging screens on the perimeter and certainly can't be asked to switch onto smaller players, as he already struggles in one on one situations against big men.

Not being particularly explosive, he offers very little in the way of rim-protection, which is a concern in today's NBA game where practically every team's defensive plan revolves around having a big man in the paint who can serve as an anchor, clean up mistakes and not allow easy baskets.
US Presswire

He's also not a very good defensive rebounder, posting just 6.5 per-40 minutes, one of the worst rates among big men in our Top-100. He looks somewhat lethargic here too, often standing and watching rather than putting a body on an opponent, and being a bit slow to react to loose balls coming off the glass.

Okafor would be best suited playing next to a power forward who can defensive rebound, protect the rim, and space the floor from the 3-point line, which is as rare a player as you can find (Serge Ibaka, and…?).

http://www.draftexpress.com/#ixzz3adqj2fqT

I'll be excited if we get him. I still think he's Russell, Okafor, and Towns are in a different tier than the rest of their class draft coming out, but the defense is concerning...

 

@therealdeal I'm with you, I think he is a better fit there and I'm not just saying that cause I want Okafor. He can play with Pek and I think he would be a better pupil for KG. Not that I don't see Okafor as an eager pupil, but I compare his temperament to that of TD. I think he might just stare at a growling, foaming, cussing, chest thumping KG like what the f*** are you doing with one eye brow raised.

We have a parade of greats we can have mentor and tutor him that are more mentally stable.

 

Would still trade for Cousins if he came with the Kings #6 pick. As hyped as I am for 1 of Towns or Okafor, Cousins is already arguably a top 10 player. Odds of our pick becoming a top 10 player aren't very high. Not saying I want us to trade the pick, I'm excited about having 2 young bigs with the potential to become dominant players at their positions, but if a great offer comes along we shouldn't refuse it.

I don't buy reports that Minne is sold on Okafor. Towns is the more explosive/exciting player & would seemingly be a perfect fit with what they're building with Wiggins/Lavine.

As for the questions about spacing if we take Okafor, it doesn't really worry me. First they ignore the fact that we'll be looking to fill a huge hole at SF in FA. Middleton is over a 40% shooter from 3, Butler shot 38%, I don't want him but Carroll shot 39%, Green shot over 40%, the other Green (Gerald) is a solid shooter. Not to mention bigs stepping out to the 3 point line to set good screens is a huge part of creating spacing as well. Beyond that, if our core is Clarkson/Randle/Okafor or Towns/Young FA, we're not building towards a championship within the next few years so we'll have plenty of time to address spacing.

 

Late to the party, but GOT DAMN DOES IT FEEL GOOD.....

 

Another point about the whole spacing mumbo jumbo--you know what creates spacing? Having a center who demands a double team (not dare saying that's a likely outcome year one). Give him a couple shooters and problem solved.

 

I don't necessarily disagree with that. Towns is a better at shot blocking and defending pick and rolls right now.

But, Okafor is about as automatic scorer in the paint as anyone I can remember and a better man to man defender than people seem to be giving him credit for.

 

Exactly. Okafor's post game is already so advanced I think he will command double. Teams in the paint right off the bat.

 

I've yet to see him play it consistently...

 

He'll draw double teams; just make your PG, SG, and SF could all shoot. I don't want a Memphis problem; defenses start sagging off of Allen. He's screaming first team all defense; he needs to practice that jump shot so he's not a liability out there...

 

Maybe it's been mentioned, but didn't someone mention they thought the laker's draft board was Towns, Mudiay, Okafor? If we take Mudiay 2nd, I'm gonna hurl!

 

1 thing to keep in mind about Okafor's post game, only 1 team with a C that scored over 16 PPG had a winning record this season (Memphis).

 

I prefer towns....But having okafor as a secondary option just goes to show how epic this day is

 

So we get Towns or Okafor and the Clips get bounced in the 2nd round again? Successful year.