Ss&r: Why D'angelo Russell Deserves Consideration At Number 2

My latest at Silver Screen and Roll where I make the case that D'Angelo Russell should be considered for the number 2 overall pick if it comes down to him and Okafor.

The Los Angeles Lakers not only kept their top-five protected pick on NBA Draft lottery night, they were the only team to move up in the draft, jumping from fourth to second overall. Now the question of who the Lakers will pick is resonating throughout Southern California. The players available for the Lakers to select largely depend on what the Minnesota Timberwolves do with the first overall pick

There have been rumors floating around that the Wolves may select skilled center Jahlil Okafor (and his giant hands) out of Duke. Should that scenario play, the Lakers should unquestionably take Karl-Anthony Towns; the shot-blocking, sweet shooting big man who many have sitting atop their draft boards as the best player available. Towns would be a no-brainer pick for the Lakers, as not only is he the prototype modern-center with rim protecting capabilities and a solid jumper, but he also complements fellow Kentucky alum Julius Randle perfectly.

For now though the Lakers have to assume that the Wolves will come around to the consensus that Towns is the best player in the 2015 draft class, and as such they take him first overall. Without Towns on the board the choice Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss must make likely comes down to Okafor or Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell. While we can't completely dismiss international point guard Emanuel Mudiay he currently appears to be a distant fourth to the trio of Towns/Okafor/Russell.

Most mock drafts currently have the Lakers selecting Okafor with their second pick, and fans have latched on to that notion, plastering photoshopped images of Okafor (and Towns as well) in Lakers uniforms across social media.




Our current SS&R poll understandably has Karl-Anthony Towns as the favored pick by a large margin, but after that Jahlil Okafor has more than double the votes of D'Angelo Russell. However, the race between the two is closer than the pro-Okafor sentiment sweeping through Los Angeles would suggest.

D'Angelo Russell is a very real contender for the second overall selection if Towns is off the board. With a strong workout he could find himself donning the Golden Armor instead of the big man from Duke. While the NBA has had the general sentiment that finding bigs takes precedence over guards, that trend may be changing.

The modern NBA has been pushing more and more toward guard-oriented play, with screen and roll actions and ball movement dominating offensive schemes of the top teams. While Lakers coach Byron Scott may not agree, guard play and three-point shooting has become integral to running an efficient offense.

While Jahlil OKafor is a talented player, D'Angelo Russell fits the new breed of NBA basketball perfectly. He shot 41 percent from three in college while dishing out five assists and grabbing 5.7 boards, and his ability to see the floor to find open teammates is a major weapon. Even off the ball he can occupy a defense with his ability to make teams pay for losing track of him with his shooting skills. Versatility is important, and Russell's ability to contribute in a number of ways shouldn't be overlooked.

At 6'5" he's already big for a point guard, and his impressive 6'9.75" wingspan compounds that height advantage and allows him to shoot over defenders easier than most guards. His long arms also help him amass more steals (1.6 per game at Ohio State) and deflections in the passing lanes than those with shorter, T-Rex-style arms.

Good teams get defenses out of position and find open lanes to the basket or kick outs for uncontested threes, and Russell is fantastic at doing just that, especially out of the pick-and-roll. He moves well off the ball to find open space and can get his jumper off quickly if the defense doesn't rotate fast enough, and his tight handle allows him to slide past his defender after even the slightest mistake. If that wasn't enough, his passing can be breathtaking. He finds cutting teammates with pinpoint accuracy, often hitting them with a slick pass before they even realize how open they are.

All of this goes a long way to mitigate concerns about Russell's athletic ability, which has been the biggest knock on him in NBA circles. Teams are rightly concerned about whether or not he has what it takes athletically to become a star, but NBA history is littered with players whose skill level made their perceived athletic faults a non-issue.

Russell also plays the game with the kind of flair that would ignite the Staples Center crowd. No-look passes, killer ball-handling, and deadeye shooting are all part of the package with the lefty assassin. The Lakers could certainly use that kind of showmanship to give their brand a fresh feel. While winning trumps fancy passing and ankle-breakers, Russell is able to incorporate eye-popping plays with efficient basketball, which is an enticing combination for any general manager.

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Check out the rest HERE, and vote in the poll!

 

i wish there was a way we could watch these picks working out for the Lakers

 

Call Jeanie. She's really cool about stuff.

 

in the age of social media and everything being 'news', there's GOTTA be a way to watch these prospects work out

 

We're going to draft Okafor. Then sign Rondo to fill the PG need...

 

i think Rondo would just eff things up

 

Just trolling man, honestly. Rondo always gets the reactions.

 

LOL!!

 

No worries at all, I'm not even sure that Russell should be the pick myself. I would be happy to get Towns or Okafor, my point was mainly that we shouldn't just dismiss Russell as an option. All the rumors thus far have the Lakers taking whichever big Minnesota doesn't select, but we have heard very little from the Lakers themselves (and rightfully so). The Lakers are a tight-lipped team, their moves tend to come from seemingly out of nowhere. Even though Okafor is the favorite Russell has some serious skills and needs to be given a long look before any conclusions are reached.

Heck, it wouldn't even shock me to see the Lakers select Mudiay. Mitch and the front office do a solid job of evaluating talent, and if they decide that Okafor is the better pick then I'll happily celebrate his arrival, just as I will if it's Russell, Mudiay, or Winslow. So yeah, no offense taken at all.

 

Stay strong @unpossibl1

Don't let @therealdeal bully you.

Russell is the best guy in the draft hands down. Lol