I think we are going to get this right. I think everyone knows how much is riding on this pick and trust that they will get the right guy and put him in a position to succeed.
Somebody gave me this comparison for Towns, and I've been thinking it about some...Rasheed Wallace. I don't think it's a perfect comparison, and I'd have to go back and watch Rasheed some, but I thought it was interesting, nonetheless.
That actually is an interesting one that I haven't heard before. Wallace was a great player...when he wanted to be.
I never said Towns didn't have the potential to be that guy. I think the problem with Towns will be where he lands because all that potential is a problem for unorganized organizations (see what I did there? heh). Minnesota has had trouble defining guys. They draft raw talent, but that talent stays raw because they don't channel them into a certain player. Flip is improving that, but my fear with Towns in Minnesota is they'll turn him into a perimeter player. They'll turn him into a guy who spaces the floor/takes guys off the dribble and I don't want that from him. What I want from Towns is the ability to hit a jumper to facilitate his post game. Bynum's game was predicated on the post, right? And in that time he was absolutely dominating the paint. He had a little jumper which helped, but the main focus was that back-to-the-basket game. That's what I want from Towns. If he ends up in LA, I think he'll get there. Post game first, jump shot second, drive game third. That's where Towns needs to be. With Okafor it's clear: he's a Center. He's a post player who might develop a mid-range shot but will always be a post player. If he started playing tomorrow he'd be a post player and in 15 years he'll still be one. If he started in the NBA today and was fed the ball like he was in college he could probably average 15-20 points right away. I am positive Towns cannot do that in the post tomorrow. In 2-3 years? Hell yeah I think he could, but tomorrow his thin little legs would get pushed out to the free throw line in one hit.
http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2015/06/03/lakers-karl-anthony-towns-draft/ Good article by Darius Soriano on Towns. I'll also post the article he writes on Okafor when he's done..,
His post game should definitely come first. But like I said, he's already made strides in his game that allow him to develop faster than we think. His jump shot already looks great, which will open up the face up game for him. His defense is aggressive, but he'll need to learn to be smart and not foul as much. Although he doesn't have the strong base we all want him to have, he still has that length and athleticism to sky over guys for shots and rebounds like Drew did.
Therein lies the problem for me. -He won't be able to post up against a lot of NBA defenders right away. He's too weak down low, they'll just push him out of position or block his shot. Now he's mostly a face-up shooter, that will limit his effectiveness because I don't see him driving to the rim easily either against NBA defenders. -Skying for rebounds without a strong base is a great way to expose your knees to potential injury. We've seen what weak knees get you. -Everything about Towns screams awesome talent in 2-3 years, but we need to be competitive now. I think you can plug Okafor into a lineup tomorrow and he'd get respectable numbers right away. I think you plug Towns into a lineup tomorrow and he ends up in foul trouble, unable to create shots for himself in the half court, and potentially opening himself up to injury. That's why for me Okafor is the clear choice for the Lakers. If we had the #1 pick, maybe that changes things but for my money I want Okafor and I'll be happy when he gets here!
Oh I want Okafor as well. If there is one thing I enjoy watching in the NBA, it's a big, good post player.
I come off as a Towns basher at times, but I'm not. If Minny goes Okafor or for some reason Russell at #1 and we pick Towns at #2 I think we are getting the best potential player in the draft. But if we do that, then I hope we either re-sign Davis or pick up a guy like Chandler in FA. Towns will need time to marinate and develop.
I'm a huge towns fan, but I've found myself gravitating towards okafor as the process wears on. I honestly don't care, though. #2 pick FTmfW.
Eh. Does Towns not have a left hand? If he tried those shots against an NBA big they'd get thrown into the stands. Okafor definitely does seem more fluid in the post an around it.
I think Towns is the better overall player who would be able to do more production-wise but I think Okafor would help Kobe play better more as Okafor would run the post and Kobe can revert to being more of a jump shooter and not have to waste so much energy and risk getting injured trying to drive into the lane.
Jahlil Okafor is often compared to Al Jefferson, which is pretty accurate. But here's where a major difference lies between the two, which is good for us. Footwork. Jahlil has quicker feet and better balance in the post than Big Al does RIGHT NOW. Once Okafor gets stronger and quicker, and sheds his baby fat, he's gonna be a guy that can play in this league a long time. Here's a video of Big Al doing work. Notice his footwork compared to Okafor's now.
also, has big al ever executed moves like the gifs randle posted above? I can't remember it. I would like to see okafor get stronger with his off hand, though. he seems to want to put that ball in the right paw regardless of circumstance.
