EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — As the Lakers contemplate whom to select with their prized No. 2 overall draft pick, meeting top prospects for get-to-know-you dinners before putting them through the predictable on-court workouts to gauge their skills, allow us to recall what longtime Lakers owner Jerry Buss used to say. When you're throwing around big words such as future cornerstone and franchise player, character counts. The Lakers dined with Jahlil Okafor on Monday night, and he might well be their pick over guards D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay, who already broke bread with Lakers officials and later went through drills and workouts, as Okafor will Tuesday morning. If the Minnesota Timberwolves opt for the all-around, modern-game talents of center Karl-Anthony Towns with the top pick, it would be shocking for the Lakers to pass up the most complete offensive big man to enter the NBA in years. Okafor, 19, is that good. Take what Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said about Okafor's character: To ESPN's Dana O'Neil: "He's smart; he cares. Get the list of intangibles, and he's got it." To The New York Times' Harvey Araton: "He's going to be a franchise player. And he's going to be a franchise person." To complete the backdrop, here's what Jerry Buss said about building champions back in 2006 when asked by the Casper Star Tribune and Casper Journal: "Everybody can see the skillful players, but the question is, 'Are you willing to wait until you find a skillful player with high character?' Because eventually, the character is what wins out on the court." The Lakers, looking back now on five titles fueled by the outgoing Kobe Bryant's personal drive, realize they must get more connected with whichever kid comes next. This draft pick could be the big move. Who knows what free agency will bring for immediate dividends, but there's a reason general manager Mitch Kupchak popped champagne in the Lakers offices after the lottery balls bounced the Lakers up to No. 2. Every rookie crop is different. But No. 2 once brought Kevin Durant. No. 2 in this draft is a guarantee of Okafor or Towns, which is why the Lakers aren't really sweating whether anyone projected to go in Nos. 5-8 is willing to come work out for them. No. 2 has already injected the organization coming off two miserable seasons with newfound hope. At a time when some around the NBA demean the Lakers for being behind the times in analytics, now they're going even older school in making sure character counts. It hasn't just been Kupchak dining with Okafor, Russell and Mudiay. Pretty much all of the Lakers' scouting department has been on hand—including Jesse Buss, director of scouting and part of the family trust that owns the team; Ryan West, assistant director of scouting; Glenn Carraro, assistant general manager; and Rondre Jackson, player development director. More eyeballs form more solid opinions of someone's character, an assessment that can come out in casual conversation and interaction. Russell said they mostly watched Game 2 of the NBA Finals during his dinner with Lakers brass. He didn't even feel the focus was on him, which is the best way to get a feel for a guy's true nature. This dinner-meeting protocol has not been a routine for the club, although it is worth noting Kupchak had a pre-draft dinner with Julius Randle, the 2014 No. 7 overall pick whom the Lakers remain high on in both talent and character. With Jordan Clarkson having jumped from the second round to the NBA All-Rookie team and Randle now going full bore on the court after his opening-night broken leg, landing the No. 2 pick has tilted the Lakers' scales from Bryant's farewell tour to optimism over the future. As the Lakers know from their recent past, it's not just one big break in any rebuild. It wasn't just Pau Gasol that changed their fortunes in 2008. There were lots of other pieces that fell in place—or, more accurately, were put in place by hard-working people with vision. The selection and development and motivation of Andrew Bynum. The willingness of management and the franchise player to accept the return of Phil Jackson. The re-signing of character-counts king Derek Fisher. Even little things such as finding contributors late in the draft such as Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic—or Marc Gasol, who allowed the Pau trade to happen. Many of those moves still need to be made for the Lakers to have real life after Kobe. But they believe they are finally moving forward—the lottery balls offering tangible proof that something good can happen to them. That's why they have to remember now to make sure this pick is someone good—in a greater sense. Jim Buss, executive vice president of basketball operations, is known to be sharp with numbers, like his father. But he differs some in that he hasn't joined these recent dinners, where the Lakers have mined the human element with the top prospects. Jesse Buss, Jerry’s youngest child but one with uniquely deep acuity when it came to the family patriarch, is at the dinner table with these top draft prospects. Jesse understands there is individual intangible to be grasped as he sits there, as does Kupchak from all those conversations when Jerry would cut through traditional logic with an incisive question from a different, personal angle. If Jerry Buss were still alive, he'd be a lot more interested in how impassioned Okafor feels about carrying on the Lakers' legacy and responsibility than how well he moves his feet to cover a high screen-and-roll right now. The Lakers would be wise to make sure they have someone to believe in here. Mudiay might be back soon for a second workout. Russell felt "a great vibe" in the time he spent sharing his understated confidence with Lakers officials, and he looked a lot like Manu Ginobili in black Nike Kobes during a workout that didn't even showcase Russell's gift for team play. Still, Okafor is the person who sounds tailor-made to join the Lakers' lineage, having told Chicago Magazine when he made his college choice that he was drawn to "the brand name of Duke, being part of that legacy." http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...r-destined-to-find-jahlil-okafor-an-ideal-fit
Wow awesome job by Ding there. You can really use any name to fill in the blank on Okafor too. It's about finding the kid that doesn't just want to be great, but wants to be a great Laker. It's about finding a kid that's not just talented, but driven and motivated to be the best in the league. If that's Russell or Mudiay, great. If that's Okafor or Towns, fantastic. I'm really going to trust the FO here... I want Okafor more than any other prospect, but if they leave this process and they feel like Russell or Towns or Mudiay is the guy, I'll believe them. They're doing some really great work here.
You could sub in the names of some of the others, but I think Okafor is in positing to be the highest character guy in the draft. He has a lot of the tells and indicators, then based on what his peers and coaches day about him, and finally in dealing with the loss of a parent so young. ..that sling shots you into adulthood whether you're ready or not.
I don't disagree that Okafor could be their guy. He's certainly the one I want. He's shown nothing but maturity, won at every level, has tremendous skill and upside, and he's only 19 freaking years old. He's not old enough to buy a beer! I'm all in on Okafor, but I'd understand if the FO thinks someone else might have that fire over him. I also find the timing of the article interesting. This came out after the guards made their way through and I don't remember them saying much about wanting to uphold our tradition. They said they wanted to win and they said they liked it here and they said they appreciated the history... but I don't remember either of them saying "this feels right" or "I would love to be that guy who picks up the slack" or "I want my name up on that wall".
Just the polish on his post game says a lot about his character and how good he wants to be. The reps it takes to get your game that smooth at such a young age...Towns is obviously the more physically gifted of the two, but Okafor seems like he has more drive to be great. He's not in the gym practicing his between the legs dunks. He's working on the monotonous repetitions of post moves. He's working on Plan A and Plan B and Plan C for when he gets in the post. I love both players. But my first choice is Okafor because he appears to be a number one option on offense and he seems less injury prone.
There's a lot of "I" in that sentence is the point I'm making. I could have missed it in their interviews, but I think Russell was the closest one to saying he would be really comfortable picking up the torch and carrying it forward.
Yeah. I wasn't disagreeing with what you said. That was just the only thing I remembered one of them saying about the team.
i'm with trd here, i trust whatever the FO does with this pick. they're clearly doing their due diligence and i LOVE that they're focusing on character. there have been plenty of freak athletes that amounted to nothing, but it's the high character guys with the tireless work ethic that become greats. I'm on the Okafor train, but i'll trust the plan of the FO if they choose to go with Russell/Mudiay.
I think so too. Okafor is very smart, well grounded and seems to be very articulate for a 19 year old kid. Towns seems happy and humble. There is something to be said about a person's happiness. When you're happy with your life you are less likely to fall into bad things and bad habits. Those two don't have the angst a lot of kids their age sometimes come with.
Okafor is not an attention seeking clown, not into looking flashy, not an overbearing teammate or thinking he's already accomplished [i.e. a "champion"]. He has a team first attitude on how he approaches matters. Okafor from what I have seen is not a plodding or slow reacting big on both ends. Methodical but controlled. I really hope the Lakers nab him... Okafor will be one heck of a cornerstone to build on. He'd start right away and probably average 15/8 on the LOW side. If not, I would be happy with Towns too. Mobility but not the mass of The Big Dookie. He has a fine skill set, just as coachable and better fit in today's faster tempo. Towns hits free throws too. That was an interesting bit of how Calipari ordered him to play in the post instead of relying solely on his perimeter game which by some accounts is quite good. He has developed into a well rounded player. If he does fall to us at Numero Dos, I still think acquiring a veteran at the 5 spot is a sensible move to mentor Towns and take some of the pressure off. Either choice...the Lakers are covered. Okafor as The Beast in the middle OR Towns as a springier, lively Gasol-type.
I liked what I've seen from Okafor. It looks like he is 2 years more mature than his age. Basketball wise I prefer Towns, but character does have more impact in the long run. So i'm looking foward to get to know Towns a little better. Maybe Okafor is the right choice.
I'm basically 50-50 right now between the two big guys. Towns intrigues me alot with his shooting. That touch is just insane. Probably a better shooter than AD, can block shots like AD, maybe as quick too. Monsterific both of these big guys.
Okafor is the man if you ask me. I wouldn't be totally against the Lakers picking up Towns, Russell or the big M but I'd be just a little disappointed. It's not just his size/skill I'm after but his attitude and approach to the game as well.
He seems to be into the high tech physical training big time. Motion capture suits .....all the cool stuff and techniques, where he is currently training. Reminds me a lot of Shaq in that regard.... ..... preparing physically early in career so that it lasts a long time with peak or near peak performance.
