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

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by LaVarBallsDad, Oct 14, 2014.

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  1. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

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    Ding is all over the place. I can't blame him because I am too. :(.
     
    LaVarBallsDad, Jun 25, 2015
    #5121
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  2. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Pretty much how I see it too although I'm not sure I love the idea. I think Okafor/Aldridge works just as well as Russell/Aldridge. Ding though indicates that Okafor had a really bad second workout and Russell had a great one.
     
    therealdeal, Jun 25, 2015
    #5122
  3. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I've championed the Okafor train, but like others have said... if they pick Russell it's because they see the star in him that I don't which is just as exciting as getting the guy I want. Not to mention they also think they've got a great shot at Aldridge, Gasol, or even Love or Jordan.
     
    therealdeal, Jun 25, 2015
    #5123
  4. lakerfan2

    lakerfan2 - Lakers All Star -

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    Man so weird, this is my current top 3

    Okafor - 50%
    Russell - 35%
    Towns - 15%

    Last week

    Okafor - 70%
    Towns - 25%
    Russell - 5%

    Russell's stock since the workout/interviews has really jettisoned my position on him.

    In Mitch I trust.
     
    lakerfan2, Jun 25, 2015
    #5124
  5. Kenzo

    Kenzo - Lakers All Star -

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    Can it be Love instead of LMA?
     
    Kenzo, Jun 25, 2015
    #5125
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  6. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    If Russell is a star Okafor is a superstar.
     
    tada, Jun 25, 2015
    #5126
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  7. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    therealdeal, Jun 25, 2015
    #5127
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  8. Doc Brown

    Doc Brown - Lakers Starter -

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    Very well could be. My belief is LMA, but any big fits that thought process right now.
     
    Doc Brown, Jun 25, 2015
    #5128
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  9. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

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    best scenario for me

    hopefully one of Aldridge, Monroe, or Gasol
     
    432J, Jun 25, 2015
    #5129
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  10. lakerfan2

    lakerfan2 - Lakers All Star -

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    COME HOME MARC. MEMPHIS AIN'T FOR YOU.

    Russell
    Clarkson
    Kobe
    Randle
    Marc
     
    lakerfan2, Jun 25, 2015
    #5130
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  11. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    therealdeal, Jun 25, 2015
    #5131
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  12. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    LOL at Dwyer. He expects us to have "assuredly" another high lottery year 2015-2016 and our pick from that which we won't have because we're not Cleveland retooling with #1s for the King's return. Don't let facts get in the way of your story though.

    Ball Don't Lie
    The Lakers could shake up the NBA draft, but the team's rebuilding has a long way to go
    [​IMG]
    By Kelly Dwyer22 hours agoBall Don't Lie

    [​IMG]
    .
    View photo

    Mitch Kupchak just put on his draftin' glasses. (Getty Images)
    To call the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision on Thursday’s NBA draft night the most important of its post-championship rebuild would be stretching things. For one, the team’s last championship took place half a decade ago, and this isn’t exactly some quick turnaround. Secondly, the team will most assuredly have a chance at another high lottery pick after potentially yet another miserable season in 2015-16. Lastly, what the team does with its substantial cap room in 2016 will have the most impact as the franchise moves on from the Kobe Bryant era. Hit or miss, it will be far more important than adding a youngster this week.

    [Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball]

    The Lakers’ No. 2 overall pick, however, could change the course of the 2015 NBA draft. If the team decides to pass on selecting Duke center Jahlil Okafor with that pick, the entire board will be thrown for a loop.

    Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and his boss, part-owner Jim Buss, don’t like to throw people for loops. They tend to make obvious, deliberate moves while hoping that the Laker brand takes care of the rest. The team’s last three coaches (and, we’re guessing, whoever eventually replaces the current one) have all been name hires that had worked to much acclaim elsewhere, and the coaching hire previous to that was even a former Laker coach just one season removed from his old job.

    The hire before that? Rudy Tomjanovich, the last available head coach to have won an NBA championship. Very famous.

    This (and the fact that Okafor could develop into a killer big man) is why the Lakers probably won’t take a chance on firebrand guard D’Angelo Russell, or shoot for the moon with what could be the next great international star in Kristaps Porzingis, leaving the next-in-line Philadelphia 76ers to wow us all again with the team’s audacity (be it via trade or single selection) in its unending rebuilding process.

    The Lakers’ stretch is running nearly neck in neck with those Sixers, we should remind you. The team’s stealth tanking project meant surrounding a returning-but-aging Kobe Bryant with a series of offensive-only types in 2014-15, leaving coach Byron Scott yet again to fumble his way around a roster that even the best NBA coaches couldn’t win with.

    Most of those players were working on contracts that expire on July 1, leaving Los Angeles with plenty of cap space this summer, but one has to wonder if the tank job might purposely (though no Laker executive would admit as much) carry on in Bryant’s likely final season in 2015-16. Leaving Byron Scott at the helm, let’s be honest here, helps in that regard.

    If the Lakers are testy, they will have options. Those options will likely have to wait until after June ends to evolve, however.

    http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-b...ebuilding-has-a-long-way-to-go-162233846.html
     
    LTLakerFan, Jun 25, 2015
    #5132
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  13. lakerfan2

    lakerfan2 - Lakers All Star -

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    If I could, I would punch Dwyer in the face if I saw him.

    I mean, just look at him.
     
    lakerfan2, Jun 25, 2015
    #5133
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  14. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I can't tell if this is all smokescreen or not... Part of me thinks this is legit and the Lakers really do like both guys tremendously and part of me thinks this is the Lakers now back to torturing the Sixers to try to get them to move up.

    Either way, I'm becoming more comfortable with the idea of Russell. I love Okafor, but if Mitch and Co. saw what I can't see in Russell, I'm fine with it. They saw him twice, Okafor twice, Mudiay and even Porzingis twice. I trust them to make the call. Not to mention I HAVE to think they have a shot at a great FA big man and that's why they're hesitating to take Okafor.

    To me, you take Okafor AND a big man in FA, but hey they've got a plan here. I couldn't be more excited for tonight!
     
    therealdeal, Jun 25, 2015
    #5134
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  15. unpossibl1

    unpossibl1 - Rookie -

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    If this is all smoke to get PHI to trade up...wow, impressive. That said I will not be disappointed with either Russell or Okafor, both are incredibly talented players.
     
    unpossibl1, Jun 25, 2015
    #5135
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  16. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Stopped reading at "Dwyer". Dude is a joke. Our pick is protected Top 3 next season and we don't have another one. The **** is he even talking about? I don't know because I won't read his stuff.

    [​IMG]
     
    therealdeal, Jun 25, 2015
    #5136
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  17. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Yeah I honestly can't see Russell translating as well as everyone else, but if Mitch sees it then who am I to doubt it? If this isn't serious and it's all just CRAZY smoke... then wow. Mitch really is playing chess with these dudes.
     
    therealdeal, Jun 25, 2015
    #5137
  18. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    This guy makes it seem like we've been in the lottery for half a decade, when 2 years ago we won 45 games. Can't wait to shut up these haters.
     
    tada, Jun 25, 2015
    #5138
  19. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    I agree with everything here. I am fine with taking Russell. I'd rather take Okafor, but Russell is a great pick too. Ding said Randle is beasting in summer workouts. Randle/Russell/Clarkson is a pretty sexy trio of young talent. Grab Upshaw at 27 as our rim protector. Russell has the potential to be the best player in this draft. Upshaw has the potential to be the best defensive center in this draft. If we walked out with those two to add to Randle and Clarkson, we may be 3-4 years away, but when that day comes, we could have 10 years of sustained success.
     
    Savory Griddles, Jun 25, 2015
    #5139
  20. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

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    It's not smoke. The Lakers could still take Jah, but Russell has made this a very serious debate within the Lakers front office. How do I know? John Ireland stating on his radio show the Lakers were 'divided' about 2 weeks ago at a Lakers dinner he attended; Bresnahan who's has tied in as anyone in the Lakers front office wrote 2 articles confirming what Ireland basically said.

    It's all good. We end up with Jah or Russell on a cost controlled rookie contract. By the way, not that it means anything, Elgin and I have been on record having followed Russell that the Lakers FO would love him. We said this 2 months back.
     
    LaVarBallsDad, Jun 25, 2015
    #5140
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