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

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

  1. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    The only reason to take Jones is to make Okafor as comfortable as possible. Is that worth a roster spot? Because in terms of playing, he's not a NBA player. One of the most underwhelming starting point guards of any of the top tier collegiate programs. He is an awful decision maker. Not a good passer. Can't find his man. Can't read a defense. Drops his head and attacks, but with his size that won't work in the pros. The fact that he NEVER looked to pass on any of those drives, not even to their best player and his bff Okafor who was just standing there on the block, waiting for the bal.
     
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  2. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    I think George Lucas could be a very interesting long term investment. After that Kennedy article on him (which I recommend reading if you haven't), I did some digging/video watching of him and he looks promising. With that size, you can shape and mold the clay to what you want him to be as long as you're willing to wait 3 years.

    Christmas has a great motor. Saw a bit of him during the combine. Worth keeping an eye on in that 2nd round.
     
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  3. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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  4. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I like both prospects. Christmas reminds me maybe of a Thomas Robinson and he'd really really crowd our back court.
     
  5. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    I agree. It's why I feel packaging 27 and 34 to move up is something we have to really explore. #1, it gives us more options for that second pick, and #2 , it's one less youngin' to develop.

    Not sure about Asik though. He's gonna cost 9-10 million. I'd rather resign Ed Davis for 5-6 million. He likes it here and he'll be 26 when the season starts which is old enough. Not really sure about spending 10 million a year on a player who will be backing up Okafor within a season, if not right away. Not to mention he wouldn't come here if we draft Okafor (or Towns). Remember the stink he put up when he was in Houston and having to play behind Howard? He's not going to sign with a team knowing he'll end up the backup at some point. But I like Lin and Davis. Those two coupled with Kobe, Young and Carroll is enough veteran leadership I think.
     
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  6. SFGOLDRUSHER

    SFGOLDRUSHER - Lakers Starter -

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    Id love to package other two picks, swaggy, kelly, possibly even brown and black for another lottery or impact player.
     
  7. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Good point about Asik not wanting to be a backup, but paying 10 million for a 6th man type big man is not going to be unusual when the cap goes up next summer.
     
  8. SFGOLDRUSHER

    SFGOLDRUSHER - Lakers Starter -

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    Whats the thought of playing Davis/Black next to Okafor?

    Randle and Okafor just seem to small for my taste with the type of system we run and the bigs in the west. UNLESS Julius has bulked up to Griffins size which I highly doubt since last time I seen him on sports nation. I believe he comes off the bench this year.
     
  9. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    Like I said in the other thread, I'm not sure where you got this idea that Okafor is small. 6'11" 270 is huge. Towns is more of a pf than Okafor. Okafor would actually REALLY struggle at pf with today's breed of pf.
     
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  10. SFGOLDRUSHER

    SFGOLDRUSHER - Lakers Starter -

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    Sorry.. didnt use proper wording. I dont think he, his build or even plays small, just think its not as ideal for Randle and Okafor to be our 4/5. I want SIZE, LENGTH, making team sweat bricks to get in the lane and when were on offense we have the advantage against the opposing teams bigs.
     
  11. lakerfan2

    lakerfan2 - Lakers All Star -

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    LOL @SFGOLDRUSHER where are you getting this idea that Okafor is a PF?

    Okafor is 7'1 in shoes with a 7'5 wingspan, with a huge 270 lbs to clog the paint. He's as traditional of a Center as you're going to get in this draft.
     
  12. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    Wow that was awesome. Seeing a little older Randle battling a little younger Okafor. Makes me go crazy wanting to see Julius in the best condition of his life on the basketball court again. The swagger and skills are huge. And oh hell yeah.....Okafor wants to be here...... and he is going to be a stud, elite defender or not.

    So let me ask this of the body mechanics guys. I'm going to make an assumption. The level of athleticism and quickness Jahlil has shown thus far his career ...... can be IMPROVED? Right? He's only 19 for one thing. He's supposedly getting now for the Pros into the best, strongest and leanest condition in his life. Man muscles people say for BIGS don't peak for another4-5-? years. They will have drills and equipment and plyometrics...... s.o.t.a. training to "enhance" his quickness and explosiveness. Right? He might even grow another inch, that would be correct too, I think.

    I have a warm fuzzy feeling that with his and his agent's very overt campaign to dissuade MN from taking him ( and with his agent and Flip Saunders going back aways, that doesn't suck either) ...... that Okafor is OUR GUY.
     
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  13. SFGOLDRUSHER

    SFGOLDRUSHER - Lakers Starter -

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    Now that I made myself look like a fool... FOR THE RECORD, I thought he could play center but heard from so called "analysts" /laker fans id be more ideal to play him alongside a dominant big. So I guess I started shifting my thoughts a little on the roster.

    I was more than cool with playing him at Center because I honestly think he can hold his own against the other Cs wed have to go through in the playoffs.

    IMO i dont want to invest in a ten million plus backup big man, dont think thats great value. Ed Davis did a solid job against Gasol last year, anybody remember how he did against Howard/Bogut/DJ? Thats an ideal backup at 5-6 million.
     
  14. revgen

    revgen - Lakers 6th Man -

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    Towns' father is a basketball coach. That advantage, combined with 1 year of college will likely make Towns more prepared for professional basketball than Bynum was starting out.

    Bynum was a late bloomer. Very raw and unpolished. Overweight too. Didn't really emerge until his 3rd NBA season.
     
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  15. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    Bynum at least had a couple (I think) runs through Pete Newell's (and Stu there too) BIG Man camp prior to his first couple seasons in NBA. Too bad that's no longer around. (I think I think) Plus KAJ for his personal tutor, as much as he was willing to learn. Still pisses me off the puss never tried one sky hook EVER. For fear of screwing it up and being embarrassed or pissing Phil off. But was more than willing to fire up 3 pointers from time to time.
     
  16. revgen

    revgen - Lakers 6th Man -

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    Yep. Pete Newel told the LA Times that he'd never seen anybody improve so much as Bynum did. This was a guy who coached for 50+ years. So that's saying something.

    A coach's son like Towns probably won't be at such a disadvantage.
     
  17. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm on my phone so it's a pain to go into huge detail but short answers:

    1. I think Okafor can show modest improvements in vertical leap and lateral quickness.

    2. I think he could show great improvement in balance, overall speed, and agility.

    3. His size gives him a lot of advantages but I'd never expect him to be able to cover well on pick and rolls.
     
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  18. KobeJeterKaep

    KobeJeterKaep - Rookie -

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    Tyus Jones would be behind Clarkson/Mo or CLarkson/Rondo. Too young to crack the rotation this year, but a solid prospect.
     
  19. pound4pound

    pound4pound - Lakers Starter -

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    big chance we have both...life is good
     
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  20. Aonex

    Aonex - Rookie -

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    Here's hoping Jahlil gets a chip on his shoulder for being labeled a bad defender and a worse prospect than Towns.
     

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