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

OmarE · Jun 5, 2015

Savory Griddles · Jun 5, 2015

abeer3 said: ↑

they're all just fighting for stainbrook's sloppy seconds.
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I'm not sure there will ever be a time in history when anyone wants Stainbrook Sloppies.

JSM · Jun 5, 2015

therealdeal · Jun 5, 2015

Finally! Now we're talkin'...

ElginTheGreat · Jun 5, 2015

Second in a series of ESPN Insider articles on the top picks in the draft. Posted the one on Towns a few pages back. Again, a good read if you have an Insider account. A few quotes below...

Making the Case for being the No. 1 pick: D'Angelo Russell
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...30/nba-draft-making-case-no-1-dangelo-russell

Ask Russell who the toughest player he's ever had to play against and he skips high school altogether and names one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game.

"Playing with Chris Paul," Russell said. "He's a great dude. Being able to communicate with him on and off the court. Getting the knowledge that he brings. We were competing. He's made me a better player. And he's making me a better person."

It's the "We were competing" line that stood out. Competing with Chris Paul? "Yeah."

That would sound cocky except five other people that saw it in the gym the past week in Thousand Oaks said the same thing. Not better than Chris Paul. But competing.

Tell him he's unathletic and he calmly, after an on-the-court basketball workout and weight-lifting session, has the staff put up the vertical jump apparatus.

First jump. A standing vert. 30.5 inches. Not bad. O.J. Mayo, Andre Iguodalaand Jeff Teague measured the same in past draft combines.

Onto the max vertical where players get a three-step start. First jump. 37 inches. Very good. Russell Westbrook measured a 36.5-inch vertical at the combine.

He's not done. Russell wants to try again.

Second try. 37.5 inches. Brandon Knight hit that mark in 2011.

Now Karl-Anthony Towns is egging him on. All of us are gathered around. The competitive juices are flowing. Third jump. 39 inches. That's the number John Wall hit in 2010. John Wall.

He doesn't say anything as he walks back to the group. But the body language says everything. "Unathletic?"

Like I said, underrated.

.....

But what makes Russell an elite prospect worthy of the No. 1 pick in the draft is something that's hard to see in a workout setting like this. He sees the game, the floor and his teammates as well as anyone in the draft.

He might have the body and skills of a shooting guard. But he sees the game like a point guard.

"He asks the best questions," Don MacLean, a former NBA player says about Russell. "Most guys come in here and their questions are basic. He's asking graduate school questions. He constantly trying to figure out how to get an advantage."

In drills, he's obviously talented. But it's in the 5-on-5 that he shines.

"He's the most creative passer in the draft," one GM said. "He sees things developing before the rest of us do."

.....

The hardest thing to find in the NBA is scoring, virtually every GM will tell you. And Russell is the most versatile, lethal scorer in this draft.

"He's my favorite basketball player in this draft," one general manager said. "Maybe you have to take Towns because of his abilities at his size. But I don't think it's a given the way it was a decade ago, when Greg Oden went ahead ofKevin Durant. I think with success of Curry, Harden and Draymond Green, you'll see more guys focusing on skills and playmaking abilities. To have great size or jump-out-of-the-gym athleticism is great. But watch the most successful teams and you'll see they have talented playmakers who don't necessarily beat you with raw athleticism or size (LeBron's the exception to everything), but with knowing how to play the game. Bigs don't rule our game any more. Versatile guards do. And Russell is the best guard in this draft."
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JSM · Jun 5, 2015

New scouting report on a guy some mocks have us taking.

therealdeal · Jun 5, 2015

therealdeal · Jun 5, 2015

Not saying I want to pick him now, but DAMN that kid has some great genes... Also his head looks enormous...

JSM · Jun 5, 2015

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...for-the-los-angeles-lakers-ultimate-offseason

Ding's suggestions on the later 2 picks: package one or both of them for a proven, youthful talent at G -- Jennings, Stephenson

JSM · Jun 5, 2015

therealdeal said: ↑

Not saying I want to pick him now, but DAMN that kid has some great genes... Also his head looks enormous...
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If we were picking one pick later, he's my guy. Am looking forward to today's workout in front of Ford to at least quiet some of the buzz from the 3 on none workouts with WCS, KAT, Russell. It'll also be a good warmup for him for tomorrow's workout with us. I think he's going to be a stud whether he lands in Philly, NY, or teams f*** up and let him drop to 6 with Sac Town.

JSM · Jun 5, 2015

JSM · Jun 5, 2015

Emmanuel Mudiay has scheduled only two predraft team workouts so far: the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday and Minnesota Timberwolves on June 20 and possibly sooner, with the T’Wolves convincing the 6-foot-5 guard that he’ll be under serious consideration with the No. 1 overall pick, sources told RealGM.

Minnesota recently reached out to Mudiay and its front office laid out a vision for a roster with him, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine, sources said.
http://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...;-TWolves-Express-Consideration-For-No-1-Pick
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LaVarBallsDad · Jun 5, 2015

JSM said: ↑

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...for-the-los-angeles-lakers-ultimate-offseason

Ding's suggestions on the later 2 picks: package one or both of them for a proven, youthful talent at G -- Jennings, Stephenson
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I like Jennings. That's not a bad idea at all. However, he's coming off a torn Achilles.

therealdeal · Jun 5, 2015

JSM said: ↑

If we were picking one pick later, he's my guy. Am looking forward to today's workout in front of Ford to at least quiet some of the buzz from the 3 on none workouts with WCS, KAT, Russell. It'll also be a good warmup for him for tomorrow's workout with us. I think he's going to be a stud whether he lands in Philly, NY, or teams f*** up and let him drop to 6 with Sac Town.
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He definitely has my attention. I want him before Russell still and I've only wavered because of the absolute wave of positive Russell press coming out now thanks to Steph Curry's game.

Having a guard rotation with both Clarkson and Mudiay would be really fun to watch. I wouldn't take him before either big, but still a rock solid NBA prospect.

ElginTheGreat · Jun 5, 2015

RandleROFY said: ↑

I like Jennings. That's not a bad idea at all. However, he's coming off a torn Achilles.
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I am Jennings fan too, but it comes back to the thought of bringing in multiple guys coming off of big injuries.

lakerfan2 · Jun 5, 2015

JSM said: ↑

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...for-the-los-angeles-lakers-ultimate-offseason

Ding's suggestions on the later 2 picks: package one or both of them for a proven, youthful talent at G -- Jennings, Stephenson
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I'd do Young + 32 for Lance.

JSM · Jun 5, 2015

tada · Jun 5, 2015

Man this thread has come a long way... some of us (including myself) had Stanley Johnson at #3 lulz

ElginTheGreat · Jun 5, 2015

Not a a big fan of Lance Stephenson. Only a 17% three point shooter last season and struggled for playing time on a bad Hornets team.

LaVarBallsDad · Jun 5, 2015

ElginTheGreat said: ↑

Not a a big fan of Lance Stephenson. Only a 17% three point shooter last season and struggled for playing time on a bad Hornets team.
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Yeah, I wouldn't touch Lance.

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

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