D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Opted In!

I think it has more to do with the PGs in the West. The game is changing (or the flavor of the month changed) and we are adapting.

 

Look I'm really entertained by how Smith expressed his displeasure at New York and Jackson. It's just comedic theater how he conducts himself. Now Smith may be given to hyperbole but if he reports that multiple NBA personnel evaluators are saying that Russell is a special player then I am intrigued. Only time will tell...if it is indeed a smart pick. I really can't formulate an opinion until I see him play.

 

Yep, Legler and Rose have praised the pick... Legler is normally a cynic...with an old-school mentality. Does not cater to flash, no bs stuff.

 

Ah ok, I get you now. I was genuinely asking what your main point in that post was, my brain is fried from today (and I literally was drinking during the draft lol) and I could not read it and sort it out properly for some reason. I agree Stephen A is over the top comedy (Kwa-May BROWN), and that if people he talked to did gush about Russell that is interesting. You're absolutely correct, only time will tell if Russell was worth the risk, not only with how he plays the next few years, but also how Okafor plays in that same time. I'm not expecting an Oden/Durant situation here or anything close to it, but if Russell turns into the PG we've been looking to find for a decade, and Okafor is indeed exposed on defense or has trouble with the speed of the NBA game, the pick will end up looking smart. If Russell is just another middle of the pack guard and Okafor dominates, it's gonna be the painful 'one that got away' for a long, long time.

 

GREAT read on the Russell pick courtesy of SI's Lee Jenkins:

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/06/26/la...draft-jahlil-okafor-mitch-kupchak-kobe-bryant

 

^@Weez yup...in the back of my mind, the possibilities you related are real. Okafor's game is polished, solid and he has a good mindset. Everyone though is high on Russell. If he can overtake a player of Okafor's stature, then there could be something there.

 

One thing I wanted to point out in this article that I thought was interesting is when we brought Russell in for his 2nd workout he played a little 3 on 3 with some guys and one of them was Robert Upshaw. And now we know Upshaw got an agreement from us to be on our Summer League team. I can't wait for what the future will be!

 

^Those accounts from practice reminds me of how Rambis once said that playing with Magic Johnson, you better be looking out with your hands in a catch ready position or you would have Spalding tattooed on your face.

 

The security guard where I work had his radio on following local reactions to the pick. Mostly positive he says from callers...

 

Finally read where Lee Jenkins wrote on Russell... he says we're embracing the future and moving into the small ball era. *sigh*

At the same time Mitch said that if Shaq or Wilt or Kareem were there, they'd have taken him. So I think we ARE moving into the new Era but only because we think Russell is the best player we could get.

I can love with that. If these guys see it, I'll believe em. I'm feeling better about this pick by the minute.

 

So, we picked the most skilled guy in the draft, although he's a guard... he has superstar potential, great vision and shoots well from long range. I am very excited to see what our new backcourt can do. They are both combo guards, but Russ is more of a 1, while Clark is more of a 2, so they should work well together. Randle is apparently vowing everyone right now and he's fully recovered. Let's try to make a push for LMA to add another vet with Kobe/Swag and we should have a very, very exciting season.

 

Been looking around reading draft grades for us, looking for some positive stuff to post for the guys here that are bummed and really down on not taking Okafor. Here's a couple I came across first.

Bleacher report http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-grades-full-team-by-team-report-cards/page/3

Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ews-rumors-mock-draft-top-prospects-analysis/

It's not that bad, I don't see a very many people saying we made a huge mistake we will regret for years. In fact I haven't really seen anyone saying that at all.

 

Very good personality with solid skills and excellent vision but I think the Lakers went for the hollywood glitz.

I think he is athletically too limited to be a superstar in the NBA and his defense has been awful from what I have seen because next to limited athleticism, he isn't a hustler either. Thats my opinion. Hopefully he will prove me wrong.