Do the Julius dance. Make your off-season predictions here:

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by sirronstuff, May 12, 2016.

  1. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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  2. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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  3. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    It's one thing to take Porzingis ahead of Mudiay. It's another to take Bender ahead of Ingram. There are people who think the two of them (Simmons and Ingram) are the two best players outside of Anthony Davis to come out of college in the last 10 years. And they are both sfs...a position of need. I can see us trading the pick if it's for PG13, but unless Simmons or Ingram "Shaun Livingstons" their knee, we will get whoever Philly doesn't.
     
  4. Lakers2015

    Lakers2015 - Lakers Starter -

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    We would've taken Bender in all likelihood if we had gotten #3, but we didn't. Taking whoever Philly doesn't is locked, signed, sealed, and delivered. This is the easiest draft choice in years.
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2016
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  5. Battle Tested20

    Battle Tested20 Moderator Staff Member

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  6. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Very good read. I've seen posters on here dismissing Bender, but Mitch went and watched him personally. I think he's a dark horse candidate for the #2 pick, especially if the Lakers think they can get DeRozan in FA.

    Now obviously he'd have to really breakout in workouts. He's going to have to show the Lakers something they haven't seen or expected yet. Still, he's got a shot even if it's a small one.
     
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  7. Lakers2015

    Lakers2015 - Lakers Starter -

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    I'm dismissing Bender because he's nowhere near as good as Ingram or Simmons. I know Mitch went and scouted him, but I liken that to doing due diligence and protecting yourself in case you get #3. They also reportedly love Ingram as well. DeRozan shouldn't have any impact on what we do in the draft because both guys play different positions. He's a nice player, but Ingram and Simmons are potential superstars. You don't pass on that under any circumstances.
     
  8. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Have you seen Bender play? Why are you just assuming he's not a potential superstar? People said the same of Porzingis last summer. I'll trust NBA scouts and people involved in the NBA who have seen him play and know what kind of talent he has. He may not be as good as Simmons or Ingram, but he still deserves a look and it's certainly too early to be dismissing him off-handedly.
     
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  9. Lakers2015

    Lakers2015 - Lakers Starter -

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    What does Porzingis have to do with it? Just because he's European seriously? The drop off after 1 and 2 is huge. Last year the drop off was minimal between 2-4. Just because Porzingis burst onto the scene doesn't mean the same thing is gonna happen this year in what's basically a two player draft. You don't make that kind of reach when you're at number two. Yeah I trust scouts too and I haven't seen anyone say he'll go #2. Nobody has anyone, but Ingram or Simmons going in the top two.
     
  10. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    It isn't about being European, it's about being international. NBA teams (and fans like us) simply do not have enough exposure and therefore knowledge to conclusively state (like you did) that he's not a superstar. It's a conclusion that you cannot afford to jump to just like everyone did last season with Porzingis and to a lesser extent Mudiay who played in China. Nobody has projected him at #2, but both the Sixers and Lakers have expressed interest in him meaning he's worth a look at both those spots. I said he's a dark horse to be taken at #2 and that's 100% accurate. Mitch Kupchak when asked said that this is far more than a two person draft and I think he knows more about it than either of us.
     
  11. alam1108

    alam1108 - Lakers Legend -

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    If we were drafting 3rd, I would have wanted Bender just for his name.
     
  12. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    What if his first name was Mind?


    :Mindblown:
     
  13. Battle Tested20

    Battle Tested20 Moderator Staff Member

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    Would be awesome and we would need to draft him just for his name.
     
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  14. KareemtheGreat33

    KareemtheGreat33 - Lakers MVP -

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    or Gender
     
  15. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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  16. KareemtheGreat33

    KareemtheGreat33 - Lakers MVP -

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  17. ZenMaster

    ZenMaster - Lakers All Star -

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    Bender is going to be a bust.

    And yes, I've seen him play. Multiple times.
     
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  18. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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  19. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    I'm convinced more than ever

    [​IMG]

    I think we draft him over Hield, and since we are signing a Max level SF, we don't take Ingram if available. If available, I think we still find a way to get Bender and an additional asset/pick by trading down.

    In addition to my original post, I would now seriously consider Noah along with Horford as the FA Center we pick up. I Expect Bender to take a couple of years to start to come into his own, and those guys both have enough tread left on the tires to get us from A to B.
     
  20. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    @sirronstuff now that I know you're serious about Bender, I'd like ask you a couple of things

    1. In the post above you say "since we are signing a max level SF...." The draft comes before free agency, so what happens if we strike out on all the max level guys? We're left with Bender, who you acknowledge will take a couple of years to develop, and the rest of our kids.

    2. In your opinion, what is the floor/ceiling of Ingram and Bender? And what type of immediate impact do you expect from those two?
     

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