Draft Thread 2018: LA Has The #25 & #47 Overall Picks... And #39 Now

I don't mind trading this pick if we can, but I have a feeling they're going to use the pick or trade down depending on who has been taken.

If DiVincenzo, Huerter, or Robinson are there at 25, I think they probably go with one of them.

If all three are off the board at that point, try to trade back with maybe Atlanta for the #30 and #34. You might be able to leave with something like Anfernee Simmons or De'Anthony Melton, Jacob Evans, and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk which would be an amazing draft.

Personally, I've sort of got my heart set on Huerter even if I think he may be more Korver than Klay. He's multi-talented and I've watched a decent amount of footage on him. He tends to play with a lack of urgency, but he often saw plays before his teammates did. He passes a LOT better than people give him credit for. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he turned into a Kuzma-like steal at 25 if he's there which I'm not at all sure of.

The Lakers could walk away from this draft with another couple of real steals and since there's no clarity on the Deng situation just yet, they're best served just doing the best they can in the draft. If they nail the draft again, maybe the other kids become more movable or maybe the kids we draft become movable at some point during the season for a Kawhi deal.

Either way, I hope you guys have been reading the blurbs I've been doing on these kids. I hope they're at least a little helpful.

 

Not at all. Korver has had an amazing career. Hell he was an All-Star one year.

I'm just saying, my expectations are lower than Klay even though their jumpers are really similar.

 

Poor kid.

 

I'm with Pete on this one. DraftExpress absolutely loves the guy after a great showing he put on late in the European season, but I see some red flags that make me hesitant at the end of the 1st round. He's prone to laziness and isn't careful with the ball (in shot selection and in passes). His off-the-dribble game is definitely impressive though. He loves that hesitation move and it works for him because of how well he can pull up off the dribble. To me, he's a 2nd rounder you take and groom up a bit, teach him better technique and then in a year or two he'll be a dangerous bench guard.

 

Probably my last Big Board, but I'm burying myself in the draft in order to stay sane with the Kawhi/LeBron/George articles.

I've watched hours of footage on these kids. Re-watched a lot of games, looked into what they're good at, what they need work on. I've tried to think about what their most translatable NBA skills are and how they'll fit in. I'll try to keep explanations short on why I have them ranked this way, but just to give an idea. This isn't a mock draft. I've decided I have no idea what teams will do and trying to predict what they'll do is just impossible, especially in this draft when movement is expected to be high. This is just the kids as I see them in terms of what they bring and how good they can be.

1. DeAndre Ayton- He's a classic with no major health flags. You'd like him to be more defensive oriented, but the hope is you can coach that into him. He projects as a 20+/10 guy who can get up to 2/3 assists and 1/2 blocks per game in his prime. He could be a Pat Ewing. This is a no-brainer and I've called it from the start.

2. Mohamed Bamba- A little less skilled offensively with less of the impressive frame of Ayton, but smarter and more defensively oriented. In his prime I think Bamba can be Mutombo with a jumper. He projects as a 15/12 with 3 blocks kind of guy. More points maybe if he can knock down shots.

3. Jaren Jackson Jr.- Perfect skill-set for the current NBA: long, athletic, defensive oriented, but with a jumper. DraftExpress points out he compares physically to LaMarcus Aldridge, but with more agility and a better outside shot. Smart kid and I expect him to do well. Career starter in the league.

4. Luka Doncic- I've never been as high on him as all the mocks that had him at #1 all year long, but he's a talented young man. He shows heart and a desire to win mixed with an impressive skill-set. I have questions about his ceiling given somewhat limited athleticism, but he's a career starter. Could excel in the right place.

5. Marvin Bagley III- He's fallen a bit for me as I struggle to see where he fits in. He was born with tremendous physical talent, but struggles with the little things (box-outs, footwork, etc). I wonder if he "gets it". Something about him smells like Thomas Robinson to me, but if he figures it out he's a career starter as well.

6. Trae Young- Maybe the most skilled guard in the draft, the opposite of Bagley III: he has limited physical gifts, but a great head for the game. I was on him from the beginning when most mocks had him as a late lottery pick, he was among my top choices. If he can figure out the angles in the pros, he's a star.

7. Wendell Carter- He's growing on me after listening to his interviews. He knows his strengths and weaknesses well and brings some classic size with a modern twist. He's got a great floor as a Marcin Gortat type of big man, but could end up better than that.

8. Michael Porter- Has trouble reading the game and has gotten by mostly on his terrific, natural scoring ability. He's a much bigger kid than he looks (6'11"), but has major, major health flags that push him down my list. If things all fall perfectly, he's a bigger Danny Granger. If they don't, he's a sad afterthought.

9. Mikal Bridges- Really opened my eyes in his last season with Villanova. He profiles as a versatile forward, the kind every team dreams about. His ceiling might not be wildly high, but I've heard he blows teams away in interviews. He's got "solid career" written all over him in an Iggy kind of way.

10. Miles Bridges- I was never wildly high on Miles because his physical profile before this year was a question. He was too heavy to be a three, but not tall or long enough to be a four. He answered some of those questions, but he's a natural ball player. I've got a feeling he ends up a bench player on a great team eventually.

11. Kevin Knox- Young kid with tons of tools. He's a little lost in the headlights right now, but teams like his earnestness and his natural talents. He's a hard one to predict because he doesn't look great right now, but this is a project pick that could turn into a stud later on if it clicks.

12. Collin Sexton- Relentless attitude in the Westbrook ilk. He lacks a great feel for the game and often will force the action and take bad shots, but he wants to win like few others. He's the kind of guy that's hard to bench given how hard he works. He's got all the tools, he just needs to be pointed in the right direction.

13. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander- I've seen some scouts saying he could be the best guard in the draft given his demeanor, size, and developing skill set. I'm not sure I see that. I think he's a starter in the same way Elfrid Payton was a starter (not same skill-set, but same production). Might be best as a stud off the bench.

14. Lonnie Walker- He's got tremendous tools. He's 6'6" in his shoes with great length and untapped athleticism. He interviews well and comes across thoughtful and earnest. He wasn't aggressive enough in college, but if you can mold him, this kid can be an absolute stud. This is the kid who in year three is an All-Star with teams wondering how they missed out. Or he's a kid who floats around in year four as teams wonder what happened to him.

15. Kevin Huerter- The best shooter in the draft, maybe the last few drafts. He tends to be complacent at times, but his feel of the game is extremely underrated. He's a very good passer as well as shooter and when he's engaged, he's a starting caliber NBA player. I'm thinking Kyle Korver, but he aspires to be Klay Thompson.

16. Robert Williams- Wildly athletic with amazing tools. He's big, strong, and fairly mobile. He has a high floor, but I've seen some reports that question whether he actually cares much about the game. Still, at this point it's hard to pass up on a big man with his abilities and physical profile.

17. Zhaire Smith- The most speculative pick in the draft. Zhaire interviews extremely well and teams love his tenacity. He profiles as a Rodman-esque wing who works his tail off and has incredible athleticism with very little skill set. He's a project in some ways, but his activity level will earn him minutes right away.

18. Troy Brown- Intelligent, versatile, with a varied skill set. I think he needs to tweak his shot, but he's got solid ball handling ability and is mobile for his size. He aspires to be Andre Iguodala and he's not terribly far off from that. I don't see that skill level, but I love that he wants to be that guy.

19. Donte DiVincenzo- He's shown an increased awareness on the floor. Keep in mind this guy barely started in college ball for Nova before having the game of his life in the Championship game. There's some questions about consistency, but the skill set is definitely there. I think he's likely a long-term bench guard with spot start ability, but definitely an NBA player.

20. Mitchell Robinson- The biggest question mark in the draft. Early reports of promises I believe were made up to inflate his value, but his skill set is intriguing. He held his own against the best bigs in the country before the college season started. Wildly athletic with hints at a jumper and a defensive mind set. Roll the dice.

21. Jerome Robinson- Microwave scoring ability, but a cerebral player as well. He knows his strengths and has heaps of confidence. He's built well to be a SG/SF in the NBA and has the skills to start. He gets careless and his confidence burns him at times, but he's flying up draft boards.

22. Aaron Holiday- Might honestly deserve to be higher, but his physical limitations make nervous. If he was 6'4", he's a starter in the NBA, but he's pushing 6' tall. He has great length, good shooting ability, and a great head on his shoulders. He'll make some team happy as a great bench leader.

23. Kieta Bates-Diop- Versatile wing who came on last season in college ball. Showed flashes of shooting ability, but has the tools to defend from 2-4 in the NBA. He's a career wing in the same vein as Wilson Chandler.

24. Chandler Hutchison- A small school hero, I know there's a lot of fans that love him, I'm not really one of them. I don't think he has a great feel for the game and tends to play with blinders on. Solid on the drive, inconsistent from outside, and inconsistent defensively. I know he'll go in this range.

25. Jacob Evans- Didn't test well with the Lakers, but showed good three and d ability in college. He looked a little average at the Combine, but I like his tools and mentality. He might slide to the 2nd round and I'd love to take him there. Probably a bench wing.

26. Anfernee Simons- I've seen him plummeting in mocks and I think it's due to his immaturity. Not that he's a screw up, but he's naive a bit and just too young to really "get it". Teams taking him see the depth of this year's wing class and don't want a project in the first. Terrific tools though and worth a flier late.

27. Khyri Thomas- I'm still on the Khyri train although it seems most are getting off. I love his defensive ability, quick hands, and switch ability from 1-3. He came in smaller than people hoped which will drive his stock down, but he showed skills in college that will translate. Possible starter, likely solid bench player.

28. Moritz Wagner- A college darling that people don't think will work well in the pros. I think he'll be fine and could end up a starter in the NBA. He's a good shooter, has good rebounding instincts, and puts effort into running the floor. I could see Golden State taking a shot at him and turning him into a stud.

29. De'Anthony Melton- The more I see, the more I like, but he took a year off. Hard to really gauge his preparedness. He's got great tools and a great mindset for defense and doing the little things. He's a solid combo guard prospect that could be a starter on a bad team, but probably a bench player on a good one.

30. Elie Okobo- Good tools as a bench scoring option, he remind me a bit (in terms of role) of guy a Patty Mills type. He can start in case of injury, but probably best as a bench player who can come in with the green light to go out and create shots.

31. Josh Okogie- Flirts with the first round due to his versatility, but to me he's a poorer version of Jacob Evans. He could maybe be a solid piece, but he could easily flame out as well. If he finds a good home, he can be a spark off the bench type of wing.

32. Gary Trent Jr.- I absolutely loved Gary Trent early in the year, even comparing him to a young Klay Thompson. I was wrong. He showed a lack of urgency all year long. He has tools to be competent in all facets, but can you really teach drive? Could be OJ Mayo or he could just be OJ Mayo.

33. Omari Spellman- Looked tremendous in college and played pretty well at the Combine, but his workouts must have turned teams off. He's plummeting down most boards after being projected a late 1st. Short for a big, but a good rebounder, good shooter, and solid rim protector.

34. Jalen Brunson- Love his drive and desire to win, don't love his skills for the NBA. He often overpowered weaker college kids with his stout body, but he won't do
that in the pros. Can he adjust? Will his other skills translate? If so, he's a career player just given his mental makeup.

35. Dzanan Musa- A European darling, I'm not as high as others. He can score in Europe with the best of them, but he's got an awkward build for the NBA. He's slim and often hunched over. I have a feeling NBA players punish him often and early. If he figures it out, he's a bench scorer.

36. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk- One of my favorites. He has a better all-around game than people give him credit for. He makes the right plays more often than not and is craftier than most realize. If he's available at 47, I'll be shocked if he's not the Lakers' choice. Physical limitations keep him out of the first round for sure.

37. Javon Carter- Small, but strong with a great, attacking mentality, Carter really showed out at the Combine. His mature game and bulldog mindset make him 100% a draft pick on Thursday. I don't know if he'll ever be anything more than a bench guy, but he'll be great for locker rooms and culture building.

38. Rawle Alkins- Another one of my favorites, I think Alkins has a tremendous skill set. He's crafty getting to the basket and hits catch-and-shoot threes at a solid clip. He's built strong and has the tools to defend wings in the pros. He lacks consistency though and has a lot of growing to do.

39. Grayson Allen- He's got a lot of NBA skills with an NBA body and frame. I think the attitude issues are somewhat overblown and in the past, but what's more concerning his lack of defensive abilities. He's probably an NBA player, but I'm not sure I want him.

40. Raymond Spalding- He flew up my board after I looked into him a little more. Impressive defensive versatility. He looks like a more modern version of our old
3rd string bigs in Powell and Turiaf.

41.Landry Shamet- Was horrendous in the Combine and really scared teams by not being able to handle NBA caliber defense. He's on the thin side with solid length, but underwhelming athleticism. He's a good shooter, but there's major concerns on the defensive end and in creating shots for others.

42. Brandon McCoy- Wildly lazy, his natural gifts won't be enough for him to have a long career in the NBA. When he's engaged, he's a damn solid Center, but when is he ever engaged? Could end up being a non-entity or could carve out a solid Hassan Whiteside-esque career.

43. Shake Milton- Another Combine disappointment, Shake was once thought of as a late 1st rounder given his size and skill level. He has the exact same limitations as Shamet: ability to create and defend are huge question marks. His length is still very interesting and could be a high upside play late in the draft.

44. Tony Carr- Solid mentality and a mature outlook. I don't love his effort defensively and I wonder how he fits in at the NBA level. Can he be more of an off-ball threat? I think he's a solid steal in the mid-late 2nd.

45. Rodions Kurucs- His name has floated around for a while on draft boards. Solid wing prospect, built like a twig. He has a natural looking jumper though and could be a steal. I honestly just don't have much information on him.

46. Isaac Bonga- I was really intrigued by this kid last summer, a little less so now. He's wildly big for a point guard, but also a little cumbersome as a result. He's a great draft stash though and could even get the call over to see if his game can translate in the G-League.

47. Devonte' Graham- I love his tenacity and I have a feeling he'll make me look bad for having him this low. Not a ton of great NBA tools, but tons of heart. I hope I'm wrong.

48. Bruce Brown- I'm sure a lot of folks will have him higher and Bruce will likely be higher, but after his injury there's just not much information out there on him. I'm not sure where he lands. He has really solid tools.

49. Kevin Hervey- He and Melvin Frasier are twins, but he's a little bigger than Frasier. Less mobile though. I'm not terribly high on him.
50. Melvin Fraiser- Showed alright game at the Combine, but I'm not sold on him. Has very limited potential in my opinion. Solid build though that teams like.
51. Trevon Duval- I just wonder if he has the IQ to play honestly. He's got solid tools.
52. Hamidou Diallo- He's got tremendous tools but I know he doesn't have the IQ to play at a high level.
53. Chimezie Metu- Okay tools, but again his mentality isn't always great. Needs to focus on the little things.
54. Jarred Vanderbilt- Solid profile, but not a ton of information on him. Definitely worth a late round flier.
55. Alize Johnson- A bit of a PF game built into a SF, but he's a tank out there. I could see him outperforming this draft slot easily.
56. Kostas Antetounmpo- A complete shot in the dark. Kostas shows some intriguing tools, but almost no polish whatsoever.
57. Justin Jackson (Maryland)- Showed pretty good tools before his injury. Sort of a shot of faith here on character and work ethic.
58. Allonzo Trier- See Trevon Duval, but Trier proved he doesn't have a good feel for the game.
59. Arnoldas Kulboka- Better than I expected on film, but not good enough to really warrant a ton of attention.
60. Kenrich Williams- Interesting skill set enough to get drafted. Reminds me of a less talented Boris Diaw circa his chubbier days.

Notable players outside my Top 60: Udoka Azubuike, Zach Lofton, Deng Adel, , DJ Hogg, Wenyen Gabriel, Devon Hall, Caleb Martin, Cody Martin, Billy Preston, Theo Pinson, Jaylen Adams, and Marcus Derrickson.

I especially expect us to make runs at Billy Preston and Udoka Azubuike if they don't get drafted so the Lakers can get a look at that athletic big man they want. Wenyen Gabriel also apparently crushed his Laker workout and really put himself on their radar. I wouldn't be surprised at all to find him on our Summer League team if he doesn't get drafted.

 

For me it has to be college performance first just because that's their largest body of work. After that, I'd say team specific workout has a slight edge over the Combine although those two are real close.

I think the Combine is really important to see how these guys deal with their first taste of NBA caliber defense and speed and what kind of skills they exhibit there. Sometimes in college a kid is either asked to just perform one way (Julius) so you lose sight of some of their talents or the extra space really helps their game (Kuzma).

But in individual workouts you're going to see two things that I value a lot: how the kid approaches each experience and of course what those kid's best attributes look like up close. I really want to see how these kids attack and perform in practice. Every practice should be about improving and working hard. It shouldn't just be a "go through the motions" type of thing which you'll get sometimes. And of course if a kid is supposed to be a shooter, he needs to show me he can shoot in my gym (Jacob Evans I'm looking at you!).

 

No more workouts planned

 

I think the Lakers are planning on using this draft pick which will disappoint a lot of fans, but I'm looking forward to it.