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So Karl Anthony-Towns is the only lottery pick that isn't going to workout for the Lakers, T'Wolves, Knicks, and Sixers ?
Lakers OFF-SEASON IS A WRAP
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No I read somewhere that the Lakers were suppose to meet up with him sometime this week.
I think his agent didn't want him to workout for anyone but he was saying he felt like he needed to. So we shall see I guess
It would look kinda back tho if he was the only top prospect that didn't workout for anyone, either us or minny.
I think his agent didn't want him to workout for anyone but he was saying he felt like he needed to. So we shall see I guess
It would look kinda back tho if he was the only top prospect that didn't workout for anyone, either us or minny.
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Nope, just visiting the T'Wolves and Lakers per reports. I think his workout in LA was enough. 
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If the Lakers don't end up drafting Okafor or KAT.
Man I'm seriously going to be PISSED.
I mean you just don't pass up on these bigs for a point god like Russell or Mudiay.
Man I'm seriously going to be PISSED.
I mean you just don't pass up on these bigs for a point god like Russell or Mudiay.
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Jahlil and "defensive highlights" in the same sentence
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Lakers floated a rumor of taking Russell at 2 and Okafor then immediately changed his tune on working out.
Pretty much want to see him one more time before they pick him.
Pretty much want to see him one more time before they pick him.
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I said this in the mock draft thread... But I should bring it here.
I get why people have reservations about Okafor... Defense / Fit... I think the fit will end up being fine once he and Randle work together. It'll be shaky at first, but what new thing isn't. Randle doesn't seem like the guy who is set in his ways, and wouldn't work on all aspects of his game. I think the fact that JO has shed some weight his defense will improve. Him knowing where his flaws are is a big first step. Also add to the fact that if you just get him to give effort on D, he will looks worlds better. He was very lazy on defense. Whether it was to prevent from getting fouls or not, the laziness was evident. If you can get him to buy in on giving a bit more effort on defense, there's no reason to think he can't be an average defender.
But drafting Russell is a huge risk, and if you do the reward has to be great in order for you to rebuild from up & coming team to contender.
Okafor will produce Year 1 offensively. On one side of the ball, he's going to give you his numbers. That side he's ready.
If Russell, who has issues on defense, especially if he plays minutes at the 2, is not a Superstar on offense, then you screwed up royally. And set yourself back a ways.
That risk is too great. Maybe Russell becomes a Superstar. Maybe! But even if he does, Okafor will be a solid player. You never know who ends up far exceeding expectations.... You have to let the board come to you, and getting the second pick means you take the Big.
I get why people have reservations about Okafor... Defense / Fit... I think the fit will end up being fine once he and Randle work together. It'll be shaky at first, but what new thing isn't. Randle doesn't seem like the guy who is set in his ways, and wouldn't work on all aspects of his game. I think the fact that JO has shed some weight his defense will improve. Him knowing where his flaws are is a big first step. Also add to the fact that if you just get him to give effort on D, he will looks worlds better. He was very lazy on defense. Whether it was to prevent from getting fouls or not, the laziness was evident. If you can get him to buy in on giving a bit more effort on defense, there's no reason to think he can't be an average defender.
But drafting Russell is a huge risk, and if you do the reward has to be great in order for you to rebuild from up & coming team to contender.
Okafor will produce Year 1 offensively. On one side of the ball, he's going to give you his numbers. That side he's ready.
If Russell, who has issues on defense, especially if he plays minutes at the 2, is not a Superstar on offense, then you screwed up royally. And set yourself back a ways.
That risk is too great. Maybe Russell becomes a Superstar. Maybe! But even if he does, Okafor will be a solid player. You never know who ends up far exceeding expectations.... You have to let the board come to you, and getting the second pick means you take the Big.
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Looking further into Khris Middleton has me really intrigued about him.. But he said he wants to stay in Milwaukee and Milwaukee said they would match all offers..
Damn you Milwaukee, had they kept Knight.. We'd have a legit shot at Brandon Knight or Khris Middleton.. They wouldn't have max out both of them, and that's why Brandon Knight was dumped for MCW.
Damn you Milwaukee, had they kept Knight.. We'd have a legit shot at Brandon Knight or Khris Middleton.. They wouldn't have max out both of them, and that's why Brandon Knight was dumped for MCW.
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I'd feel better about Russell if free agency was simultaneous.
Having a deal with DeAndre already in hand would ease my concern about Russell big time.
Without that deal, Okafor might be the safer route.
But hell with all that, let Minny take him, we'll take Towns, everyone's happy.
Having a deal with DeAndre already in hand would ease my concern about Russell big time.
Without that deal, Okafor might be the safer route.
But hell with all that, let Minny take him, we'll take Towns, everyone's happy.
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I'd feel better about Russell if free agency was simultaneous.
Having a deal with DeAndre already in hand would ease my concern about Russell big time.
Without that deal, Okafor might be the safer route.
But hell with all that, let Minny take him, we'll take Towns, everyone's happy.
I still wish Free Agency was first like the NFL does it.
It makes so much more sense to build your team through FA then know who you need to draft.
Or do a couple of weeks of FA, so all the big fish are off the board, then you get to the deeper levels of building a team. Young players in the draft & role players.
And say Gasol or Jordan was with it to come to the Lakers, then I could get behind Russell at # 2.
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why would the team with the #1 pick even need to use smokescreens?
unless their interest for towns is a smokescreen and they truely want okafor
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Leverage+power. U can say you'll take towns with every intention of taking okafor and make somebody below you, say the lakers....give up assets and take okafor #2 while bringing in a lil suttin.
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This thing is you are not trying to compete next year.
You're trying to build something that FAs say "Hey, they're one piece away, and I'm that piece."
If Okafor really is that guy after losing the weight then great grab him.
But to say we're going to draft a guy because his "floor is higher" than the other to me isn't what you should be doing with the #2 pick.
Russell has all the tools and has higher potential to be SPECIAL.
Conventional wisdom tells you that a big is preferred, I'm not so sure anymore that is the case in our situation.
I trust Mitch, is Jahlil is the guy I'm happy with it.
But if Russell is the guy, I go sign Ed Davis and go to war with a Wall/Beal-like backcourt for the next 5 years
You're trying to build something that FAs say "Hey, they're one piece away, and I'm that piece."
If Okafor really is that guy after losing the weight then great grab him.
But to say we're going to draft a guy because his "floor is higher" than the other to me isn't what you should be doing with the #2 pick.
Russell has all the tools and has higher potential to be SPECIAL.
Conventional wisdom tells you that a big is preferred, I'm not so sure anymore that is the case in our situation.
I trust Mitch, is Jahlil is the guy I'm happy with it.
But if Russell is the guy, I go sign Ed Davis and go to war with a Wall/Beal-like backcourt for the next 5 years
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I guess now isn't a good time to throw out the idea of this team possibly being top five bad again next season huh?
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Especially if Julius struggles in large stretches...
I wonder who Kobe prefers?
I wonder who Kobe prefers?
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Here's the thing. Jahlil has a great chance of being special as well.
The fact that he somehow got cast aside as if he at best can be average is a weird turn of events.
The fact that he somehow got cast aside as if he at best can be average is a weird turn of events.
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I think it's building ones stock and tearing another in the process. Last year at this time okafor for consensus number 1. We did the same with wiggins in the sense that we questioned how bad he wanted it.
I think okafor will be a great pro, I think towns will be better but again we need players, gimme okafor and we'll figure out the rest in FA
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Still enjoy that draft express has us taking 2 Centers and a PF/C in the draft... Because that's a good idea.
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Is this confirmed? With the new cap they could've maxed both if they wanted, no?
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They could have... But it's doubtful they would have.. Especially when you'd have to max out Giannis at an even higher number in 2017, if cap is $109mil, he'd be getting paid $25mil.
They are banking on MCW needing a bit of time, so they'll be able to extend him at a much cheaper #. And they got some other young guys in Plumlee & Ennis to hopefully be bench guys.
But having to max out Knight & Middleton now... Then taking some pieces to go further in the playoffs in 2016. Then 2017 having to max Giannis, and say Parker becomes what he was promised to be maxing Parker in 2018
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You'd need Randle to drop. #2 to drop. Clarkson to not improve. Kobe to go down again. Whoever they buy with the 20+ mil to bust.drop.
Just gets much tougher with actual better parts on the roster than the last two years. And those were loaded with "lucky" injuries. 3rd year in a row of that?
And keeping a top 3 is MUCH harder than what we did the past two years, so there wouldn't be a benefit this year, unless they go all the way, shut everyone down in mid November, we're winning 7 games this season no matter what, suck it Silver type tanking job. And that is quite unlikely.
And if they do try to pull Kevin Love..........
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This thing is you are not trying to compete next year.
You're trying to build something that FAs say "Hey, they're one piece away, and I'm that piece."
If Okafor really is that guy after losing the weight then great grab him.
But to say we're going to draft a guy because his "floor is higher" than the other to me isn't what you should be doing with the #2 pick.
Russell has all the tools and has higher potential to be SPECIAL.
Conventional wisdom tells you that a big is preferred, I'm not so sure anymore that is the case in our situation.
I trust Mitch, is Jahlil is the guy I'm happy with it.
But if Russell is the guy, I go sign Ed Davis and go to war with a Wall/Beal-like backcourt for the next 5 years
Low key disappointed when you traded away Russell in the mock draft thread
But you got rid of Swag and picked up a solid piece in Covington and 37th, while getting the dude we're projected to pick anyway. Props
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