Lakers OFF-SEASON IS A WRAP

[vindeezy]

@MoonMan818 right...I agree due diligence and lip service is a must...

He did look impressive in the workouts, looks to have a point to prove and there is no language barrier....but I'd just go with jah at 2 just to not put your own career at risk should porzingis br a 3 yr project or not pan out....but I see what ur sayin..

 

[okevonz]

Just watch some of Porzingis highlights, and he do look super impressive and i can see why the shout would have him drafted high. I haven't seen a 7 footer that shoots 3's like its nothing beside Dirk. 

 

[fun guy]

If we draft KP, we will need to be patient while he grows into his frame. Not such a bad idea considering next year is all about development. By the year after, we need to be hunting for rings with our young guns and all that cap space. We just have to hope the physicality of the league won't overwhelm KP and he never develops a post game. 

 

[youngwolf]

I hope Okafor just balls out and makes us forget we had to 'settle'

There is no "settling" by taking Okafor tho. There is a reason why he was the consensus number 1 pick until about a 8 weeks ago. He's no slouch. Dude is going to be a very good player in the league for a long time.

I'll admit that I, too, got caught up in the Towns hype, but the gap between them isn't that significant. I watched every Duke game and never came away thinking that Jah wouldn't be a great pro. I didn't watch many Kentucky games, but there were times where I didn't understand the Towns hype. I understand that has a lot to do with the way Kentucky operates, but swap the two players and Kentucky takes home the national title.

 

[pmatic]

 

[vindeezy]

^^pretty much. Take him and like it. If minny nabs him...take kat and love it. Either way, the position is shored up thru 2022(age 27 season)...A guard or a wing will come along, may be trancendent..may not be..but at least it's 1 less thing to worry about. 1 week and 2 days, yall..

Hopefully, the season ends tonight(for obvious reasons) and we can shift our attention 100% towards this draft and FA.

**crosses fingers that season ends tonight**

 

[essential1]

I'm wondering if Black gets traded during the season. He's a RFA in 2016, along with Clarkson.

It's going to cost us to keep Clarkson, and if Black puts up another 7 & 6 season, it will cost us to keep him as well. So we're looking at a scenario we'd be completely caped out come 2017, because with the $45mil we have in cap space in 2016, after spending all of that, we ended up putting $15-20mil into Clarkson & Black.

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

If we're building a decent team we're gonna be capped out eventually. Might as well put that money into known quantities

 

[licensed to ball]

Watching these NBA finals is making me feel somewhat open to passing on Okafor and taking Russell.

It's just a different game now...

 

[ValarMorghulis]

 

[tupac003]

Watching these NBA finals is making me feel somewhat open to passing on Okafor and taking Russell.

It's just a different game now...

Different game but look at the big men featured in these finals.

Tim cooked the previous two finals....

 

[ValarMorghulis]

You're talking about the GPFOAT tho... Is that Okafor? :\

I'm convinced Dunc is part cyborg.

 

[kal-el-8]

 

Watching these NBA finals is making me feel somewhat open to passing on Okafor and taking Russell.

It's just a different game now...

Different game but look at the big men featured in these finals.

Tim cooked the previous 18 years....

fixed. 

 

[licensed to ball]

Watching these NBA finals is making me feel somewhat open to passing on Okafor and taking Russell.

It's just a different game now...

Different game but look at the big men featured in these finals.

Tim cooked the previous two finals....

True, but:

1) Not every big is Tim Duncan
2) Tim has played solid defense his whole career
3) Tim has been able to play the 4 and the 5, so he's been able to adapt... Okafor is a 5 only, and one that can't really shoot or play defense. There's not much versatility

 

[tupac003]

I'm not high on Oakfor but I think he can be worked with and can be that guy.

Guard play is important, but guards are easier to get. More guards than bigs....

 

[ValarMorghulis]

That's the common saying but...


Is a guard as skilled and as talented as D'Angelo easier to get?

What more does he need to do to be considered a better option for the Lakers than Okafor?

 

[kingjaffejo]

We have Durant coming to free agency this upcoming summer with Westbrook the summer after that. Why would we draft a guard Russel/Mudiay when we can possible shore up the inside with Okafor and Randle.

 

[tupac003]

Not saying D'Angelo is a bad player or shouldn't be an option, but if you build that front line you can address guard play in the offseason. Westbrook comes to mind. But that's just me. Honestly I'm just glad we have this choice right now.

 

[CP1708]

Plan can go both ways.

Draft Russell, and sign DeAndre Jordan, you attempt to lure Durant with Russell, Clarkson, Randle, Deandre (and Durant slots in there nicely)

Draft Okafor and sign a Rondo type (or maybe Tobias) and lure Durant with Okafor, Randle, Clarkson, Rondo or Tobias, Durant still slots in there nicely.


Question is, which group/potential group looks like the best fit, with Durant in mind? Would he prefer Russell/DeAndre, or an Okafor/Rondo-Tobias pairing?

 

[licensed to ball]

I'm not gonna be mad we get Okafor, we weren't even supposed to get the 2nd pick so I'm grateful.

But since we can choose now, I favor Towns or an explosive Guard.

I don't agree with the notion that guards can be found easily, look at these scrub wingmen Ellington, Lin, Wes, etc... Whole bunch of one dimensional players who can't do much more than one thing

Someone like Russell can.
We need versatility, players like Draymond who can do more than just one thing are a dime a doZen these days.

Big men can be found every draft, but most end up having foot/knee problems, either that or they just end up busts. The %'s of success are low, Duncan is an exception.

Even Bynum fell apart after a few prime years. Traditional bigs ain't lasting long these days. Embiid hasn't even stepped on a court yet and is having issues.

I'm not saying Okafor won't be great, he might be. But are we willing to really play those odds?

In b4 P requotes himself saying he trusts management with scouting talent

 

[ValarMorghulis]

We have Durant coming to free agency this upcoming summer with Westbrook the summer after that. Why would we draft a guard Russel/Mudiay when we can possible shore up the inside with Okafor and Randle.

Bruh neither one of them is a above average defensive rebounder or shot blocker... we are FOOD with them inside every night

Can Jahlil offensive production counter is a big question mark

 

[essential1]

Here's the problem. You guys are acting like Russell can't bust.

And there's just as much chance for him to bust as Okafor.

Or that Russell does not have question marks about his game. He has legitimately the same question marks that Okafor has.

 

[pmatic]

I'm fairly confident that Russell will translate to a productive starter, maybe even an All-Star.

But I feel the same way about Okafor too. And centers are more rare these days than guards, so yeah.

 

[Los Angeles]

Im all for Dangelo n signing Deandre

 

[kal-el-8]

Here's the problem. You guys are acting like Russell can't bust.

And there's just as much chance for him to bust as Okafor.

Or that Russell does not have question marks about his game. He has legitimately the same question marks that Okafor has.

agreed.