21 May 2015 15:44:36
LAL-DET-IND
LAL get: George Hill & 8th Pick (DET)
Draft: Russell (2nd) & Willie Cauley-Stein (8th)
Sign: Kevin Love & Jae Crowder
pg. hill/Russell
sg. kobe/Russell
sf. Crowder
pf. love
c. WCS
DET get: Julius Randle, Nick Young, Ryan Kelly, & 11th Pick (IND)
Draft: Kelly Oubre
Resign: Jackson
pg. jackson
sg. kcp
sf. young/oubre
pf. randle
c. drummond
IND get: Brandon Jennings & Jordan Hill
pg. jennings
sg. stuckey
sf. george
pf. west
c. hibbert
21 May 2015 16:13:06
Why would lakers not take one of the superstar centers??
Why pick a lesser player when you have a hole at center. Doesn't make any sense.
21 May 2015 16:44:28
They have needs everywhere.
Okafor is very skilled offensively, but provides little in defense. If they can get Towns at #2 then I think they'd be crazy to pass him up, but if their option is Okafor or Russel, I hope they choose Russel, he can defend, he's long for a PG, he can shoot and has a high basketball IQ
21 May 2015 16:58:32
bc Russell is supposedly a superstar PG and WCS will be a solid Center for a while. Fill 2 holes
21 May 2015 19:34:38
I suppose you have point as to why you pick Russell but didn't okafor beat towns in the tournament?? Okafor won the championship and was his teams best players. Towns was on a team with a first rounder at every spot in their starting five and still couldn't win? Just seems to me that towns might not even of been the best player on his team half the time. And he barely played any minutes either as compared to okafor. Idk I just think their both great players. Pretty equal.
21 May 2015 20:23:20
Kentucky lost to Wisconsin in the tournament, not Duke. Duke beat Wisconsin in the championship game.
Regardless, you can't say Okafor's better because his team went further in the tournament than Towns' team. If that's the logic you apply to individual talent, Kaminsky should be drafted before Towns since his team beat Kentucky.
I'm not saying Okafor isn't worthy of going #1 or #2. A traditional center like him doesn't translate well into long-term success in the NBA anymore in my opinion. He doesn't play good defense, he can't shoot free throws well (50%), and he's only good with his back to the basket. He's only going to clog the lane. They already have a high ceiling PF who plays inside the paint. They need a good defender who can space the floor at center, they need 3 point shooting and perimeter defense. Russel fills a bigger need than Okafor and may be the better player long term.
22 May 2015 15:02:31
Detroit is not going to trade their 8th pick period unless they get a superstar according to SVG. Randle is coming off an injury and still has to prove himself for a whole season, Kelly is a bust no matter the system, Nobody I mean Nobody wants Nick Young he is a Cancer and not a team player. We can stand pat sign a FA like Thad Young a proven commodity and draft the best SF Winslow, or Heroznja. Detroit hangs up and wishes the Lakers luck
22 May 2015 15:10:22
I'm just saying he didn't clog the lane for duke in the much smaller college area. And while I think his defense and free throwing shooting are key to his development they can be developed. Guy is athletic and frankly huge weight wise. He'll bully people on the glass and on offenses from day one.
His free throws have got to get better. At the end of last season he started shooting jumpers a little more around the rim and was successful. I think his free throws will in turn get better as well. Like I said he not unathletic. Just needs some work. In the NBA if he hits 60 percent then you can't hack a shaq him. That's the key.