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26 Nov 2015 04:37:34
Lakers get Jahlil Okafor

76ers get D'Angelo Russell

It was no secret on draft night that Sixers GM Sam Hinkie would have gladly selected D'Angelo Russell had he been available. Instead, the team had to take a big man: the one position they were actually okay at. The team has a budding defensive star at the position in Nerlens Noel and a talented yet always injured Joel
Embiid. The team took Jahlil Okafor, who has put up impressive scoring numbers (18 ppg) but isn't very efficient and has been a liability on defense. Russell has also been a sub-par defender and is yet to have earned coach Byron Scott's trust in his convoluted Kobe Bryant dominant offense. The truth is, Russell would be a better fit in Philly. He'd be allowed to run a fast pace offense where he can utilize his natural play making ability and make decisions with the ball in his hands. Russell wouldn't have to compete with other ball dominant players for touches either. It might not be pretty at first for Russell, but he'd be getting meaningful development in the NBA and he'd be learning how to carry a team. The 76ers could build around this Russell-Noel duo.

As mentioned above, Russell is yet to have earned Byron Scott's trust and therefore isn't playing big minutes. The team has struggled a lot this year, and they could be looking for a higher impact rookie. Okafor already has elite footwork for a 7-footer and can definitely command attention in the low post, which would create shots for LA's guards. Okafor could end up being the next great Lakers big man. He isn't a perfect fit however as both he and PF Julius Randle are poor defenders. Perhaps a deal for a better front court defender will be made down the line. Ballsack. But the Lakers improve now with the big man and they certainly would have a player to build around. The Lakers were going to take Okafor up until 48 hours before the draft when they had a sudden change of heart for Russell.

Agree4 Disagree5

26 Nov 2015 12:35:20
Russell is playing over 26 minutes per game. He's a rookie. That's a decent amount of time. Also, the sixers aren't fine at center without okafor. They have future possibilities in saric and embiid, but hopefully this time around the sixers won't count their chickens before they hatch. They need to hold onto whatever talent they have because there is no certainty of what they get in the future. It is funny that sixer fans are already discussing Ben Simmons. If the sixers continue being this awful, there is still only a 25% chance they get the first pick. Let the season play out and figure it out as things become reality. Not just possibilities.

26 Nov 2015 15:12:18
If the lakers wanted okafor they would've drafted him but they didn't and are very happy. Him and Randle would suck at defense.

26 Nov 2015 15:24:57
Just throw away Byron Scott and i believe D'Angelo will be so much better.





 

 

 
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