We're back boys!

[magic chiongson]

i felt like we just won the championship

:djparty:party:

[gts]

lol still a couple few years away... long long ways to go

[magic chiongson]

lol still a couple few years away... long long ways to go

just let me enjoy the moment will ya :D

[ihatetimthomas]

You guys like okafor at #2? Going to be tough to pass up on a skilled big man like him but a guy like mudiay or Russell could be stars. Who they get will really dictate who they go for this off season

[LA.MJ&KB#1]

it's going to be hard to pass up on a BIG.

[gts]

Depends on Minnesota.. if they take Okafor you have to take Towns you have to have to have to... if Minne takes Towns I'm not opposed to Mudiay or Okafor

Games changed and another talented 6-5 guard wouldn't be a bad thing

We also don't know what the lakers are thinking for the FA class... they could go after jimmy butler with one of those toxic contracts that the Bulls would be hesitant to match

[bladefd]

I think there is more to gain from drafting Russell than okafor or townes. Game is much more guard oriented than any other position today. Russell reminds me of steph curry or Brandon roy.

Remember Russell can play both guard positions and shoot lights out which is scary. With kobe on his way out of the door we can use a dual guard hybrid system with both Russell shooting lights out and of course Jordan Clarkson. Both can play and defend both positions.

Game has changed where you no longer need a center to win a championship. Plus we have julius randle at PF for post plays. Randle has chance to become an elite rebounder like charles barkley. All we would need to do is team up randle with one guy to help him out in the post on the defensive end. Does not need to be an elite center.

I say you go with Russell even if townes or okafor are available. don't we also have another later first round pick? Idk what the draft depth is like at center. We don't need the best center like we need the best pg to throw against other elite pgs. There are what? 3 elite centers in the league versus 10 elite pgs

[brownmamba00]

Russell will be a star in this league and maybe MVP somewhere down the line. He's got the handles, the NBA level court awareness and can flat out shoot... His game reminds me of Roy as in very hard to stop when he has that jumpshot going along with his passing ability...he's got the ''it'' factor imho. He's better than what Curry, Harden and Westbrook were in college believe that.

But when I look at Okafor all I see is potential BUST...piss poor FT shooting, slow af on D, can't defend the PnR, nothing special in his midrange game and is a bit undersized to play the 5 (he's 6'9)...also he gets pushed out of the block a lot and he averaged like 6 rebounds in the tournament?

he does have great hands tho and def got some skills on the low block but I dunno he looks soft and goofy. Could be another Ed Curry.

Also pairing up Randle with Okafor spells trouble on defense so I wouldn't be surprised if we are back in the lottery next year if we do go his direction.

Towns will probably be picked #1 too much upside to let him slide.

All in all I think whoever the Lakers FO pick will be a solid player...I trust the scouting department they got us Clarkson last year.

[magic chiongson]

yeah it all depends on minny picks..i'm not passing on either okafor or towns. who knows we might be able to sign KD next year

[KB24]

Finally things are back to normal! Lakers get some luck and Clips choke.

On another note, on Mason & Ireland, Ireland keeps suggesting we trade the #2 pick for Cousins, sign Love and keep Lin and we become instant contenders. Any thoughts? Boogie / Love / Randell / Kobe / Clarkson & Lin

[TryToBeUnbias]

One step at a time.

[ihatetimthomas]

Big thing about this pick is it opens up unlimited options. We now have a real valuable asset that can be used in draft or trade. Lakers front office has their work cut out for them this offseason. It will be the first time they have assets and options in a long time. This is going to be a big off season that will dictate lakers future

[bladefd]

But when I look at Okafor all I see is potential BUST...piss poor FT shooting, slow af on D, can't defend the PnR, nothing special in his midrange game and is a bit undersized to play the 5 (he's 6'9)...also he gets pushed out of the block a lot and he averaged like 6 rebounds in the tournament?

he does have great hands tho and def got some skills on the low block but I dunno he looks soft and goofy. Could be another Ed Curry.

Also pairing up Randle with Okafor spells trouble on defense so I wouldn't be surprised if we are back in the lottery next year if we do go his direction.


I think you're right about Okafor. I was not impressed by him when I watched him in March Madness when so much was on the line. What I do NOT understand is that he was bigger, stronger & taller than everyone out there during March, and he essentially was shut down offensively. Defensively, his game is bit limited because he lacks athleticism, and is not quick.

He and Randle will get in each other's way on both ends of the field. Just look at how well Zbo/Marc Gasol works together because they complement each other well. Look at Pau/Bynum.. It just worked because they complement each other well. Okafor/Randle have very similar strengths & weaknesses - they don't complement each other well.

Please Lakers, don't draft Okafor.

[magic chiongson]

Please Minny, draft Okafor.

ftfy

[gts]

just let me enjoy the moment will ya :D
:lol

[Swaggin916]

I think you're right about Okafor. I was not impressed by him when I watched him in March Madness when so much was on the line. What I do NOT understand is that he was bigger, stronger & taller than everyone out there during March, and he essentially was shut down offensively. Defensively, his game is bit limited because he lacks athleticism, and is not quick.

He and Randle will get in each other's way on both ends of the field. Just look at how well Zbo/Marc Gasol works together because they complement each other well. Look at Pau/Bynum.. It just worked because they complement each other well. Okafor/Randle have very similar strengths & weaknesses - they don't complement each other well.

Please Lakers, don't draft Okafor.

They compliment each other fine imo. Both can pass and clean help clean up each other's messes offensively. If both were JUST bruisers then yea that wouldn't make sense, but they have other skills... and like mentioned, the most important thing is both can pass and make plays handling the rock as well.

[MJ(Mean John)]

I think that, if we don't take Okafor; we can only go Russell. I think Mudiay is a risk. Idk why, but I'm skeptical of guys who come into the L that haven't played college ball.

[ihatetimthomas]

I think that, if we don't take Okafor; we can only go Russell. I think Mudiay is a risk. Idk why, but I'm skeptical of guys who come into the L that haven't played college ball.

He played against professional players in a professional league. He averaged 18/6/6 as a 18 year old. I think thats a better gauge than college bc the talent he would be playing against is weaker. He proved he can play on a professional level

[MJ(Mean John)]

He played against professional players in a professional league. He averaged 18/6/6 as a 18 year old. I think thats a better gauge than college bc the talent he would be playing against is weaker. He proved he can play on a professional level



Dude he played in the CBA. The same league that Stephon Marbury came and dropped 25 Pts a game his first seSon, when he left the league he was putting up a strong 3.8 points a game... Guy wasn't good enough for the NBA, goes to CBA and he's the MVP. @ 37 years old he averaged 29 Pts on 54% shooting and winning championships and winning Finals MVP. Look at Exum. He was playing professional Ball in Australia and putting up similar stats. So I wouldn't put much thought into it.

[ihatetimthomas]

Dude he played in the CBA. The same league that Stephon Marbury came and dropped 25 Pts a game his first seSon, when he left the league he was putting up a strong 3.8 points a game... Guy wasn't good enough for the NBA, goes to CBA and he's the MVP. @ 37 years old he averaged 29 Pts on 54% shooting and winning championships and winning Finals MVP. Look at Exum. He was playing professional Ball in Australia and putting up similar stats. So I wouldn't put much thought into it.

CBA is still a professional league with professional players. It has more pro talent than the NCAA. Do you think NCAA teams are better than CBA teams?

Obviously it is much less talent than NBA, but its above NCAA teams. You are playing against grown men who have been playing pro ball where NCAA is full of kids who won't even sniff pro ball.

If you can gauge talent based of how guys played in NCAA, you should be able to do the same in a professional league

[daily]

A season in CBA is more valuable than one in NCAA for many reasons and it's not just on the court. It's a valuable experience playing overseas so far from home, having to take care of yourself. The competition level is easily as good as college ball when you consider 99% of college players will never sniff the NBA. It's not like the NCAA is a golden ticket to the big time.

The only thing NCAA is better for is promoting yourself on a national level

[fiddy]

A season in CBA is more valuable than one in NCAA for many reasons and it's not just on the court. It's a valuable experience playing overseas so far from home, having to take care of yourself. The competition level is easily as good as college ball when you consider 99% of college players will never sniff the NBA. It's not like the NCAA is a golden ticket to the big time.

The only thing NCAA is better for is promoting yourself on a national level
I have to disagree. I think the CBA is garbage, NCAA>>>>>>>>>CBA.

[MJ(Mean John)]

See, when I think of the CBA, the same league where a 37 year old washed up Marbury was a league MVP, putting up 29/5/5 on 54% FG?.

It's NOT a knock on professional leagues outside of the NBA, however, when Marbury was in the league 4-5 years ago, he was a scrub. Even when he got playing time.

I hold more value to a guy who is playing in say, the big ten, ACC, etc over someone who was putting up 18/6 in the CBA.

Now, if he was putting up 18/6 in Greece or in Spain, okay. that is different. That is Impressive as an 18 yr old. However, this is my opinion. The CBA has improved, but again, I wouldn't feel comfortable drafting him with a top 5 pick.

[Da Kobester]

Hey where's everybody at?:confusedshrug: It's been 2 months later since the last post on this topic:sleeping. Don't anyone post up in here anymore? It's like real spooky in here:eek:

[bladefd]

Hey where's everybody at?:confusedshrug: It's been 2 months later since the last post on this topic:sleeping. Don't anyone post up in here anymore? It's like real spooky in here:eek:

It's summer time buddy. Many forums here will not be active until early October when everyone is getting ready for the season to start.

[Naero]

It's summer time buddy. Many forums here will not be active until early October when everyone is getting ready for the season to start.

Worst stretch of the season for one-dimensional-sports NBA fans, such as myself

[magic chiongson]

being #2 feels like #1

http://i.imgur.com/6ZD8KrX.gif