Laker News: Welcome back, Luke Walton.
Excited to have Luke Walton as our head coach next season. Great pedigree. Champion as a player, protege of Phil Jackson and Steve Kerr, with the best win record as head coach this season(39-4), and the best start in NBA history (24-0).
Realistically, he has the chance to be the next Phil Jackson with his youth and background. Maybe he will be able to get his dad an assistant coach to work with our bigs.
Re: Laker News: Welcome back, Luke Walton.
Re: Laker News: Welcome back, Luke Walton.
This is potentially our rotation for next year.
Russell/Clarkson/Durant/Randle/Whiteside
Huertas/Williams/Ingram/Nance Jr/Bass/
I'm really high on Kris Dunn, even though we will probably take Ingram. Either way, this would be pretty damn strong.
Re: Laker News: Welcome back, Luke Walton.
At some point they're going to have to decide if Russell is a PG or a SG. I don't think he and Clarkson can be the starting back court for the long haul. Sure Kris Dunn is going to be good, but he also plays the same position as Russell. Makes no sense to draft him.
Re: Laker News: Welcome back, Luke Walton.
[QUOTE=dd24]At some point they're going to have to decide if Russell is a PG or a SG. I don't think he and Clarkson can be the starting back court for the long haul. Sure Kris Dunn is going to be good, but he also plays the same position as Russell. Makes no sense to draft him.[/QUOTE]
Kris Dunn was defensive poy and overall poy of the big east TWICE. As a four year player, he would be more likely to be able to contribute NOW. Shaun Livingston has been an integral part of GSW success even though they have Curry.
If todays game really is a guard game as it appears to be, it makes more sense to get Dunn than an 18-19 year old forward.
Re: Laker News: Welcome back, Luke Walton.
The only reason Livingston is a back up is because he had a devastating injury. Otherwise he'd be crushing it and a starter on a team. Chris Paul trade may have never happened to the Clippers at that point. You don't waste two lottery picks on the same position. Ask the Timberwolves how that works out. You don't draft Russell third last year if you don't think he can be a very good starter in the NBA. And judging from last season it looks like he will be. I think Dunn will be really good too. But there would have to be something from Ingram and Simmons between now and then that would show me they really aren't going to be good to not draft one of them. And even then the Lakers would probably still not draft a PG.
Re: Laker News: Welcome back, Luke Walton.
[QUOTE=dd24]The only reason Livingston is a back up is because he had a devastating injury. Otherwise he'd be crushing it and a starter on a team. Chris Paul trade may have never happened to the Clippers at that point. You don't waste two lottery picks on the same position. Ask the Timberwolves how that works out. You don't draft Russell third last year if you don't think he can be a very good starter in the NBA. And judging from last season it looks like he will be. I think Dunn will be really good too. But there would have to be something from Ingram and Simmons between now and then that would show me they really aren't going to be good to not draft one of them. And even then the Lakers would probably still not draft a PG.[/QUOTE]
Dunn is going to be an elite lockdown perimeter defender that we so desperately need. We have tons of cap space and will be able to fill our need for a starting sf and center through free agency. barnes, derozan, batum, whiteside, horford, are all available to us.
russell/clarkson/dunn/williams would be the best guard rotation in the league.
Re: Laker News: Welcome back, Luke Walton.
That would literally be the opposite of what the Sixers have done (which isn't a good thing). Philly drafted all bigs. The Lakers would then be drafting a ton of PG's. It's just not smart. Like I said, not that I don't think Dunn will be good. I just think you need a complete team. And all of those FA's aren't coming to LA. Hopefully they can snag one.
Re: Laker News: Welcome back, Luke Walton.
[QUOTE=kkinchen]Dunn is going to be an elite lockdown perimeter defender that we so desperately need. We have tons of cap space and will be able to fill our need for a starting sf and center through free agency. barnes, derozan, batum, whiteside, horford, are all available to us.
russell/clarkson/dunn/williams would be the best guard rotation in the league.[/QUOTE]
I'm sorry but I don't consider anybody can be "lockdown defender" right now bec teams have basically run a ton of pick and rolls and also with the no hand check rule. Almost all prolific players rely heavily on screens, heck even Steph, Lilliard and Westbrook usually don't get most of their points without a pick.
The best defender I've seen so far is Bradley but I pick Thomas as their best player. If Dunn can surely give you 18pts and is a future HOF, then having him next to Russell is not a bad idea but I just don't see it unlike both Simmons and Ingram.
Re: Laker News: Welcome back, Luke Walton.
I have a homegirl who ****ed Luke n farmar for kicks in Vegas , I'm glad she can say she ****ed the lakers head coach instead of a lakers scrub !! Let's go coach Walton !!!!