Lakers: 2015 Offseason thread

[DMC]

Your salary numbers do not appear to be accurate.

He's using pesos I think.

[Thread]

I think it makes real world sense too, but it's rare you see that reset button especially when the player is well regarded still in the league. Don't think you would have to give up a lottery pick + Bled to get into the top of the draft IMO. Might do it though.

Yep, that want to parade that $80 million dollars all over Phoenix. At like 7.5% interest it's worth like even more.

[DPG21920]

Yep, that want to parade that $80 million dollars all over Phoenix. At like 7.5% interest it's worth like even more.

[Clipper Nation]

Kobe: 25M

[Thread]

WTF happened to the laughing emo?

[Thread]

Oh, yeah, just hilarious. You asshole, you.

[DPG21920]

WTF happened to the laughing emo?

It's still there. The non laugh emo is more an extension of good will intentions.

[Clipper Nation]

Oh, yeah, just hilarious. You asshole, you.

It IS pretty hilarious, thanks for noticing.

[LkrFan]

Still playing checkers eh? Strategic signing.

[Clipper Nation]

Still playing checkers eh? Strategic signing.

You're right, Garbajosa. It is a strategic signing... following det George W. Bush "Mission Accomplished" strategy.

[LkrFan]

You're right, Garbajosa. It is a strategic signing... following det George W. Bush "Mission Accomplished" strategy.

We took care of our aging superstar and had his mega contract end in the same exact year when the big fish are available. Plus our young guns will have a year under their belts together, plus cap space? I think that is attractive for FAs. Let's see how it shakes out though.

[DPG21920]

Young guns

You have a tweener who broke his leg and someone that came from the d-league. I'm not saying they won't be good or can't be good - but no one is looking at the Lakers "talent" and thinking "Oh ya, I can win with that".

They need this draft pick to be a home run.

[LkrFan]

Young guns

You have a tweener who broke his leg and someone that came from the d-league. I'm not saying they won't be good or can't be good - but no one is looking at the Lakers "talent" and thinking "Oh ya, I can win with that".

They need this draft pick to be a home run.

Randle is 100%. Clarkson was all NBA rookie 1st team. Not expecting our #2 to be a franchise talent - he'll be a "piece" towards building our roster. I'm cool with either of the bigs and lukewarm on Russell being #2.

#27 and #34 should be players that (in theory) will help upgrade our ty bench, on cheap rookie deals.

They must use that cap space wisely though. We'll see soon enough.

[LkrFan]

Should the Lakers take Russell instead of Okafor?

When watching today’s the NBA, it is hard to escape the idea that the league is moving more and more towards perimeter oriented attacks. The pick and roll is now a primary action of most offenses and teams are valuing spacing and three point shooting more than ever. The Warriors just won the championship featuring an offense predicated on high volume three point field goal attempts, backed by Steph Curry, the first point guard to win league MVP and an NBA championship in the same season since Magic Johnson. And while I’m of the mind thatthe NBA isn’t so much a guard’s league as it is a skill league, it would be foolish to ignore the importance of a dynamic perimeter player to winning basketball.

This brings us to D’Angelo Russell, the Ohio State point guard who is currently rated as the top guard in the draft and a real option for the Lakers with the 2nd overall pick. While some will bristle at the fact the Lakers would even consider passing on whichever big man is on the board after the Wolves make their selection, Russell’s game is diverse and exceptional enough to put some of those concerns to bed.

To put it bluntly, Russell is a fantastic offensive player who really can do it all on that end of the floor. He possesses a smooth, refined game with equal parts savvy and moxie to be able to hurt defenses all over the floor with his scoring and ability to create shots for his teammates.*Combine his skill level with his excellent size (6’5″) and length (6’9.75″ wingspan) and you quickly see why scouts salivate over his prospects at the next level.

When watching tape on Russell, his scoring ability instantly stands out. His jumper is smooth and comes with a quick release. He has range beyond the NBA three point line, but has real comfort level getting into the mid-range, separating from his man, and hitting jumpers in the 15-18 foot range. Further, when defenders crowd him, he has a good enough handle to get into the paint and either finish with a floater or get all the way to the rim for a bucket. Not to mention he can do excellent work off the ball as a spot up shooter or as a worker off screens as well. Being able to score in so many ways and at all three levels of the offense will serve him well in the NBA as he should be able to keep defenses off balance by not allowing them to key in on a single aspect of his game.

The most impressive part of his offensive game, however, might just be his court vision and passing ability. It’s clear Russell has a high basketball IQ. He can see how defenses are moving within their scheme and then has an ability to think one or two steps ahead to deliver a pass to an open teammate.

One of the keys to being a successful point guard in the league is the ability to make the “next level” pass when defenses take away first and second reads. Many guards never truly master this skill, but Russell already looks to have this part of the game in his tool-kit after only a single college season.*The complex skip passes, delayed entries to diving big men, and “hockey” passes where he’s making the pass which leads to the pass for the assist are all part of his arsenal, showing an a en for passing which is rare in a prospect his age. His willingness to accept pressure from defenses and be a willing passer out of that pressure with the poise he does is just fantastic.

Where Russell does have some issues is on the defensive side of the ball. While he has the physical tools to be a good defender, there are times he floats through possessions or simply doesn’t engage.*In a recent article on Grantland, one anonymous NBA scout had this to say about Russell’s defense:

My issues with him are defensively. He guards with his instincts, that’s it. He’s so creative with his offense, so he knows the game, he’s smart. He knows how to defend — he’ll get into the passing lanes, he knows how to dig and recover, he knows rotations. But he can’t (expletive) guard anything. He’s disinterested. I saw [Ohio State]*play Marquette earlier in the year. They were playing zone defense. Thad Matta doesn’t play zone. They were doing it to help Russell.

He gets by with his instincts, and I don’t know if you can do that in our league. I think that’ll be an issue for him. But he’s prideful enough and works at it [enough] to just be (expletive) capable.

The good thing is that Russell is young enough and smart enough to improve. Just as*we talked about with Jahlil Okafor, it’s easy to forget these guys are only 19 years old and are nowhere near finished products. Russell has the physical tools and with the right coaching and a desire to improve, there is no reason he can’t become at least a passable defender. He has to want to do it, though. My guess is that he will, but that is just a guess.

Speaking of Okafor, I have said this before on twitter, but Russell is, to me, essentially the point guard version of the Duke big man as a prospect. Both players possess good size for their positions (including excellent length), both are offensive wizards who were the focal point of their team’s attack, both make the game look very easy, and both are knocked for their relative lack of athleticism and their questionable defense. Like with Okafor, I have few doubts Russell develops into an excellent pro who, at the very least, is an impactful offensive player who you can trust to get baskets and create easy looks for teammates. If either develop into even neutral defenders, the value their offense brings will be well worth the investment of a high draft pick.

When thinking about the Lakers, then, one has to strongly consider Russell as an option. Yes, the team has Jordan Clarkson, but as I have noted with other prospects in relation to fit next to Julius Randle, it would be silly to pass on a player who has such a high ceiling simply because you wonder about his fit next to a player who he may be (and in Russell’s case with Clarkson, likely is) better than.

The more pressing question, though, would be whether passing on a big man to draft Russell is the keenest idea. For me, personally, it is not. But the argument can be made (rather convincingly, I might add) that as the game does continue to evolve and the rules only further benefit perimeter players, having a potentially elite offensive player on the perimeter is even more important than having an elite offensive big man. Forget about the Warriors for a moment and think back to some of the most successful Lakers’ teams — whether we’re talking Kobe, Magic, or West this organization has always had a closer on the wing who could initiate the offense and either get his own shot or create a good one for a teammate. Russell, at his best, looks to be a player who fits that mold.

Whether the Lakers value that more than what a big man like Okafor could bring to the table isn’t known. But it’s not silly to think they would. Especially when it comes to Russell. He looks to be that good. If you don’t believe me, here are some clips to see for yourself:

LINK: http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2015...ft/#more-18292

I know The Dubs just cut down the nets and made the Cavs adjust to their style of play (by basically sitting Mozgov after a monster 28/10 game), but I'm a fan of bigs. Lakers have won with skilled bigs: Mikan, KAJ, Shaq, and Pau. They should draft Okafor and not look back.

Once he gets into NBA shape and works with KAJ on the nuances of big man play, he'll take steps towards being elite at the NBA level. And to think, he's at least 6 years away from his prime.

[DPG21920]

There is no chance of that IMO, Thread. They moved both Goran & Thomas and kept Bledsoe. Of course the Knicks would do that. Even without the #13 IMO. If they could guarantee a Bledsoe with the #4 pick they would sign up for sure. But no way the Suns trade a proven player (somewhat, even if he's been overrated) plus a lottery pick just to move up to 4 where it's likely a guard who will be availble for the taking anyway.

For the #4 by itself and keep their #13? Sure - I can see them starting over if they can have two lottery picks.

In thining about it more, I guess getting a top 4 pick for Bledsoe (even if it means giving up #13) is probably just too much value to pass on.

[illmatic]

^They're loading up Bledsoe here along with #13 to the Knicks for their #4.

Thank Christ.

[LkrFan]

The Lakers will likely have to decide between Duke big man Jahlil Okafor and Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell with the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft on Thursday, and odds are the Lakers will end up taking Okafor. But Russell certainly has a strong case to be made, and in an interview with Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, he made his case:

"If I were to go to the Lakers, I wouldn't want anybody to hand me anything," Russell told Yahoo Sports. "I wouldn't expect Kobe to take me under his wing. I think he will want to see a resemblance of that hunger and fire that he came into the league with as a young kid. No one needs to be nicest guy in the world, or needs to pretend to be that. He will see through that, pick all that apart ... I've got to be me."

-Via "D'Angelo Russell makes his case for the Lakers to take him No. 2 in the NBA draft"
Russell averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists at Ohio State while posting a 57.3 true shooting percentage and a 26.6 PER.

As for me, I'm still incredibly conflicted on what I want the Lakers to do. Russell was my favorite player to watch all year long in college, and at various points I even said that I want Russell on the Lakers over anyone in the draft. When faced with the reality of the choice, though, it's going to be incredibly hard to pass on Okafor. Regardless, I will be very happy with either one, assuming that is indeed the choice.

LINK: http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/6/22/8826389/dangelo-russell-to-yahoo-sports-if-i-were-to-go-to-the-lakers-i

Now thats the kind of at ude I like.

[DPG21920]

[/I][/I]
LINK: http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/6/22/8826389/dangelo-russell-to-yahoo-sports-if-i-were-to-go-to-the-lakers-i

Now thats the kind of at ude I like.

So now you're on that DPG "Lakers will take a guard" bandwagon?

[LkrFan]

So now you're on that DPG "Lakers will take a guard" bandwagon?

I think so.

I was listening to Okafor on Cowherd earlier today. He was noncommittal of where he would like to go. I guess that's understandable, but he seemed aloof with no fire in his belly. No passion for the game.

As as much as I am pissed off with Shaq, he was a mean SOB out there - even when he ballooned up to 400lbs. I don't get that from Okafor and that's disappointing.

The way the league is being played now it might be best to draft Russell. He seems like the big stage might not be too big for him. We'll see what Mitch does Thursday night.

[DPG21920]

I think so.

I was listening to Okafor on Cowherd earlier today. He was noncommittal of where he would like to go. I guess that's understandable, but he seemed aloof with no fire in his belly. No passion for the game.

As as much as I am pissed off with Shaq, he was a mean SOB out there - even when he ballooned up to 400lbs. I don't get that from Okafor and that's disappointing.

The way the league is being played now it might be best to draft Russell. He seems like the big stage might not be too big for him. We'll see what Mitch does Thursday night.

I am definitely the first to admit I don't watch a lot of college BB (Hate it tbh..) so evaluating talent pre-nba is really hard for me. However, there doesn't seem to be a big talent gap between Okafor & Russell - so I don't think LA would necessarily be passing on the more talented player by skipping on Okafor (that could obviously change with time if one works out and one busts).

But my logic is they need a guard. Bad. Kobe is old and they don't have any playmakers. Sure, they are impressed with Clarkson, but are they that high on him? Plus, there are so damn many bigs in FA that it's probably easier to get one there vs a guard.

[LkrFan]

I am definitely the first to admit I don't watch a lot of college BB (Hate it tbh..) so evaluating talent pre-nba is really hard for me. However, there doesn't seem to be a big talent gap between Okafor & Russell - so I don't think LA would necessarily be passing on the more talented player by skipping on Okafor (that could obviously change with time if one works out and one busts).

But my logic is they need a guard. Bad. Kobe is old and they don't have any playmakers. Sure, they are impressed with Clarkson, but are they that high on him? Plus, there are so damn many bigs in FA that it's probably easier to get one there vs a guard.

I'm hearing they're pretty high on Clarkson, but I'm not sure if they have the stones to pass on a 6'5" 19 year old lefty with great court vision.

Lakers always won with dominant bigs, but the league has changed. Like you said, we can go get a big in FA - especially if Russell projects to having a higher ceiling than Okafor (many scouts thinks he does).

If the Lakers still draft Okafor, to me that confirms that they are pretty high on Clarkson.

[DPG21920]

I think so.

I was listening to Okafor on Cowherd earlier today. He was noncommittal of where he would like to go. I guess that's understandable, but he seemed aloof with no fire in his belly. No passion for the game.

As as much as I am pissed off with Shaq, he was a mean SOB out there - even when he ballooned up to 400lbs. I don't get that from Okafor and that's disappointing.

The way the league is being played now it might be best to draft Russell. He seems like the big stage might not be too big for him. We'll see what Mitch does Thursday night.

What you think of this sons? Go to 8:00 min on mark..

[LkrFan]

[Killakobe81]

I'm hearing they're pretty high on Clarkson, but I'm not sure if they have the stones to pass on a 6'5" 19 year old lefty with great court vision.

Lakers always won with dominant bigs, but the league has changed. Like you said, we can go get a big in FA - especially if Russell projects to having a higher ceiling than Okafor (many scouts thinks he does).

If the Lakers still draft Okafor, to me that confirms that they are pretty high on Clarkson.

Kobe is almost done. Being high on Clarkson shouldnt stop them from drafting Russell. Kobe probably needs to go to SF anyway. he cant chase around screens anymore. Having a Russell/Clarkson backcourt for when Kobe is hurt would be awesome I think their skills would work well except Clarkson needs to improve his shot ...

[Killakobe81]

Point above being take BPA ..if it's Oak take him if it's Drussell take him. Kobe or Clarkson being on the roster or Randle even shouldnt change who we select. We can always trade one later if needed.