Lakers: Embiid declares for NBA draft

[Katherine Robinson]

Welp, Embiid's back is ed now

Not until Capri gives his kiss of death

[TDMVPDPOY]

Welp, Embiid's back is ed now

he knows his back wont be enough to carry the greatest coatrider of all time

[ambchang]

To the Laker fans pinning their hopes on the lottery into somehow turning them back into championship contenders, think about this.

Since 1999 (Post Jordan), and that's 15 years, the only three players who helped the team who drafted them to the championship by playing the undisputed alpha roles were Duncan (Spurs 1999,2003,2005 and 2007), Wade (2006) and Dirk (2011). And even that, it took:

Spurs - Either a defensive anchor in David Robinson or ingenious drafting of Parker and Manu, plus signings of significant pieces like Bowen, Elie and Jackson.
Heat - Landing a slightly past prime Shaq. And a player of Shaq's caliber was on the market because egomaniac couldn't stand sharing the spotlight with him. There hasn't been a player of that caliber on the trade market (not counting sign and trades) since then.
Mavs - Finding the exact right team of players in Chandler, Marion, and Kidd to surround Dirk.

Even a player like Lebron had to join the super friends to finally win a championship.
Unibrow, a supposedly once in a half decade player, can't even get the Pelicans to the playoffs in multiple years.
Durant, a once in a lifetime scorer, can't get his team to the finals without a top flight PG (Westbrook) and SG (Harden) and some fantastic inside defense (Ibaka).

The league is very different than what it was in the early 2000s, and with how Buss Jr. and Kupchak are looking for players, I am not sure if they are capable of assembling a team with multiple shots at a championship.

EDIT: I didn't even mention coaching.

[Thread]

To the Laker fans pinning their hopes on the lottery into somehow turning them back into championship contenders, think about this.

Since 1999 (Post Jordan), and that's 15 years, the only three players who helped the team who drafted them to the championship by playing the undisputed alpha roles were Duncan (Spurs 1999,2003,2005 and 2007), Wade (2006) and Dirk (2011). And even that, it took:

Spurs - Either a defensive anchor in David Robinson or ingenious drafting of Parker and Manu, plus signings of significant pieces like Bowen, Elie and Jackson.
Heat - Landing a slightly past prime Shaq. And a player of Shaq's caliber was on the market because egomaniac couldn't stand sharing the spotlight with him. There hasn't been a player of that caliber on the trade market (not counting sign and trades) since then.
Mavs - Finding the exact right team of players in Chandler, Marion, and Kidd to surround Dirk.

Even a player like Lebron had to join the super friends to finally win a championship.
Unibrow, a supposedly once in a half decade player, can't even get the Pelicans to the playoffs in multiple years.
Durant, a once in a lifetime scorer, can't get his team to the finals without a top flight PG (Westbrook) and SG (Harden) and some fantastic inside defense (Ibaka).

The league is very different than what it was in the early 2000s, and with how Buss Jr. and Kupchak are looking for players, I am not sure if they are capable of assembling a team with multiple shots at a championship.

EDIT: I didn't even mention coaching.

Boiled down:::

Kobe: 5

the tired old bag Duncan: 4

[RsxPiimp]

To the Laker fans pinning their hopes on the lottery into somehow turning them back into championship contenders, think about this.

Since 1999 (Post Jordan), and that's 15 years, the only three players who helped the team who drafted them to the championship by playing the undisputed alpha roles were Duncan (Spurs 1999,2003,2005 and 2007), Wade (2006) and Dirk (2011). And even that, it took:

Spurs - Either a defensive anchor in David Robinson or ingenious drafting of Parker and Manu, plus signings of significant pieces like Bowen, Elie and Jackson.
Heat - Landing a slightly past prime Shaq. And a player of Shaq's caliber was on the market because egomaniac couldn't stand sharing the spotlight with him. There hasn't been a player of that caliber on the trade market (not counting sign and trades) since then.
Mavs - Finding the exact right team of players in Chandler, Marion, and Kidd to surround Dirk.

Even a player like Lebron had to join the super friends to finally win a championship.
Unibrow, a supposedly once in a half decade player, can't even get the Pelicans to the playoffs in multiple years.
Durant, a once in a lifetime scorer, can't get his team to the finals without a top flight PG (Westbrook) and SG (Harden) and some fantastic inside defense (Ibaka).

The league is very different than what it was in the early 2000s, and with how Buss Jr. and Kupchak are looking for players, I am not sure if they are capable of assembling a team with multiple shots at a championship.

EDIT: I didn't even mention coaching.

Drafting is just part of it now, the landscape has changed so much since the new CBA kicked in. Drafting right is obviously essential (See Clippers, OKC, Pacers) but what separates a successful franchise is their approach in free agency. The Lakers can't simply attract free agents now, reason being is having Kobe on the team and they're financially strapped with bad decisions made the past 2 summers.

[JamStone]

Because there's supposed to be very good talent at the top of the draft, I'd be really cautious drafting him in the top 3 despite his talent and potential. Not only with his back, but didn't he have a sprain or partial tear in one of his MCLs? Back and knee injuries are huge red flags for young big man prospects. And if that stress fracture in his spine is found to be a skeletal/genetic issue, he may be predisposed to future stress fractures in other parts of his body like the shins and feet. Health issues aside he looks like a terrific prospect. But I'd really worry about a Greg Oden type situation if I were selecting in the top 3-5 picks and weighing the risks and rewards with him.

[ambchang]

And no matter how good Embiid is, he will not be another Olajuwon, Shaq, or Duncan. The game has changed so much since the early 00s, then again late 00s for any big man to have a dominant role on a team. Stern has consciously shifted the emphasis of the game to the perimeter and opened up the paint to allow more penetration for layups and dunks for an exciting brand of basketball.

Even if Embiid turned out to be a healthy Yao, which is quite a feat as we haven't seen a true big of Yao's caliber (other than Unibrow) in any drafts in about a decade, you are talking about a 20/10/3 guy who can carry the team to the 1st or 2nd round. Unibrow is having trouble cracking the playoffs (I am sure he will soon enough), and my point being the game has changed so much that big men are now mostly used for defensive purposes. On offense, they would have to face the basket for drives.

A player like David Robinson would absolutely beast in today's NBA, but we haven't seen a player like that in 25 years, with Garnett being the closest one.

[Raven]

And no matter how good Embiid is, he will not be another Olajuwon, Shaq, or Duncan. The game has changed so much since the early 00s, then again late 00s for any big man to have a dominant role on a team. Stern has consciously shifted the emphasis of the game to the perimeter and opened up the paint to allow more penetration for layups and dunks for an exciting brand of basketball.

Even if Embiid turned out to be a healthy Yao, which is quite a feat as we haven't seen a true big of Yao's caliber (other than Unibrow) in any drafts in about a decade, you are talking about a 20/10/3 guy who can carry the team to the 1st or 2nd round. Unibrow is having trouble cracking the playoffs (I am sure he will soon enough), and my point being the game has changed so much that big men are now mostly used for defensive purposes. On offense, they would have to face the basket for drives.

A player like David Robinson would absolutely beast in today's NBA, but we haven't seen a player like that in 25 years, with Garnett being the closest one.

that's for those who say that Wilt would be a normal player today.

[Killakobe81]

No team has been built as a true le team with the new ...CBA.
Dem Mavs and dem Heat were pretty much still tied to the remnants of the "old CBA"

No one has won a le completely built off new rules and no one will for a few years

[jimbo]

Tbh and let it be known that I'm the one who voted "Franchise player." Embiid could have played vs Stanford but didn't because it was ing Stanford . I'm not worried about his back.

[Clipper Nation]

Jealous your future hinges on Kawhi, while we get a potential Olajuwon in this draft

[Splits]

EXUM???