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Final Pre-Draft Thoughts

June 25, 2015 by Darius Soriano


The NBA Draft is finally here and it seems as though the whirlwind is only intensifying. Whether we’re talking about who the Lakers may draft, whether there are trades to be made, what may happen in free agency, and how the latter two items may affect the former, it seems the only thing we know about the Lakers right now is how much we actually do not know.

Consider the following:

  • Today Kevin Ding reports the Lakers are leaning towards drafting Ohio St. point guard D’Angelo Russell
  • Today Mike Bresnahan reports the Lakers are leaning towards drafting Duke center Jahlil Okafor
  • There are still rumors the Lakers are in the mix to trade for Sacramento Kings’ big man DeMarcus Cousins
  • CBS’ Eye on Basketball has a report that Portland Trailblazers’ big man LaMarcus Aldridge will not return to the Blazers and will depart in free agency. And this comes on the heels of Marc Stein reporting the Lakers will be one of the teams considered by Aldridge (passing the Mavs and only trailing the Spurs in terms of desirable destinations).

Not only is that a lot to digest, some of these things directly contradict each other. If the Lakers draft Okafor, does that mean they are more or less likely to pursue Cousins via trade? If they take Russell, does that mean they feel they can sign Aldridge (or another big man) in free agency? Or, if they draft Russell, does that mean they might still make a deal with the 76ers (who reportedly covet him with their #3 overall pick) or with the Kings (who may want a point guard to lead them forward even if they deal Cousins in the process)?

We cannot know any of this stuff for sure and that’s what makes today both extremely stressful, but awfully exciting too. The Lakers are in a great position. They have a top pick, other young assets who are developing nicely in Randle and Clarkson, and even have two additional picks which can be used to either grab useful players for today (or tomorrow via draft and stash opportunities) or be used as assets in trades they may want to execute. Add all this to the looming cap space the team is set to have and there are seemingly any number of ways the team could go and still end up having a successful draft night (and off-season).

For what it’s worth, my preference in the entire pre-draft process has been for the Lakers to keep their pick and draft Okafor. As I have stated, I see him as a fantastic talent who has the opportunity to be a special offensive player who can be the foundation of a top attack. However, I have also always held firm that if Russell was the selection, I would also be quite happy as his combination of scoring and playmaking also make him an offensive talent worth building around. In saying all this, today, I couldn’t be more split on what I actually want. If I had to put a percentage on my preference, it might be 51% Okafor and 49% Russell. Those percentages could also easily switch in 15 minutes or an hour. It really is that close.

All of this is just a long way of saying that I could not be more anxious about tonight and cannot wait to see how this goes. The Lakers have suffered through a severe downturn these last couple of seasons, but tonight they look to take a step back in the right direction. And I cannot wait for it.


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Comments

  1. Baylor Fan says

    June 25, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    It is Okafor and no trades for me. Stop mortgaging the future, it is time to commit to the rebuild.

  2. macster says

    June 25, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    It’s time to lay the foundation for the future correctly inside of going for quick fixes. I much rather wait a couple of years to build a dynasty than to put together a one and done team. We need to build through our draft choices by developing them and stop renting players for “one night stands.” As someone once said “lets walk down and get them all.”

    M~

  3. R says

    June 25, 2015 at 2:45 pm

    macster – heh, heh that joke was already old when I was a kid!

    It’s true though.

  4. Chibi says

    June 25, 2015 at 2:47 pm

    I think Jerry Buss would have wanted Russell. He is Showtime.

  5. Thomas Rickard says

    June 25, 2015 at 2:52 pm

    Just listened to Fox interview Mitch, he pointed out 2 things I think might show direction, 1st how league is morphing into faster spread offense, and 2nd maybe more important the difference in many FA bigs vs limited amount of smalls he said this after stating that what they did FA would be determined by draft, I think that means Russell

  6. Mikey K. says

    June 25, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    Jerry Buss would have wanted a big man, who can help them win it all. Not another guard who, at best, is indistinguishable from the other 7-10 all star guards out there.

    That’s the foundation that he used.

    Evidence: Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, Gasol.

  7. J C says

    June 25, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    I’m not an LMA fan. He has a sweet shooting stroke but he has an awkward gait when he runs. And he isn’t an explosive type of athlete. And, in crunch time, he consistently deferred to Lillard or chucked up an awkward shot. Lacks killer instinct, IMO.

    If the FO sees Russell as the guy, they’re probably right. He and Randle sound like a nice young pairing.

    In terms of free agents, I’d like to see K Love here.
    If they can afford to pry Butler from Chicago, that would be awesome. Probably can’t do both.

  8. Jamison says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    It needs to be Russell. And it’s not close.

    Why? Because that’s who I subjectively and irrationally covet after watching hours of highlights here he never misses, and where he makes Nash like imaginative passes with no turnovers, and where I imagine him being the next Curry or Harden or Kobe torch bearer. That’s why. Being a fan is an inherently emotional endeavor and my heart says Russell and won’t be dissuaded. May those unnamed sources that whispered agenda driven half truths to Ding and co be more truthful than the agenda driven half truth whispered that spoke to Ford and co.

    Game time.

  9. Kevin says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    I’d like to get Russell. Okafor gets backed under the rim on almost every iso possession, plus his skill along with Randle’s don’t mesh well. Russell seems to be the better talent, and Okafor is amazing in one area, but not projected to be great in others…we’ll get a good shooting big in free agency

  10. 14.1 says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:18 pm

    Totally in agreement with Baylor and Macster. Let’s do this right way. No rentals and short windows of contention or mortgaging the future. I want a long serious playoff/championship contention window built on a good foundation of solid young role players and all-stars. We’ll get that HOF when the time is right.

    Although if the 76ers want to trade for the #2 (to get Russell) and hand us the #3 and the right to our pick for next year back, then I’m all for it. I don’t see it happening though.

  11. Chibi says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    Towns and Okafor half a head shorter than Kristaps.

  12. Todd says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:43 pm

    JC – agree on Aldridge, he’s 30 and we’d have buy him through his age 34 season. Not a good investment. Depending on circumstances Love may be good get and a four year deal gas him under contract through his age 31 season. Less of a risk for performance erosion.

    Agree wholeheartedly to go slow and build a talented young core that has a long horizon to compete.

  13. Daniel says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:46 pm

    Chibi – From all accounts I’ve read kristaps is not an inside player, so i think that’s kind of irrelevant.

    I’m hoping for Russell, as i think they need a guard to take over for kobe and i think russell could be that guy (obviously not in the same mold, just as a great guard). However, I would do the cousins deal if we kept randle and got #6 back, and used that on mudiay or winslow. I don’t see Sac going for that though, so i vote for keeping our pick and taking russell.

  14. rubenowski says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:47 pm

    Now Im leaning towards Russell. Thank God im not even a fantasy GM.

  15. Anonymous says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    I see the Kings owner considering firing Karl. If he wants to keep Cousins Karl should have been gone when the rumors started.

  16. dxmanners says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:55 pm

    Coach K’s super strong endorsement of Okafor sealed it for me. He’s a straight shooter, thought he was a special talent. And he’s 19, he’ll only get better. Plus, it will keep Sacre off the floor.

  17. smokedaddy says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:59 pm

    I’ll be happy either way. But keep in mind that leaking that we intend to take Okafor really doesn’t help us with a Philadelphia deal or maybe even the DMC swap. I imagine Mitch has asked Vlade who they’d prefer with the #2. So,,, whoever we take, but especially Russell, I would’nt get too comfortable that we’ll keep the pick. Ideally, we’d swap Rusell to Philly for Okafor and pick up next year’s first. We’d then sweat out the Kings and get an unfair trade for DMC, possibly including the #6. Here’s hoping. For what its worth, Ford now has Russell to the Lakes in his mock.

  18. rr says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    I would take one of the guards. If they go with Okafor, though, power to them.

  19. Oldtimer says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:07 pm

    Okafor was my choice too but then Mitch showed us his inner creativity as a GM. An Okafor switch could yield to ff: a. Philly’s moving up to 2 but giving away back our 1st rd draft pick inherited for 2016 plus #3 to the Lakers; b. Cousins, an instant Center but risky personality; c. a choice of Russell because the LaMarcus derby is already with implied commitment to the Lakers through agents/player intervention . If all these do not pan out, Mitch can always go back few minutes from now to a simpler route of Okafor. In Mitch, we trust.

  20. Kbj says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:24 pm

    I just hope there will be no trade downs or trade for Cousins. Just pick Russell or Okafor. Towns will probably not be available.

  21. Aaron says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    Here is my final list of the top seven prospects. Probably two guys will bump these players out but I wasn’t going to watch five minutes of video on 40 prospects…

    1: Mudiay
    2: Winslow (switched back and forth with Mario my racism won out)
    3: Mario
    4: Porzingis
    5: Towns
    6: Okafor
    7: Russel

  22. CATS8884 says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    Thank god you aren’t a GM Aaon because that list is highly questionable

  23. fern says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:40 pm

    Wolves took Towns,Wow Aaron,really

  24. Anon says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    Take Towns. Sign K Love or LMA for less than the max, on a one year deal with a 2nd year player option (wink at him and tell him you will take care of him next year). Call Kobe in Costa Rica (he’s there right now on vacation) and ask him to do some volcanic mud baths for rejuvenation. Sign D Wade to a one year deal for the vet min. Hope the rest of the league has injuries. Start planning your spot on the parade route. Boom.

  25. don ford says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    Love this, from Hoopshype. Our ol’ cagey Mitch. Well, we’re about to find out, huh…

    22 mins ago – via Twitter SeanDeveney
    wpid-i_c6_be_c4_usatsi_6750032.jpg
    Sean Deveney: So one NBA agent in the green room just told me, “It’s the @Los Angeles Lakers confusing everything. No one knows what Mitch Kupchak is going to do.”

  26. Tim says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    Lakers take D’Angelo Russell

  27. CATS8884 says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    Everyone will see Russell is overrated mark my words. Lakers blew the pick

  28. rr says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    And Russell it is.

  29. fern says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    Rusell it is,i read earlier the lakers like him not only bc of his skills but they see a star,we will see.

  30. Chibi says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    We got a Jason Kidd who can shoot. Hallelujah.

  31. Aaron says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    Here comes the trade….

  32. R says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:48 pm

    Aaron trade for who?

  33. fern says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    @Cats i take my chances with Mitch and the Lakers history of making the most out of their draft picks as recent as last year than what you think….

  34. R says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    Clarkson going going gone ….

  35. CATS8884 says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:54 pm

    Fern Lol I promise I’ve seen more of Russell than any front office guy considering he’s from Kentucky which is where I live. But all good, statistics even say he’s the biggest chance for a bust in this draft. I’ll take math plus what I have seen.

  36. AusPhil says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:58 pm

    Keep Russell, sign one of the FA bigs and go from there. Russell, Clarkson, Kobe, Randall & a FA big. I’ll take that starting 5, and it would look tempting to future FAs too.

  37. R says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:58 pm

    Oak to philly

  38. Anonymous says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:58 pm

    Do the Lakers have enough cap space to land both Monroe (Center) and Love (PF)?

  39. Tim says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    Kupchak on Russell: “We felt he was a player we couldn’t pass on.”

  40. kareem says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:00 pm

    Not without wink wink nudge nudge contracts back loaded with a player out. I don’t think Love or Monroe would give us that. Maybe Love.

  41. R says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:02 pm

    Has the FO been having sub rosa discussions with an unrestricted FA big? Aw, that would be wrong :0)

  42. fern says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:03 pm

    @Cats those same statistics say that he has a higher superstar potential than Towns himself i saw them too, you might be from Kentucky but i think these basketball people in FOs have all kind of resources that are not available to fans like you and me,the Lakers see something in him, and like i said,the Lakers have a good history in the Draft. We will see.

  43. fern says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:05 pm

    @R why Clarkson would be gone, with Russell if anything it will let him slip back to his natural position which is a SG.

  44. Snoopy2006 says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    Love the pick. And I do think in today’s NBA that Clarkson and Russell can co-exist (think long-term, not Kobe’s last year).

    I have Kristaps as a bust. Just looks too slow from the tape that I watched. I’m not a believer. We’ll see. He may be the most interesting player to follow from this group.

    On a re-draft 7 years from now I think Winslow will be moved up. He should have gone 4.

  45. R says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    Ok

  46. Anonymous says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    “D’Angelo Russell looks like a giant bottle of ketchup in that suit.”

    LOL

  47. J C says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    Haha maybe Mitch is trying to tell Aaron and Kobe something by taking a guard.
    “Thanks for the memories”
    “That was then, this is now.”

    More drama or trades to follow?
    Glad to see don ford’s post
    Mitch has them guessing.
    Good

  48. Renato Afonso says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:13 pm

    I honestly believe we blew this pick. Unless we are sure we are going to sign a top FA big that would make Okafor redundante. But even so, I think Okafor will be a sure all-star and Russell won’t. I hope I’m wrong…

  49. CATS8884 says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:14 pm

    Fern by like 1% which isn’t statistically significant but that’s fine you’ll see what I mean in a few years. I’ll eat my words if I’m wrong but I’ll reiterate John Calipari passed on him in favor of Devin Booker. If they are even remotely close in talent level (which they are) then this was the wrong pick, they should have traded down.

  50. Robert says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    Renato: In any case – we did not do the obvious and we took a huge gamble. This might work – but was the not the best move with the odds.

  51. CHearn says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    Jahlil Okafor, sorry to see you go before you came. Sigh!

    Now, if the Lakers have a trade in for WCS!!!!

  52. fern says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    @Renato.i smell a Mitch ninja move.

  53. R says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:32 pm

    Kings pick WCS — means DMC gone?

  54. R says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:32 pm

    I’d dump coach Karl before I’d let Cousins go. Coaches a dime a dozen.

  55. Vasheed says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:33 pm

    Well played Mitch, well played.

  56. AusPhil says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:36 pm

    The WCS pick does add some intrigue to the DMC story. But as others have been saying, you’ll find another coach more quickly than another All Star, Team USA big man.

  57. Tra says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    I stated previously that I would be shocked and disappointed if the FO straight up bypassed on whichever big – in this case, Okafor – was left over in order to draft Russell (no knock on D’Lo, who is extremely talented). However, I’m neither shocked or disappointed because, like others within the community, I’m of the belief that drafting Russell is an inclination that the FO has a Big already in the bag. Therefore, it wasn’t/isn’t a straight up bypass. We shall see.

  58. AusPhil says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:46 pm

    Riley got a steal there at #10. Pistons should’ve taken Winslow at #8.

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