The #2 pick

[Shaqdaddy11]

But like you mentioned Trojan, the rumours will go flying and apparently we're going to be offering each and every single one of them a max contract.

But getting that 2nd pick certainly makes the Lakers a whole lot more attractive to upcoming free agents...

 

[Kold]

Starting to hear suggestions that the Lakers consider Russell with the #2 pick.

I'll say this much...Russell is the real deal. He's a tremendous passer and a better shooter that can get hot quick. He's personally my favorite of the bunch, but with that said, I'd want them to take Towns or Okafor, stick with Clarkson, and try to get a guard in free agency,, either this year or one of the following years.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

I don't blame him LOL!

 

[Retroram52]

There are a host of articles indicating that the Lakers are going to develop the backcourt of Jabari Brown and Clarkson for a lot of reasons and that Russell in the second would be insurance because the only guy that is probably going to survive if they do go with a Brown/Clarkson backcourt is Young if Young is not traded. Ellington may survive but Price is gone and everyone else except Kobe.

 

[lakersrule]

A Clarkson/Brown backcourt is not the backcourt of the future. Clarkson yes, but Brown is at best a shot of offense of the bench. It would make for a great story though (Missouri running mates now doing it for the Lakers).

It's still a couple of summers away, but I do believe that Westbrook is L.A. bound. By then they've hopefully built and developed a nice young core and added some strong free agents. Westbrook could be that final piece.

Assuming continued development of Clarkson, a Westbrook/Clarkson backcourt would be tough. Two athletes relentlessly coming at you from the perimeter. Could cause all kinds of problems.

 

[Retroram52]

Yea I am in agreement with much of your thoughts lakersrule but I am a bit hesitant on Westbrook. He is rapidly becoming a player that can't stay healthy and that has echos of Nash written all over it even though Westbrook is way younger.

 

[lakersrule]

He'll be 28 when he's a free agent. He's been relatively healthy during his career so far, but his style of play is dangerous. Kind of reminds me of a younger D. Wade. His no fear attack the basket game certainly takes a toll on the body.

 

[trojanfan12]

A Clarkson/Brown backcourt is not the backcourt of the future. Clarkson yes, but Brown is at best a shot of offense of the bench. It would make for a great story though (Missouri running mates now doing it for the Lakers).

It's still a couple of summers away, but I do believe that Westbrook is L.A. bound. By then they've hopefully built and developed a nice young core and added some strong free agents. Westbrook could be that final piece.

Assuming continued development of Clarkson, a Westbrook/Clarkson backcourt would be tough. Two athletes relentlessly coming at you from the perimeter. Could cause all kinds of problems.

And both have some "mean" in their game too.

 

[trojanfan12]

So word is that both Towns and Okafor want to play for the Lakers?

I find this very hard to believe. After all, we have been told by no less than Wiggy, one of the greatest basketball minds of our time and space, who literally has his finger on the pulse of the NBA, that absolutely no one wants to play for the Lakers.

I also wouldn't expect too much in free agency either. After all, Wiggy has informed us that the Buss family is poor.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

So word is that both Towns and Okafor want to play for the Lakers?

I find this very hard to believe. After all, we have been told by no less than Wiggy, one of the greatest basketball minds of our time and space, who literally has his finger on the pulse of the NBA, that absolutely no one wants to play for the Lakers.

I also wouldn't expect too much in free agency either. After all, Wiggy has informed us that the Buss family is poor.

Wow! This must be true too then:

 

[Black Adam]

So word is that both Towns and Okafor want to play for the Lakers?

I find this very hard to believe. After all, we have been told by no less than Wiggy, one of the greatest basketball minds of our time and space, who literally has his finger on the pulse of the NBA, that absolutely no one wants to play for the Lakers.

I also wouldn't expect too much in free agency either. After all, Wiggy has informed us that the Buss family is poor.

oh well hell, if Wiggy said it y'all can take it to the bank...

that cat's on drugs...

was he having another stupid attack that day...?

 

[trojanfan12]

oh well hell, if Wiggy said it y'all can take it to the bank...

that cat's on drugs...

was he having another stupid attack that day...?

Nah, I think it was the same stupid attack he's been having since he got here.

 

[Retroram52]

When does Wiggy not live up to his name? What is probably going to happen is whoever makes the most stink about not playing for Minnesota will go first and the other will be left for the Lakers. Of course the pundits who are directing the Lakers to take Butler and Gasol now are clamoring about the big man in Atlanta and what great attention the Lakers have for the man. More of the same I guess.

 

[trojanfan12]

When does Wiggy not live up to his name? What is probably going to happen is whoever makes the most stink about not playing for Minnesota will go first and the other will be left for the Lakers. Of course the pundits who are directing the Lakers to take Butler and Gasol now are clamoring about the big man in Atlanta and what great attention the Lakers have for the man. More of the same I guess.

I think we'll get a strong idea of what direction the Lakers are going in free agency by who they end up taking in the draft. Most are thinking they will take whoever is left between Okafor and Towns, but there is starting to be noise about Russell.

If they end up taking Russell, I would think that would likely mean that there is some kind of behind the scenes agreement with one of the bigs that are going to be available like Gasol, Aldridge, Monroe or Jordan. If they do as expected, then I would think they'll chase a point guard and/or Butler.

 

[Retroram52]

Yep, that is what I was thinking TJF12.

 

[bluepigpen]

Remember Chris Paul the Laker, the league will never let us get the #1 and #2 by any means. Would I like it yes will it happen no. Either guy is a good start back for the Lakers. No Russell take the big stud #2 whoever Minny doesn't get and a trade up by someone else is possible for #1.

 

[trojanfan12]

Remember Chris Paul the Laker, the league will never let us get the #1 and #2 by any means. Would I like it yes will it happen no. Either guy is a good start back for the Lakers. No Russell take the big stud #2 whoever Minny doesn't get and a trade up by someone else is possible for #1.

I agree that the Lakers getting the #1 and #2 picks isn't going to happen. However, not for the reason you suggest. The difference between the CP3 trade and the trade suggested with the T-Wolves, is that the league owned the Hornets at the time. That allowed Stern to step in and veto the trade. Even at that, the "basketball reasons" were about CP3 being the only star player they had and losing him would have driven down the price that the league could ask for in selling the team.

Minnesota isn't owned by the league, so it would be very unlikely that the league would step in. That's before even considering the immense amount of criticism the league took for that action.

I don't think it will happen because, while both players seem to really want to be Lakers, I don't think either one will try to force their way to L.A. Particularly not Okafor whom I believe has the same agent as Rubio(?) or someone already on the T-Wolves.

If it did happen, I don't think it would be before the draft. It would likely be one of those draft day or soon after draft day trades like the one that brought Kobe to the Lakers.

About the only way the league would step in would be if the trade was going to be something like Sacre and Wes Johnson for the #1 pick.

 

[shopson67]

I can see the Knicks looking for an opportunity to trade to #1 if Minnesota doesn't feel like they can sign either one of the top 2, but I doubt it comes to that. This is just posturing by the top 2, one will end up in Minny.

 

[Black Adam]

I can see the Knicks looking for an opportunity to trade to #1 if Minnesota doesn't feel like they can sign either one of the top 2, but I doubt it comes to that. This is just posturing by the top 2, one will end up in Minny.

i have no doubt...

 

[Retroram52]

Well now Towns is being rumored to be Minnesota's pick. More rumors with a month to go.