The #2 pick

[tomodach10]

Dont over think this. Take the either big and call it a day.

 

[bluepigpen]

 

[trojanfan12]

@Kobe's reaction. "Don't mess it up. Don't pick a player that sucks."

Some solid advice right there.

 

[Retroram52]

Man, the pundits have Kobe going to a lot of places in a trade even before the Lakers enter the draft and even after Mitch stated that there is no truth to either the Lakers chasing Thibs or Kobe being traded. As fans, it is going to be head-on-a-swivel time during the next month.

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

If the Lakers go Towns/Okafor with the 2nd pick, I think they should package #27&#34 and move up to draft a better SG/SF prospect to replace Kobe.

He's already told Mitch this is his last year as a Laker. Towns/Okafor, Randle, Clarkson would be a nice young nucleus. I think it would be better for the Lakers to try and move up by packaging those 2 picks to get another top prospect over waiting to see who falls to #27 & #34.

 

[trojanfan12]

@the pundits saying the Lakers will trade Kobe.

First, they aren't going have him spend 19 years as a Laker, only to trade him away before his 20th and likely final season.

Second, he is going to make $25 million this coming season. If he would even agree to a trade (pretty sure he has a no trade clause) it would be to a contender. The problem with that is that the salaries have to match up and any contender would have to give up a lot of what makes them a contender to get him. I think the only other option would be for the Lakers to pick up a large chunk of his salary, similar to Houston paying Lin a large chunk of his salary last season. Why would the Lakers want to do that?

The only other option would be to trade him to a bad team who might want him as an expiring contract to put asses in seats for his "farewell tour." Why would the Lakers, after having him for 19 years, not want to benefit financially from his final season?

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Lakers News: Mitch Kupchak Hints At Keeping No. 2 Pick, Drafting Big | Lakers Nation

 

[Retroram52]

The Lakers are not going to trade that number two pick and they probably will take Okafor, the wide-body defensive presence they'll have in the paint in the future. The Lakers have not had a presence in the paint since Shaq and if they do indeed land Gasol, the paint will no longer be a weak point going forward.

 

[bluepigpen]

 

[tomodach10]

Ram you need a new tin foil hat lol

 

[DJ Fieri]

The Lakers are not going to trade that number two pick and they probably will take Okafor, the wide-body defensive presence they'll have in the paint in the future. The Lakers have not had a presence in the paint since Shaq and if they do indeed land Gasol, the paint will no longer be a weak point going forward.

Minny is leaning towards taking Okafor and they pick before us, bro.

 

[Retroram52]

Who is going to take whom changes daily depending on who you read or listen to at this juncture. The Lakers will take who the Timberwolves don't take. It's pretty much that simple. As I stated, a trade from another team will have to be mighty good for the Lakers to trade that second pick. The Celtics have been mentioned but the deal they proposed was something for nothing. I seriously doubt the Lakers will trade the pick, not with those two talents sitting there.

 

[lakersrule]

The Lakers are not going to trade that number two pick and they probably will take Okafor, the wide-body defensive presence they'll have in the paint in the future. The Lakers have not had a presence in the paint since Shaq and if they do indeed land Gasol, the paint will no longer be a weak point going forward.

I wouldn't call Okafor a defensive presence. That is the side of the ball where he needs a lot of improvement. I watched some tape where he gave the necessary effort and looked pretty good. A lot of time defense is a function of effort. A negative coming out of college is the lack of effort on that end. It's what concerns about drafting him and contributes to my opinion that Towns is the better choice.

 

[lakersrule]

Minny is leaning towards taking Okafor and they pick before us, bro.

That would be nice. Give me Towns over Okafor.

 

[Retroram52]

Well, we can only take the guy that Minnesota doesn't take unless we trade the number two pick, which I doubt we will do. The point will be moot if we sign a FA big and take Russell with the number two pick.

 

[shopson67]

Well, we can only take the guy that Minnesota doesn't take unless we trade the number two pick, which I doubt we will do. The point will be moot if we sign a FA big and take Russell with the number two pick.

Problem is, the draft comes before free agency (instead of the opposite in the NFL).

 

[trojanfan12]

Problem is, the draft comes before free agency (instead of the opposite in the NFL).

Could be wrong, but I think he's playing off of a point that I made earlier. I think that if the Lakers take Russell, it means that they have a "behind the scenes" deal in place for one of the FA bigs or at least have been given a very strong signal that they have a great chance.

Similar to how Miami knew they were getting, or at least had a very strong chance of getting, Lebron and Bosh.

There was obviously nothing official because of tampering rules, but Riley had a pretty good idea which was why they dumped so much salary just before FA.

 

[Retroram52]

That's absolutely correct, TJF12. Shopson has a tendency miss things from time-to-time.

 

[wildturkey]

Could be wrong, but I think he's playing off of a point that I made earlier. I think that if the Lakers take Russell, it means that they have a "behind the scenes" deal in place for one of the FA bigs or at least have been given a very strong signal that they have a great chance.

Similar to how Miami knew they were getting, or at least had a very strong chance of getting, Lebron and Bosh.

There was obviously nothing official because of tampering rules, but Riley had a pretty good idea which was why they dumped so much salary just before FA.

But Riley already had set his roster up to shed salary the entire year before leading up to 2010. It wasn't as last minute thing once he felt he had a decent shot at them in June. Lots of teams did the same thing trying to get Lebron. He set that up in advance knowing the risk was worth the reward. That's different from drafting a guy because you have a wink wink deal on the side (such deal would be too risky for tampering reasons to even try. One small leak and the NBA is opening an investigation).

What drafting Russell or Mudiay could mean is LA would feel they have a decent shot at a stable of bigs in FA, so its worth the risk of passing on Towns/Okafor. Not that they have some kind of behind the scenes deal, but the general feeling of "no way we can go 0 for 3 (or ever how many), right?".

 

[trojanfan12]

But Riley already had set his roster up to shed salary the entire year before leading up to 2010. It wasn't as last minute thing once he felt he had a decent shot at them in June. Lots of teams did the same thing trying to get Lebron. He set that up in advance knowing the risk was worth the reward. That's different from drafting a guy because you have a wink wink deal on the side (such deal would be too risky for tampering reasons to even try. One small leak and the NBA is opening an investigation).

What drafting Russell or Mudiay could mean is LA would feel they have a decent shot at a stable of bigs in FA, so its worth the risk of passing on Towns/Okafor. Not that they have some kind of behind the scenes deal, but the general feeling of "no way we can go 0 for 3 (or ever how many), right?".

Perhaps. I do agree that most teams were trying to set themselves up to get Lebron, but Riley knew from the Olympics because that's when Lebron, Wade and Bosh all talked. I'm sure Wade went back to Riley with that info.

I just think that there are unofficial things done. Signals get sent in ways that are impossible or near impossible to prove. Teams and agents have ways letting each other know about their interest or lack thereof.