The #2 pick

[ANGELAKERAMS]

I'd do this in a heartbeat. Hell, I like Towns so much I'd toss in 34 as well. Not sure Minny would go for it though. They'd probably (rightly) ask for more. They can already take Okafor if they wanted him and #27 isn't all that appealing by itself so what are they really gaining? The lure might be just getting extra picks to package with Rubio to send to another team (example: Rubio+pick for Ty Lawson). But the pick itself, I just don't see much value there for Minny's side of it

it's value in the fact that they are getting something extra by moving down vs staying at #1 and taking Okafor anyways ( if that is truly the way they are leaning ).

the only way they would get more would be by moving much lower and giving up on Towns and Okafor.

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

I would be fine with Russell if the Lakers knew they could get one of the FA centers.

having the draft before FA really sucks for the NBA. NFL is way better in that respect. at least you know what needs are left to fill come the draft.

 

[wildturkey]

it's value in the fact that they are getting something extra by moving down vs staying at #1 and taking Okafor anyways ( if that is truly the way they are leaning ).

the only way they would get more would be by moving much lower and giving up on Towns and Okafor.

I get that there's value to the pick. I'm just saying there isn't much there. Especially for a team like Minny that already has quite a few young players and would be better served to use the guaranteed dollars and roster spot on a vet. That late in the first round is very hit or miss for usable NBA players, usually miss. The type of talent there is usually non-descernable from early 2nd rounders. And to make it worse, its a guaranteed contract unlike 2nd rounders just a couple of picks later. Put yourself in the T-Wolves shoes. The Lakers call you up offering 2 and 27 for 1. You're gonna look at that offer and expect more to give up the right to take your pick between (Towns/Okafor). You're basically giving up the right to choose the best player to gain the right to pay 3 to 4 mil dollars to a guy that stands a good chance of not panning out.

 

[Retroram52]

Our biggest need going into the draft is a paint presence big. Our second need is PG. We can get a guy like Harvey in the late first or second to cover our second need and then we can we focus on the two bigs. If Minnesota takes Russell overall number one, we can then choose or work with Philadelphia to get Towns as long as Philadelphia gets Okafor. Right now there are a lot of scenarios in play as evidenced by this board's convos.

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

I get that there's value to the pick. I'm just saying there isn't much there. Especially for a team like Minny that already has quite a few young players and would be better served to use the guaranteed dollars and roster spot on a vet. That late in the first round is very hit or miss for usable NBA players, usually miss. The type of talent there is usually non-descernable from early 2nd rounders. And to make it worse, its a guaranteed contract unlike 2nd rounders just a couple of picks later. Put yourself in the T-Wolves shoes. The Lakers call you up offering 2 and 27 for 1. You're gonna look at that offer and expect more to give up the right to take your pick between (Towns/Okafor). You're basically giving up the right to choose the best player to gain the right to pay 3 to 4 mil dollars to a guy that stands a good chance of not panning out.

I was just saying if they were set on taking Okafor, then the trade down one spot would be beneficial for them.

And I would rather the Lakers keep #27 and trade #34 instead.

 

[wildturkey]

I was just saying if they were set on taking Okafor, then the trade down one spot would be beneficial for them.

And I would rather the Lakers keep #27 and trade #34 instead.

Yeah, it's in their best interests to entertain trades if they feel they can get Okafor at 2 or even 3.

And why would you want 27 instead of 34? You got a specific player in mind that won't make it to the 2nd round? I'd value 34 more highly than 27 because its a cheap, non guaranteed contract and the talent level you're picking from is really no different between the two.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

I will be very surprised if Minnesota does not take Towns.

and if the Lakers prefer Russell over Okafor, then they should call the Sixers and see if they want Okafor and trade down, grab and extra future pick and draft Russell at #3.

The Sixers already have Embiid and Noel, no way do they want another big!

 

[shopson67]

You guys are going to regret not drafting Russell...

The combo guard that's more of a defensive liability than Okafor?

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

The combo guard that's more of a defensive liability than Okafor?

not only that, but his shooting is not great. the majority of his shot are from driving the lane. what happens when NBA defenses make his shoot the outside jumper because the clog the lane?

 

[trojanfan12]

not only that, but his shooting is not great. the majority of his shot are from driving the lane. what happens when NBA defenses make his shoot the outside jumper because the clog the lane?

He works on his jumper, just like pretty much every other guard that comes into the league?

The Lakers haven't had ANY guard who can get to the basket at will since Kobe got old and they haven't had a point guard who could do it since probably Van Exel (although Clarkson looks promising).

I see it as:

1. Towns
2. Russell
3. Okafor

If the Lakers are dead set that if they had the number 1 pick, they'd take Towns, then they should explore the possibility of swapping picks with Minny as long as Randle isn't included.

If not, then they should look at everything from picking between Okafor and Russell to putting the #2 pick in a trade package to get a younger, all star caliber player (along the lines of the Cousins rumor).

I think the Lakers will make some kind of trade involving at least one of the picks because Mitch has said that he's not sure that bringing in 3 rookies is something they want to do.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yeah, it's in their best interests to entertain trades if they feel they can get Okafor at 2 or even 3.

And why would you want 27 instead of 34? You got a specific player in mind that won't make it to the 2nd round? I'd value 34 more highly than 27 because its a cheap, non guaranteed contract and the talent level you're picking from is really no different between the two.

I'd look at Rashad Vaughn from UNLV. He might be available at 27, but probably not at 34. He's one of 38 players that the Lakers have worked out so far and apparently they were impressed with him.

Plus, how can you not at least consider a guy who said this about the prospect of learning from Kobe:

I would probably sleep over at his house every night. I'm serious, on his lawn. He'd probably have to kick me out. I think it would be great to be able to come here and learn under him

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

I personally think a Okafor/Randle front court would be lethal. Two young guys who can dominate the paint.

Again, I would prefer to have Towns but right now i'm taking Okafor over Russell.

 

[Retroram52]

Depending on who you read, the take is the Lakers really want Towns. They may trade the 27, 34, and Young to move up. If they did that, there goes Harvey and then they'd probably go after Tobias Harris with Orlando in FA which is now being touted as the Lakers' direction.

 

[jaz4u11]

Sixer do not need another big.

 

[jaz4u11]

I personally think a Okafor/Randle front court would be lethal. Two young guys who can dominate the paint.

Again, I would prefer to have Towns but right now i'm taking Okafor over Russell.

I agree. I want a big not Russell.

 

[shopson67]

Depending on who you read, the take is the Lakers really want Towns. They may trade the 27, 34, and Young to move up. If they did that, there goes Harvey and then they'd probably go after Tobias Harris with Orlando in FA which is now being touted as the Lakers' direction.

I would give Young, but not the picks. I don't think there is enough of a drop off between Towns and Okafor (regardless of which anyone prefers) to give up that many assets to let a team pick the guy their head coach already wants (reportedly Okafor).

Tough to read who the Lakers really want at this point, but their actions as we get closer to the draft may reveal that.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

I still have a feeling the #27 and/or #34 pick are going to be traded.

The Lakers still have Clarkson and Randle (effectively still a rookie) and the #2 pick to build around. I'm not so sure Mitch and Byron want too many rookies on the team!

 

[Black Adam]

it ain't complicated imo fellas. stick with getting one of the 2 bigs and simply stay the course...

overthinking this can only lead to problems...

 

[shopson67]

I still have a feeling the #27 and/or #34 pick are going to be traded.

The Lakers still have Clarkson and Randle (effectively still a rookie) and the #2 pick to build around. I'm not so sure Mitch and Byron want too many rookies on the team!

There has been talk of drafting a foreign player to stash as well. Some of the guys I find intriguing would be Fuzaro, Luwawu, Osman, Vezenkov, De Paula, Jaiteh, etc.

 

[trojanfan12]

The Lakers have brought in something like 38 players so far for evaluation for the #27 and #34 picks. The most recent group included Pat Connaughton (Notre Dame), D'Angelo Harrison (St. Johns), Chasson Randle (Stanford), Juwan Staten (West Virginia) and TaShawn Thomas (Oklahoma). Apparenly Connaughton recorded a 44 inch max vertical at the NBA Draft Combine last month.

Workouts for players they are considering for the #2 pick start today with Emmanuel Mudiay. Among those they are expecting to see this next week are Jahlil Okafor, Karl Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell and Justise Winslow.