Unless Lakers pick falls and Philly gets their pick
I do not see Russell and Mudiay getting past both teams, though it would be better to speculate after the ping pong balls determine the draft orders in about 7 or 8 more days
Not only did The Bulls not have a very good/quick PG, they didn't have a great POST CENTER either though Bryan Williams was probably the best post Center
They did have Ron Harper with great size and decent athelticism at the time that played on the Lakers as well
Though they had Pippen, Jordan, Kukoc *as a stetch 4 that played Center at times as the BIGGEST guy on the floor*
Back to The Lakers with Shaq and Kobe,
The Triangle was tweaked, as they never played witha dominant Center like Shaq, so Shaq was able to do well despite never utilizing a strong POST CENTER with the Bulls
Fill ins include
Horry, Fox, Ron Harper, Fisher, Brian Shaw, Devan George *was pretty good for them and under rated on both ends of the floor*
Lakers with Pau Gasol, Bynum *though wasn't fully healthy for majority of many years*, Kobe, Odom, etc...
They had many versatile talents with many players that have played with the Triangle already, mastering it togehter, and knowing when to break off the set and utilize their versatility to exploit match ups
Fill ins include
Trevor Ariza *was very under rated and if he stayed, I have Lakers winning 1 or 2 more RINGS with his versatility to fit in with the team*
MWP *hit the timely 3pter but was a pretty bad swap for Ariza for the most part*
Shannon Brown was a BIG TIME under rated scorer for that squad that gave them much scoring in the 2nd unit that played decent DEFENSE was he was in his prime, at SG/PG
For NYK's, we will not have a Jordan, Pippen, or Shaq, though we could get an older Gasol next summer
My point is that the PG could be very effective in the Triangle and could be a TOP 3 option of the system that was not a big part of the previous teams
If it is Russell, then we will need another facilitator from another position so Russell could play the off guard at times and play some PG at times as well, he also could be a mid range post up option or even deep post positiona times, with other shooters to spread him out especially with BIGS like Ajinicia/Towns etc...
Or Mudiay who could develop to a John Wall/Tyreke Evans *better PG though with that size/athleticism*
I think we will need to build a team that resembles more of the 2nd Lakers with Gasol/Odom/Ariza with a Bynum type of post presence as well
Though if we can lure Lebron/Durant or Lebron/CA, or/and Whiteside/Gasol to be the post presence that we need...
Thanasis could develop to a role similiar to Ariza, as the 4th/5th option but could score in bunches due to the versatilty of other talents around him, with many other good 1v1 defender and team defenders to fit his strength, along with shooters to spread the floor with HIGH IQ for cuts, 1v1 post opporutnities/shooters to spread the floor, and multiple players that could initiate our OFFENSE at a high % shot
We need a player whether it is a PG or another position that can consistently push the tempo with the ability to penetrate and finish with contact, while drawing double/triple teams and facilitate, in general PG's are best at doing this, and which is why I would like to acquire Tony Wroten if we can buy low for his services, with a trade of Tim Hardaway JR and Early, possibly a 2nd rounder as well
Or we can trade down with Philly depending on how the ping pong balls shape up, though I would hope we can have teams go on a bidding war that would allow us to acquire more assets in the process whether it is with Twolves/Sixers or whoever, especially if Laker falls out of their pick and Philly can get 2 TOP 6 picks, which they could go for Mudiay and Russell with Emdbid/Noel already, would like Covington/Thomas Robinson as well, they have Dario Saric's rights as a 1st rounder last season as well as other international players
Covington's ability to score with his vet min contract for a couple more seasons would allow us to better spend our money on other positions and he could play as a SF or stretch 4,
Phil Jackson has said he wants players with the ability to attack the basket with consistency in which Wroten/Shabazz would give us
I would love Dennis Schoedder however, Atlanta is not going to give up on him, as he has developed to a very good player
Tony Wroten
Shabazzz Muhhammed
both players have injury concerns with Tony Wroten's being a higher risk, though I would only trade for him if we can get him as bargain due to his knee injury
While Covington and Thomas Robinson *sign and trade at a cost efficient contract without overpaying* would be solid players whether on our bench rotation
Whether we offer Poison Pills *only able to do so with 2year players* or not should be an interseting option with
Mike Muscuala
as well as a trade for Walter Tavaras and/or Mike Muscula with Atlanta's multiple FA's to be, and Al Horford will be seeking a HUGE contract with the rise of the cap in 2017 where he will be a UFA
With Millsap/DeMarre Carroll/Pero Antic *not sure if he is RFA or UFA* looking for their payday this summer, and eventually Horford, Dennis Schroedder will be as well, along with Teague/Korver's/Mike Scott contracts ending 1year after 2017 when the cap continues to go up, I think they will likely look to trade Teague at some point with the development of Schroeddder and even Shelvin Mack producing when given minutes to do so, while adding in another PG/SG whehter in the draft or as FA's...
In addition to Walter Tavaras, I really like Nikola Jovic *which Denver owns the rights to and is compared to a young Vucevic*
Tavaras could be the next Gobert/Deandre Jordan type of talent/athlete with DEFENSE/REBOUNDING/SHOT BLOCKING, but will have to develop his body and like many rookies will need at least 1 year before they can contribute signifigantly more after adapting to a NBA season and getting a sense of the difference and where to improve on, whether on the court or in the gym..
