But lets assume all three play at the same level you see in college. Which is always a possibility.

I still like Towns as a Camby type. I like Russell as a JR replacement, but unselfish and a team player with passing skills. Russell knows how to score in the system, instead of being a black hole, because he actually enjoys the catch and shoot role.

But it should be clear by now, there are no clear cut #1 picks this year. That might work in Phils favor. He doesn't have to go into full tank mode. He can still add players like Ricky Ledo and Shevd, trying to find a diamond in the ruff. He knows any of the top 3 will be a solid asset, and I think it will not change his free agent targets. This is my interpretation of Phils thinking.

Russell has star potential, because of his maturity and unselfishness....Once he gets to the NBA, all the coaching staff have to tell him is, take over! He's naturally unselfish, with skills to match the other NBA ball hogs. Thats a nice player to have....Unselfish stars.

I remember they pulled Towns because he was going 1 on 2....Towns isn't their yet, as far as basketball IQ, even though he has super star potential. Russell might be the best option....Unless you want to see Shevd and Calderon getting major minutes as the PG/SG combination in crunch time.

blkexec wrote:Russell, has the same potential as OK4 and Towns...and even a few others not mentioned.

But lets assume all three play at the same level you see in college. Which is always a possibility.

I still like Towns as a Camby type. I like Russell as a JR replacement, but unselfish and a team player with passing skills. Russell knows how to score in the system, instead of being a black hole, because he actually enjoys the catch and shoot role.

But it should be clear by now, there are no clear cut #1 picks this year. That might work in Phils favor. He doesn't have to go into full tank mode. He can still add players like Ricky Ledo and Shevd, trying to find a diamond in the ruff. He knows any of the top 3 will be a solid asset, and I think it will not change his free agent targets. This is my interpretation of Phils thinking.

Russell has star potential, because of his maturity and unselfishness....Once he gets to the NBA, all the coaching staff have to tell him is, take over! He's naturally unselfish, with skills to match the other NBA ball hogs. Thats a nice player to have....Unselfish stars.

I remember they pulled Towns because he was going 1 on 2....Towns isn't their yet, as far as basketball IQ, even though he has super star potential. Russell might be the best option....Unless you want to see Shevd and Calderon getting major minutes as the PG/SG combination in crunch time.

definitely a lot of truth in this (aside from the russell JR compare)

gunsnewing wrote:Can we have both Towns & Russell lol

yeah if we are willing to give up calderon

mreinman wrote:

Knicks1969 wrote:Russell is a taller version of D. Lillard, but a much better shooter

and lillard is much more athletic

I don't believe we've been exposed to this kid full talent. He is long and very cerebral; that we already know. His ability to see the floor and shoot the ball trump the athleticism. Lillard is 6' tall; in a couple of years, he will no longer be as athletic as he is right now.

Russell on the other hand is a legit 6'5" guard. He is Billups/Kidd, but a much better shooter

blkexec wrote:Could this be the first time all three top picks become NBA stars?

Could be....that is our hope.

blkexec wrote:Russell, has the same potential as OK4 and Towns...and even a few others not mentioned.

But lets assume all three play at the same level you see in college. Which is always a possibility.

I still like Towns as a Camby type. I like Russell as a JR replacement, but unselfish and a team player with passing skills. Russell knows how to score in the system, instead of being a black hole, because he actually enjoys the catch and shoot role.

But it should be clear by now, there are no clear cut #1 picks this year. That might work in Phils favor. He doesn't have to go into full tank mode. He can still add players like Ricky Ledo and Shevd, trying to find a diamond in the ruff. He knows any of the top 3 will be a solid asset, and I think it will not change his free agent targets. This is my interpretation of Phils thinking.

Russell has star potential, because of his maturity and unselfishness....Once he gets to the NBA, all the coaching staff have to tell him is, take over! He's naturally unselfish, with skills to match the other NBA ball hogs. Thats a nice player to have....Unselfish stars.

I remember they pulled Towns because he was going 1 on 2....Towns isn't their yet, as far as basketball IQ, even though he has super star potential. Russell might be the best option....Unless you want to see Shevd and Calderon getting major minutes as the PG/SG combination in crunch time.

I see Russell as a PG. I believe that he would be better able to pick his moments if he had the ball in his hands more, if he was bringing up the ball. Russell often sees things before everyone else on the floor. I believe Russell has more to offer than just being a catch and shoot player.

fishmike wrote:Russell last night... 28 points, 6rebs, 2 blocks 2 steals in a 1 point OT win against the favored 7 seed.

I think this is the best player in the draft I really do. He was doubled anytime he touched the ball. They doubled him 8 feet off the 3-point line because they didnt want his passing to eat them up. This guy is a special player and stepped up his best game for the tourney

And when Russell got doubled he had little trouble finding the open man. Was not at all flustered.

GustavBahler wrote:

fishmike wrote:Russell last night... 28 points, 6rebs, 2 blocks 2 steals in a 1 point OT win against the favored 7 seed.

I think this is the best player in the draft I really do. He was doubled anytime he touched the ball. They doubled him 8 feet off the 3-point line because they didnt want his passing to eat them up. This guy is a special player and stepped up his best game for the tourney

And when Russell got doubled he had little trouble finding the open man. Was not at all flustered.

I really hope we get this kid... I understand why we would take one of the bigs first if its an option but if we pick 3 or 4 and Russell falls in our laps I would be flipping.

Knicks1969 wrote:

mreinman wrote:

Knicks1969 wrote:Russell is a taller version of D. Lillard, but a much better shooter

and lillard is much more athletic

I don't believe we've been exposed to this kid full talent. He is long and very cerebral; that we already know. His ability to see the floor and shoot the ball trump the athleticism. Lillard is 6' tall; in a couple of years, he will no longer be as athletic as he is right now.

Russell on the other hand is a legit 6'5" guard. He is Billups/Kidd, but a much better shooter

Lillard is 6'3"

crzymdups wrote:

fishmike wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

fishmike wrote:Russell last night... 28 points, 6rebs, 2 blocks 2 steals in a 1 point OT win against the favored 7 seed.

I think this is the best player in the draft I really do. He was doubled anytime he touched the ball. They doubled him 8 feet off the 3-point line because they didnt want his passing to eat them up. This guy is a special player and stepped up his best game for the tourney

And when Russell got doubled he had little trouble finding the open man. Was not at all flustered.

exactly.. dude was just cool as it got, and sometimes pushed things but never forced things. He just kept working to get his looks and ended with 28 points in an OT upset. It was almost a "quiet" 28 points but when they were down early he hit a lot of big shots, especially 3s to keep the score managable and in striking distance.

I really hope we get this kid... I understand why we would take one of the bigs first if its an option but if we pick 3 or 4 and Russell falls in our laps I would be flipping.

amen. Russell's game yesterday reminded me a lot of Steph Curry's first big tournie run, where teams had caught on to the fact he was the only real player on NC State and he was doubled at half court and still poured in 30, picking his spots.

he's a smart smart kid - in single coverage in the NBA, say, with Melo on the wing and a capable big down low and some shooters to space the floor... he'll be a nightmare for opposing teams to cover. really feels like he is capable of being the next Steph Curry. maybe not quite the shooter, but probably a slightly better playmaker and maybe better ballhandler than Curry.

Russell's combo of court vision, shooting, rebounding, playmaking, passing, size... man he's got a HOF skill set. He also WANTS to be the man, and went to OH so he could stand out rather than be another player on KY. Best part about that is he's all about winning, not padding his #s. He does all the little things and google his name and passing and read some of the stories about guys who have played with him. They all say you better be ready because he will hit you with that perfect pass.

mreinman wrote:I think this guy makes me feel the most secure about drafting and probably has the lowest bust percentage.