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Lakers May Take Russell over OK4...?
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WaltLongmire
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6/25/2015  11:02 AM
Heard a guy on Mike and Mike also mention that he had heard about this. What might this set in motion if it happens?


Jahlil Okafor did not perform well in his second pre-draft workout with the Lakers, according to Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report. While Okafor had a drop-off from his first showing in Los Angeles, D’Angelo Russell flourished and knocked down his shots. Ding expects the Lakers to target Russell at No. 2 in Thursday night’s draft.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2506143-lakers-drawing-closer-to-drafting-dangelo-russell-to-lead-team-into-next-era

Lakers Drawing Closer to Drafting D'Angelo Russell to Lead Team into Next Era

By Kevin Ding , NBA Senior Writer
Jun 25, 2015

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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — If the Los Angeles Lakers draft Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell on Thursday night, as is the increasing likelihood, it will be for one simple reason.

They believe he is a star.

Although the Lakers respect Jahlil Okafor's size and skill (his defensive potential, not so much), momentum and consensus have been growing in the front office that Russell, not Okafor, is the special one.

It's not really so much the shift of the modern game toward the perimeter. This massive decision was always going to be about specific individuals, not the positions they play, and the vibe from Russell has been that he fits the mold of a leader, a winner and a Laker.

Ellen Ozier/Associated Press
It didn't help that, according to team sources, Okafor's second predraft workout with the Lakers was a distinct drop-off from the first—whereas Russell was channeling Stephen Curry's velvety stroke in his follow-up workout with the team.

As trite as it might sound given Curry's unquestioned popularity as MVP and champion right now, the Lakers believe the comparison is legit.

And they love that Russell freely puts it forth. "I see a great resemblance," he said of himself and Curry after his first Lakers workout.

Russell's magical pass-or-shoot feel for the five-on-five dance and the two-inch height advantage he has on Curry make it easy to envision Russell fitting right in with all the NBA guards of this generation who dictate play.

But the idea that he will be better than the rest is why the Lakers have come around more toward him than Okafor.

Possessing a slight build, like Curry, Russell comes from the land of the underrated and overlooked. His own family never even projected he'd be good enough to turn pro after one college season.


Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Russell has been under the radar, having struggled to find the proper point guard platform to showcase all he can do until his one brilliant season at Ohio State. Despite not being as heralded as many prep prospects, Russell somehow has managed to build the ideal sort of confidence, one that he is perfectly willing and able to articulate. It's a trait that draws people to him.

And while Russell sees a comparison to Curry in his work ethic, it is that sense of charisma where the comparison is clearest. And it's that kind of charisma that has helped memories of Russell's 4-of-17 shooting debacle against Mitch Kupchak's alma mater, North Carolina, fade.

Ultimately, it will be the Lakers general manager's call with the No. 2 overall pick. As Kupchak said, "It doesn't have to be a consensus. Really, it's going to be my decision, with the support of ownership."

Matt Slocum/Associated Press
As of Thursday morning, the possibility also existed that the Lakers can put a deal in place with the Sacramento Kings, to be executed next month, to acquire disgruntled center DeMarcus Cousins using this No. 2 overall pick. But the Lakers' unwillingness to trade last year's seventh overall pick, Julius Randle, who has been an absolute beast already in summer workouts, makes it tough to see how a trade can happen.

Even if Randle and Okafor might not be the most sensible best frontcourt tandem, Russell would be a bold choice...particularly after Kupchak invoked the name of Michael Jordan as the example of when you might want to decline hard-to-find size in the draft and take a guard.

Jordan went No. 3. Chris Paul went No. 4. Dwyane Wade went No. 5.

Russell would be going No. 2.

And with all due respect to second-round find Jordan Clarkson—and no matter how much Randle has always revered Kobe Bryant—Russell would be the one expected to follow in a legend's footsteps, those of a guard with unrelenting drive.

Russell even made plain in an interview with Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski that he would relish the chance to come from Kobe's shadow and carry the Lakers' legacy.

Longtime Shaquille O'Neal fan Okafor wants that, too. But it's up to the Lakers to determine in whom they truly believe.

Passing on Okafor could lead to him dropping past the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3 and into the lap of Phil Jackson with the New York Knicks' No. 4 pick. That could be an even better situation for Okafor, his sublime post game being installed in Jackson's triangle offense the way O'Neal's once was.

But Russell wouldn't need to take any theoretical torch from Bryant.

Byron Scott's last season as an NBA player was spent tutoring a rookie Kobe. If Russell is the choice Thursday night, Bryant's farewell season would be spent in a similar fashion, sharing the backcourt with the symbol of the next Lakers era.

Kevin Ding covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter,@KevinDing.

EnySpree: Can we agree to agree not to mention Phil Jackson and triangle for the rest of our lives?
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Nalod
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6/25/2015  11:32 AM
At the end of the day unless you have Curry and Klay, the best shooting back court since goodrich/West, its still a big mans league.

Last year SAS won with power of Splitter/Timmay. Having the ability to go small is a plus. Warriors do going small really really well, but don't go big that great.

Cav's turned it around when they got Mozgov. Bigs still matter.

Yes, I too wish either oka4 or Russell falls to us. I also am fine developing who has the best upside and if Melo wants to win now I'd be good trading him.
Many things to happen and I hope the Smug Phil can fulfil his reputation as the lor of the rings!

crzymdups
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6/25/2015  11:36 AM
The nice thing is we'll know tonight by about 8:30pm.

I could definitely see the Lakers taking Russell.

If they do, I think the Sixers would draft Okafor and then either trade him or trade Embiid.

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newyorker4ever
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6/25/2015  11:38 AM
I think Philly still takes whoever is there out of Russell or OK4 with Porzingis being the only other player they'd even think about. They could look to trade the pick to someone that wants OK4 as well which i'm sure they'll find plenty of takers. This will all be over soon.

And then we can move on to free agency threads all over the board....LOL

WaltLongmire
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6/25/2015  11:44 AM
Nalod wrote:At the end of the day unless you have Curry and Klay, the best shooting back court since goodrich/West, its still a big mans league.

Last year SAS won with power of Splitter/Timmay. Having the ability to go small is a plus. Warriors do going small really really well, but don't go big that great.

Cav's turned it around when they got Mozgov. Bigs still matter.

Yes, I too wish either oka4 or Russell falls to us. I also am fine developing who has the best upside and if Melo wants to win now I'd be good trading him.
Many things to happen and I hope the Smug Phil can fulfil his reputation as the lor of the rings!


You hear so much negative stuff about his D, though...and this would scare me.

There was an analyst on the radio this morning who said that OK4 did his best to be a worse defender than Jabari Parker during this season. Another guy made some kind of comment about him not being able to guard a glove.

Scary when you hear this stuff, even though anyone would fall in love with his offense.

Mosgov helped turn things around with his rebounding and defense...his offense was good, but was icing on the cake given the other things he could do.

EnySpree: Can we agree to agree not to mention Phil Jackson and triangle for the rest of our lives?
DJMUSIC
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6/25/2015  12:09 PM
Funny
La Lakers, Been pumping
Smokescreen on picking Okafor

So = Russell being picked by
Lakers

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SkyWalker
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6/25/2015  12:25 PM
I think Okafor is slightly overrated and with the amount of big guys available in free agency this summer - Love, Aldridge, D Jordan, Monroe to name a few and the fact that they have Randle already on the roster as well. AND, Kobe ony has one year left. How could Russell not be the pick? I would draft him #2 if I were the Lakers.
Kenny SkyWalker
RonRon
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6/25/2015  12:30 PM    LAST EDITED: 6/25/2015  12:35 PM
find it hard to believe, how a player develops cannot be predicted, if they continue to do drills, work hard, like Curry has done despite his injuries early and lack of success, he stayed hungry with an unselfish dimeanor without premadonna attitude, then when he gained his confidence and stayed healthy, his work payed off and Kerr was perfect for him, as he is Kerr on steriods

Confidence is great but Arrogance and losing is tough, like Kobe in his losing years prior to Gasol added, Cousin's prior to this year, Bledsoe this past year, Westbrook and his ability to be a LOCK DOWN DEFENDER but choosing to focus on OFFENSE and STEALS with Durant/Harden being better OFF players than him during the finals


That is where EGO's and HIGH IQ become the difference vs physical abiltities and talent, where someone like Kaminski's age and maturity comes in play but doesn't have the physical talents and skills as these flashy talents, something Dirk and Pau Gasol stayed true with, as foreign talents....
Manu was also great, especially when he had actual hair...

How he improved defensively with foot work/hands/gaining speed/strength/athleticism/toughness as well as the work he puts in to his handle/shot/ability to play/shoot when no legs, credit his work ethic and trainer which also work with CP3, both of which are very good shooters in the 4th quarter where CA's has struggled though lacks talent as well the past couple of years


YOU NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK, IMPROVE, AT ALL TIMES, SUMMER is not a break it is the time to add skills and work on weakness's, there are no breaks in the NBA


Putting too much emphasis on foriegn talents and not evaluating actual talent...

earthmansurfer
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6/25/2015  12:53 PM
Well, if the Lakers draft Russell, perhaps that is a good sign that Cousins is on his way over. But of course it could have been there plan all along.
Maybe they have been saying they take one of the centers, just to make teams who want to trade for pick 3 to get Russell, make them think he will be there (and not offer an impossible package for 1).
Probably not, but who knows.

I haven't watched much of Russell, but can he bring it on the defensive end? Okafor thus far is just mediocre, but I am sure he will improve.
Picking 4th in this draft is sort of a power position. Someone might slide and then we can get extreme value if we decide to trade.
Even with the big 3 there, we still have a chance at a superstar regarding the 2 Euros and perhaps another 2 US guys.

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. Albert Einstein
GoNyGoNyGo
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6/25/2015  2:07 PM
Do you think Phil knows exactly what LA is going to do? After all, he is dating their team President.
Nalod
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6/25/2015  2:12 PM
GoNyGoNyGo wrote:Do you think Phil knows exactly what LA is going to do? After all, he is dating their team President.

Im not sure they would even tell Jeannie!!!!!

If Russell goes to LA I think Philly makes an asset grab and takes Oka4. Do they keep him? I don't know. He is an asset.

Lakers May Take Russell over OK4...?

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