Russell over Okafor - Do you like the pick

AC Green's V-Card · Star Player Joined: 09 Aug 2012 Posts: 3063

My question to the doubtful ones in this thread, who would Dr. Buss rather have? Undoubtedly it's Russell. He was a gambler and he went for the home runs. As an Okafor supporter, Russell most definitely has the greater superstar potential of the two. So if Mitch/Jim channeled Dr. Buss in taking D'Angelo, I can't hate on that winning formula.

fadeaway8 · Star Player Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 1857

Yes, assuming they will get Cousins or Aldridge as well.

Otherwise, I don't like the pick.
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LakerLogic · Franchise Player Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 17886

To be quite frank, I'd rather have a player like Upshaw (minus the off-court issues) at C than a player like Okafor. Centers make their impact primarily on the defensive end. Obviously when you have both you are a transcendent talent.

All the great centers in history were very good on the defensive end. Even when Shaq was starting out, he was a monster on the defensive end. In his prime, when he tried he was one of the best defenders in the league. When he wasn't trying, he's still getting 2-3 blocks and a number of shot alterations. Nobody was coming in the paint. Duncan, Olajuwon, Ewing, Robinson, Kareem, Wilt, Russell, etc.

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

If the next Duncan, Wilt, KAJ, Shaq was available at #2, I'm sure the Lakers would have picked him. From what I've read, they measured Oak and felt he was more of a PF size.
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Captain America · Starting Rotation Joined: 20 Oct 2014 Posts: 720

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Worthy42 · Franchise Player Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 19952

Dude's gonna be using that hook shot to toss down those Philly cheesesteaks at a pretty efficient rate to drown away the sorrows of landing in that train wreck that is the Sixers.

av3773 · Star Player Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 3752

So many fans over-rating okafor and down-grading russell....bit mind boggling...obviously with one year of college film and two workouts the lakers FO saw something in russell they didn't in okafor...given the FO has had a pretty decent eye for selecting picks especially when they are in the upper part of the draft, you would think there would be a lot more confidence in the process the Lakers use to vet these top prospects....people talk about Okafor like he is going to come in and immediately dominate the league...news flash in all likelihood he's not....I don't think russell is either but like Okafor I expect russell will be able to contribute right away with his scoring and passing. They are both really good prospects, this whole the lakers were influenced by small ball is crazy, is it so hard to believe the lakers viewed russell as the best talent at the number 2 spot? I'm going to enjoy watching people jumping on the russell bandwagon

governator · Retired Number Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 25092

I like this D'Angelo Russell pick, would've been fine with Okafor too. Maybe Okafor can turn into a Duncan but just as likely to be like Al Jefferson or even Eddy Curry.
Russell can be like a bigger Chris Paul ... or not

This is a good pick. Now time to go get a big

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

I hear the 76ers need new fans. If you miss Okafor THAT MUCH...
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City_Dawg · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2015 7:17 am Post subject:

22 · Franchise Player Joined: 05 Apr 2013 Posts: 17063

I am ECSTATIC with the Russell pick. Props to GT and anpherknee for hyping him up early in the year.

Once they did I hopped on the bandwagon. He was number 1B after Towns for the remainder of the season. I think the Lakers made the right choice.

Even if Okafor has just as much potential Bball wise, Russell's star power off the court tips the scales. Would love a Lakers - Philly final in a few years, but they'll probably still be tanking

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

Why can't folks accept the possibility that BOTH Oak/DRuss play well, and that we only had 1 draft pick?

In their primes, I can see Oak at 24/12; DRuss at 22/10/6 levels. I think both teams (not sure if 76ers will be his final home) will like their picks.
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bandiger · Franchise Player Joined: 02 Apr 2014 Posts: 12555

HardButter · Starting Rotation Joined: 03 Jul 2014 Posts: 139

Russell recently tested with a faster reaction time than John Wall and is 2.5 inches taller than the avg point guard. His 39' vert gives him a higher reach than Kawhi. We made the right pick.
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yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

Good luck to both. I could have lived with either. But of course I'm all in for DRuss.
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22 · Franchise Player Joined: 05 Apr 2013 Posts: 17063

Dr. Funkbot · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2015 10:22 am Post subject:

No but in Mitch I trust. It seems like Rus just blew them away at the workouts. If we can land Jordan in FA, all is forgiven.
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