Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:10 pm Post subject: 2024 Laker Draft Thread
Seemed like a good time to start tracking draft positioning and prospects people may like.
1st Round: Late Lottery/Mid 1st round or nothing
New Orleans has the right to either take our 2024 1st, or defer it to next season as the last piece of the Anthony Davis trade. The Lakers have the 13th worst record in the league. If they make the playoffs through the play-in, the pick would likely fall a couple spots. But it looks like the pick will be late lottery/mid 1st.
2nd Round: Moving down ten+ spots
San Antonio owns our 2nd this year as part of the Marc Gasol salary purge. That pick currently sits at #43. We own the LA Clippers 2nd, currently tied for 54th
The discussion for most of the year has been that the 2024 draft is weak. But honestly, looking back over the years that tends to be a representation of the players at the very top and/or the comfort teams have with their scouting deeper into the draft. The results don't necessarily follow those early predictions.
Perhaps depending on precisely where it lands, I'm betting the Pels take this draft pick. You could make a case that next year's Lakers team could be bottom five bad. But it could also be considerably worse.
New Orleans should defer bc the draft is very weak. Last mock I saw was Reed Shepherd going #3. That’s insane. I watch lot of Kentucky games and he’s a good spot up shooter, but he’s far closer to being a Nik Stauskus than a true top 5 pick.
It is gonna be interesting to see if NOLA defers or not, since everyone is saying this is a weak draft, I think they will defer and bank on us being even worse next year with our aging duo. In that case we will probably end up with a late lotto pick.
Our second round pick is near the bottom of the draft. I’d trade out of the draft for more picks next season, tap into the undrafted free agent pool.
Your first two sentences contradict.
It's a pretty low end draft... like very bad. Worst case from Pelicans POV is we're in the 25-30 range next year. Given talent pool, that's not much of a drop off from 10 spots higher this year - if at all a drop off. Best case for NO is we end up in the lotto next year in a strong class and wind up with another foundational piece. Also, they might enjoy some ta savings next year until they add on another young piece.
is there a final day the pelicans have to let us know by?
Quote:
The exact terms of the Davis trade are not public, but per a league source familiar with the salary cap, it is safe to assume that the Pelicans will have until some point around June 1, 2024, at the latest, to make their decision on which Lakers pick they prefer, based on prior league precedent.
The draft worth tanking for is 2025. I’ve seen enough of Cooper Flagg to believe he’d be the #1 pick this year if he was eligible. He’s like Dirk Nowitski, but if you also made Dirk an explosive athlete that could also protect the rim. Flagg is so advanced at such a young age it’s hard to imagine him not being a great pro. He’s the best HS player I’ve seen since Lebron.
IF we keep the pick this year Filipowski is the one I'd look at. They have him being picked around where our pick is, he's who I'd look at.
7 Foot, 240 pounds at age 20, so we're looking at maybe anywhere from 250-270 when he gets to his man body? He's athletic, can pass, has a solid enough post game and can hit threes. He's not horrible at using his size to alter shots either. I'd say if you're looking for a big to pair next to AD, Filipowski is a good get. His ability to hit the three and post game helps out in that regard.
If not Filipowski, I'd say Donovan Clingan is the target, his size(7'2 and 265) and his ability inside and defense is solid. I worry about his foot, but in terms of the kind of big bodied big we need to put next to Davis? He fits the bill.
The wing or the 2 I'd look at if you want to pair next to DLO whom I hope we re-sign long term, is likely going to go in the Top 10, and is Dalton Knecht whom looks like a Klay 2.0 on offense
But he's gonna up his stock in the tournament most likely and is going to go Top 10, if he somehow fell to us then the other 29 scouts failed xd
But the REAL STEAL could wind up being Zach Edey, whom because he's a 4 year college guy(and is 21) seems like mock drafts don't have him going high in the first round, he's DEFINITELY a guy to look at. 7'3, 285, long 7'10 wingspan, EXTREMELY skilled big man. He could be a Jokic-level steal in all honesty. We MUST do our due diligence.
I will personally be VERY VERY happy if we steal Zach Edey in the draft. _________________ How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk
Edey reminds me of Rik Smits/Yao Ming. I’m not quite sure how NBA team can incorporate him into today’s NBA.
I don’t think Jokic is very similar. Jokic shoots 3s and initiates offense from the perimeter as a point/center. Edey is almost exclusively in the paint.
I think I’d be happy with Clingon. He’s the best rim protector in the draft. He has Gobert qualities
Edey reminds me of Rik Smits/Yao Ming. I’m not quite sure how NBA team can incorporate him into today’s NBA.
I don’t think Jokic is very similar. Jokic shoots 3s and initiates offense from the perimeter as a point/center. Edey is almost exclusively in the paint.
I think I’d be happy with Clingon. He’s the best rim protector in the draft. He has Gobert qualities
he would be a top 10 pick in the Yao/Rik smits era. slower game, more physical, most importantly, no zone defense. however, for this era, i have a hard time seeing him getting any significant minutes. and no, he can't stop Jokic or even slow him down.
Many thought Jaquez's game wouldn't translate to the NBA, his tweener size the fact that he was a man playing among boys, a four year player with a low ceiling.
But he was a winner. And look at UCLA now.
Purdue has been ranked third the last two years.
As was already said, you need to work them all out and do your due diligence.
after the JHS pick...0 expectations that they pick the right kid
Our scouting department is top five. There will always be misses. But we dont know what JHS will be yet. _________________ Austin Reaves keeps his game tight, like Kobe Bryant on game night.
I would like Filipowski. A wider AD..super active to grab a rebound, active inside and can hit a three.
Like Eddey but he using alot of this weight and height for scoring and that might not work with player just as strong. He not a above the rim jumper and right now in college he dont have too but that will change when he comes to the NBA i would think... so he can push the college guy around but like i said i dontt know if that will work evverytime in the NBA. Howeverr i would like to see the sky hook come back.
I think if anyrhing we need a guard not a PG but a guard or SF that CAN just striaght up lock a PG or SG and some very samll SF DOWN. He dont have to be the greatest catch and shoot shooter but he very active and can atleast do spot up shooting. He would help if VANDO goes down...we rely too much on VANDO that we have one of the top offenses but one of the worst defenses..smh.
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