Los Angeles Lakers Draft Review

Current Roster
PG: Lonzo Ball
SG: Josh Hart/Jordan Clarkson
SF: Brandon Ingram/Luol Deng/Corey Brewer
PF: Julius Randle/Larry Nance Jr./Kyle Kuzma
C: Brook Lopez/Ivica Zubac/Tarik Black/Thomas Bryant

2017 Free Agents
Restricted
G Nick Young
G Tyler Ennis
F Thomas Robinson
F Metta World Peace

Unrestricted
G David Nbawa

Who They Drafted
1-2 Lonzo Ball, PG UCLA
1-27 Kyle Kuzma, PF Utah
1-30 Josh Hart, SG Villanova
2-42 Thomas Bryant

The Lakers had a big draft, taking three first round picks and one second rounder. Their first pick was the lock of all locks even though they tried to pretend otherwise, taking Lonzo Ball to be their point guard of the future. After trading D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers are handing the keys completely to Ball, he'll be the guy with the ball in his hands leading the offense, at least until Paul George and LeBron get there... Ball's tremendous passing ability and unselfish nature will do wonders for the rest of the Lakers players, both young and old and set a course for how the Lakers will play. They'll try to fast break as much as possible, giving Ball every opportunity to utilize all of his lethal transition abilities. Ball is equally effective off the ball in transition, which will work well with Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle, who can rip and run. When in half court, Ball isn't a dynamic pick-and-roll player or penetrater so the Lakers will want to utilize a lot of ball and player movement in order to create good looks. Their presumed starting lineup of Ball, Hart, Ingram, Randle, and Brook Lopez are all ball movers and can do things off the ball, so it will be up to Luke Walton to develop an offense that lets them move and pass. Defensively, Ball isn't there yet and may long term be better off guarding bigger players than point guards, simply because he is bigger and stronger as opposed to quick laterally.
Kyle Kuzma, their second first rounder, fits into their new offensive direction as well. With the size and reach of a power forward, Kuzma is able to handle the ball in transition and is a good passer for his position, though not a dynamic creator or preternatural passer. For Kuzma to really work in the NBA, his jumper will need to continue to improve. He looks like he could be a good shooter, based on form, but the results haven't really been there yet, shooting 30% on 169 career college three-pointers. If the jumper works, his role on offense is there, if it doesn't work then he will be a limited offensive player who provides little of defense due to a lack of physicality, athleticism and production. The upside is decent considering his passing and ball-handling would really work well if he can shoot, but the downside is probably not an NBA player.
The last of the Lakers three draft picks, Josh Hart, was one of the most accomplished players in the nation, winning a National Title and landing on the first team All-America. Again, like Kuzma, Hart works with the offense the Lakers are looking to create because he is able to handle the ball and pass, as well as shoot the ball with some consistency, though perhaps he is not as high level of a shooter as has been portrayed. Still, he should be at least average if not better from range. Where Hart stands out over Kuzma is his defense. Again, while perhaps not the lockdown guy his rep may suggest, no one tries harder defensively than Hart, and what he lacks in physical tools (which are good, not spectacular) he makes up with effort and toughness, traits that will allow him to defend bigger players on switches, which again fits really nicely next to Lonzo Ball.
In the second round, the Lakers drafted more of a project in big man Thomas Bryant. Bryant has a truly elite centers frame, standing a shade under 6-11 at 248, with a massive 7-6 wingspan and 9-4+ standing reach, both numbers that are in the upper echelon for their position. Offensively, despite his size, Bryant's most translatable skill is his jumper, which isn't all the way there yet but should develop into a weapon. He lacks any go-to offensive moves and has struggled at times to finish due to his lack of vertical explosiveness. His size suggests a post player, though that hasn't materialized quite yet with any level of natural fluidity. Bryant has done well on the offensive glass not just because of his size but because he really gives effort. On the defensive glass, he has not been nearly as effective and his overall rebounding % is poor. Likewise, Bryant's size is a deterrent at the rim, even if he can't jump, but his lateral quickness is so bad that any kind of pick-and-roll is ruinous. All together, Bryant has some things to like but needs to improve in several areas to really work as an NBA player. Fortunately, the Lakers have no need for him in the short term so he'll be able to work in the G-League and get minutes there.

What They Need Going Forward
Everything the Lakers do is with the summer of 2018 in mind, as the try to bring both LeBron James and Paul George together, therefore they will likely avoid any long term contracts and likely try to move what veterans they have, such as Luol Deng. Even younger players that might be overpaid (Jordan Clarkson) or are about to come off their rookie deals (Julius Randle) could be moved as they clear room for stars. In the short term, the Lakers will likely try to bring back Tyler Ennis to back up Ball but will likely leave the rest of their roster to minimum, short term signs.

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Los Angeles Clippers Draft Review

Current Roster
PG: Jawun Evans
SG: Jamal Crawford/Austin Rivers/Sindarius Thornwell
SF: Wesley Johnson/Paul Pierce
PF: Brice Johnson
C: DeAndre Jordan/Diamond Stone

2017 Free Agents
Unrestricted
G Chris Paul
F Blake Griffin
G JJ Redick
F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (player option)
F Alan Anderson
F Brandon Bass
G Raymond Felton
F Marreese Speights

Restricted
None

Who They Drafted
2-39 Jawun Evans, PG Oklahoma State
2-48 Sindarius Thornwell, SG Los Angeles
The Clippers came into draft night without a draft pick, but bought two picks from the 76ers and Bucks, taking two guard prospects. First, they drafted Jawun Evans, a player that I though should be a lottery pick but slipped, likely because of his size. Evans is, ironically, very similar to Chris Paul when it comes to size and style of play, though Paul is obviously much better. Evans plays with a dynamic speed and quickness while also utilizing change of pace and hesitation moves as well as pure quickness to get by players, he is also a capable shooter and excellent ballhandler. Defensively, he has tools (his wingspan is actually longer than the 6-5 Luke Kennard) but will likely always be at a disadvantage, hopefully in a reduced role he can ratchet up the intensity a little bit. Because the Clippers roster is in such flux, it is unclear who Evans will be playing with but ideally he'll have a big to play pick-and-roll with (I thought he was the best at this in the whole draft) and some shooters around to give him space to operate. The Clippers have cycled through a poo-poo platter of backup guards in the last couple of years, but hopefully in Evans they have finally found a young player that can give them quality minutes and help to alleviate some of the drop off when Paul (assuming he resigns) leaves the floor, something that has plagued them for years.
With their next purchased pick, the Clippers drafted another guard, this time of the off-ball variety. Sindarius Thornwell was one of the best players in college basketball, winning SEC Player of the Year and leading South Carolina to the Final Four. However, he might have been the best player in college basketball last season, at least statistically. Thornwell was the best in college basketball in both offensive and defensive Box Score Plus Minus, as well fifth in Win Shares and second in Win Shares Per 40 and top ten in Defensive Rating. These stats paint a super star picture, and Thornwell isn't that, but they are also representative of his ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor. Despite not being a great athlete, Thornwell is a switchable defender with long arms (6-10 wingspan) and strength; he plays with a lot of toughness and intensity, quick on the perimeter but willing to battle into the paint. Thornwell makes plays defensively as well, averaging 2.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per 40. His motor and intensity translates to the glass as well, where he grabbed 12% of available misses, an excellent number for a guard. Due to his lack of elite athletic ability, Thornwell projects as more of a role player overall, but one with a lot of nice little offensive skills. As a shooter he has been up and down in his career, but should end up as a solid 35%-ish shooter that can comfortably handle the ball, even if he lacks dynamism off the dribble, similarly his passing ability is solid, if unspectacular, good enough that he should be a ball mover, provided he is willing to accept a less role in the NBA, something not all college stars are willing to do. For the Clippers, Thornwell makes it easier for them to move on from the bad contracts of Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers (as long as they realize the contracts actually are bad) while also giving them a solid bench option that can fit into their switching defense.

What They Need Going Forward
It seems as if JJ Redick is moving on but the futures of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are very much up in the air and what happens with them will very much dictate any future moves they make. If Paul stays and Griffin leaves, they will have a void at power forward (the only power forward on the roster right now is Brice Johnson, who might not even be and NBA player), a 4 that can shoot better than Griffin would fit with what the Clippers want to do, which isn't to say that they would be able to sign a better player, just a better fit. On the other hand, if Paul leaves and Griffin stays, they could look to acquire a cheaper, veteran point guard to span the gap until Evans is ready to start. If both stay, they won't have much flexibility but will need backup big men and perhaps another body on the wing that could challenge for a starting spot, even if they don't have much money to spend, vets will take less to play in LA. Another shooter to replace Redick is also something they need. If both leave... well then it should be all aboard to Tanksville and DeAndre Jordan should be dealt.

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2016 NBA Draft: Los Angeles Lakers Draft Review

Current 2016-17 Roster

PG: D'Angelo Russell

SG: Nick Young

SF: Brandon Ingram/Anthony Brown

PF: Julius Randle/Larry Nance Jr.

C: Ivica Zubac

Free Agents

PF Brandon Bass

SG Kobe Bryant (Retired)

C Roy Hibbert

C Robert Sacre

SF Metta World Peace

G Jordan Clarkson (Restricted)

PG Marcelo Huertas (Restricted)

PF Ryan Kelly (Restricted)

C Tarik Black (Restricted)

Who They Acquired

02. Brandon Ingram, SF Duke

The Lakers made the obvious choice, going with whom many considered the 1b to Ben Simmons 1a. Ingram probably won't be the star that Los Angeles craves, but we will be an excellent contributor in every area of the game and the kind of player that will attract free agents and can fit in pretty much any offense.

32. Ivica Zubac, C Mega Leks

In the second round, the Lakers got a steal a in Zubac, who was projected by many to be a sure-fire first round pick. Croatia's Zubac most likely fell because he wants (and presumably will) come to the NBA right away and wasn't interested in being stashed. He isn't ready to be a starting center, but in a back role of the bench Zubac could play 10-15 minutes a game as early as next season, especially if the Lakers aren't competing for anything, which is likely.

How They Fit

One of the biggest appeals of Ingram is that he fits really well with any team in any offense. However, despite the fact that he will likely be a starter and play many minutes for LA, it is important to remember the Ingram is far from a finished product and isn't the player he will be a few years from now. Starting out, Ingram will likely be limited to spot-up shooting and the occasional pick-and-roll opportunities as he adjusts to the physicality of the game. As he develops, Ingram projects as a secondary ball-handler who can play both forward spots, run pick-and-roll, and while he may never be an elite at-the-rim scorer, his pull-up game is something that could become a real weapon in the NBA. Ingram and an athletic big like Julius Randle as the role man would be difficult to contend with. Using Ingram as the screener is another possibility, where he can both pop or roll, with D'Angelo Russell as the ball-handler. At this point, Ingram is still learning the defensive fundamentals and should not be asked to guard the best opposing wing, however with defensive tissue paper in Russell and Jordan Clarkson as the projected backcourt, Ingram may have no choice but to take his lumps defensively. While eventually he can be a high usage player, Ingram can also be a low usage shooter/defender if LA is able to attract stars.

Zubac is definitely an old-style center, he doesn't have range to his game and is the most effective close to the basket, both offensively and defensively. Posting up, Zubac has good hands and feet, but his skills scoring there aren't what you call polished. However, at 7-1, 265 and still growing, there aren't going to be a ton of centers that will be able to matchup physically once his frame has fully filled out. Zubac will require offense to be created for him, either as a dump off or in the screen-and-roll game, therefore it would be wise to play him with a pure, passing point guard like Marcelo Huertas who can find him easy baskets as his other offense develops. Defensively, the further you move Zubac away from the basket at this point, the less effective his defense becomes. He isn't a pure shot-blocker, but his sheer size and reach make him an impediment at the basket. Where he needs to improve is defending on the moving, he isn't the kind of guy you want switching, but if he can just improve in the little areas like hedging screens then recovering, it will really help his defensive value. Pairing Zubac with a mobile power forward that can help him out would be wise.

What They Need Going Forward

With nine potential free agents this summer, the Lakers have a lot of needs and a chance to really re-make their roster with any number of free agents, from stars on down. While I am bullish on Zubac's potential career prospects, he is far from ready to be a starting center, which is LA biggest need. None of the Lakers other four starts project to be above-average defensive players, so a strong defensive center is a must (Dwight Howard? Just kidding.) Another wing player that could force Clarkson into a sixth-man role would be another option, particularly one that can shoot and play defense. Assuming that Huertas is retained, the Lakers should look to fill out their depth with strong defensive players that can mix-and-match with their more offensive focused starters. 

In reality, none of the Lakers incumbent players have proved themselves to be starter level players yet, so if the Lakers can acquire a more proven young player, either in free agency or trade, then they should regardless of their current roster.

Oh and in what any way possible they can get rid of festering human boil Nick Young, they should.

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How Do Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons Fit With The Teams at the Top of the Draft?

Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram seem to have separated themselves in the battle for the number one overall pick (though don't count out a surprise either), so how do they fit on the teams that could potentially pick them?

Philadelphia 76ers

Simmons

With Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and Joel Embiid currently on the roster, not to mention the similarly skilled Dario Saric likely coming to Philly next season, Simmons fit on the Sixers is not ideal, either from a roster construction standpoint, or on the floor. Simmons best position is power forward, where he would be completing with all four of those players for minutes. A trade could obviously happen if they really want to give the reigns to Simmons, but it is still uncertain whether he is actually more talented than those others and deserving of minutes over them. On the court, the fit is just as questionable, considering what Philly needs most is shooting and perimeter scoring, areas where Simmons will not be a help. Play him at power forward and you have to sit one of those other four, play him at small forward and you might have the worst spacing of all time. Defensively, if you played him next to Okafor you'd be awful, or if you played him on the perimeter more, it would create too much pressure on Okafor to cut off penetration. Simmons is undoubtedly talented, but his flaws match up with Philadelphia's flaws, at a position where they are log-jammed.

Ingram

As bad as Simmons fit is with the Sixers is, Ingram's is good. He fills a major hole at small forward for them and is a knock-down 40% three point shooter. He would be groomed to grow into a primary perimeter scorer alongside Philly's big men while providing them will valuable room to work on the block, or in pick and roll. Defensively, his length and toughness would be an asset to help shield Okafor from too much penetration, while his flaws, mainly struggling to score inside, wouldn't be an issue because they wouldn't need that of him. Philadelphia is several pieces away from being a competitive team, but Ingram's shooting and length on defense would be a boon to their competency.

Los Angeles Lakers

Simmons

The Lakers really don't have much in the way of sure-fire starting level players, D'Angelo Russell is the closest thing they have, but he will need to improve his defense to be a starter on a good team. Julius Randle has potential, but he might be best suited as a bench player that can take advantage of back-ups while being protected from defending starters. Simmons is just as questionable a defender and shooter as Randle, but he is a more creative offensive player that the Lakers can build their offense around, particularly with good shooters like Russell on the floor. Because their roster is such a blank slate, LA is an ideal location for Simmons, who is difficult fit into many existing offenses and is better suited being built around, which the Lakers presumably could do. If they draft Simmons, the Lakers will want to surround him and presumably Russell with plus shooters and defenders, as you'll have enough creators on the floor with those two, but defense and spacing would be potential issues. The only downside to Simmons in LA is the inevitable asinine comparisons to Magic Johnson.

Ingram

Ingram fits just as well in LA, which will have a Kobe Bryant-sized hole at small forward and are mostly a blank-slate when it comes to starter level players. Ingram's shooting and defensive potential would give the Lakers any number of ways to build, the most effective would be finding a strong pick-and-roll partner for Russell, a mobile, defensive center, and another wing-shooter. Spread the floor offensively, run pick-and-roll, with Ingram and another shooter spotting up, waiting for a kick-out to shoot or attack with the center waiting on the baseline. This is a very do-able offense where Ingram would be a key piece because he can shoot, attack close-outs and eventually run pick-and-roll himself as either the ball-handler or the screener.

Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn Nets)

Simmons

With how flexible Boston is both on the court and from an asset standpoint, Simmons would work with the Celtics simply because they would make it work. They have the pieces and creativity to either make their offense work around him or move players and picks to get players that work with him, if they are certain that he is the star they have been waiting for. As far as the current roster fit, Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder are absolutely ideal fits with Simmons because they can shoot and defend, areas where Simmons struggles significantly. Kelly Olynyk as center is an ideal offensive fit but their defense might be pretty terrible. For Boston, I think acquiring a defense and pick-and-roll proficient center (Dwight Howard perhaps?) and use Simmons as the ball-handler while playing Crowder, Bradley, and Isaiah Thomas could be a deadly offensive lineup that doesn't get killed defensively. 

Ingram

Like with Simmons, Boston will find a way to make it work with Ingram if they think he is a foundational piece. Ingram and Crowder would be a deadly interchangeable offensive and defense pairing, especially when Ingram gets stronger. Boston has so many players that can play in a multiplicity of ways, that adding a player like Ingram who can shoot, has amazing length, and should be able to handle the ball effectively and guard multiple positions down the line, would only serve to make them more versatile. An interesting side story with Ingram, and really Simmons too, is that neither is really what you would call a franchise changer, so Boston may look to move either in a package for a more proven superstar.

Phoenix Suns

Simmons

If Phoenix doesn't blowup their roster over the Summer, Simmons isn't an ideal fit. The Suns do have a  hole at power forward, but they already have a too many ballhandlers in the kitchen issue with Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe, both of whom can shoot but aren't exactly knockdown in that area. Now, if one of those two is traded it might be a better fit, but I still don't necessarily see it, Phoenix has imploded before because of struggles sharing the point guard duties, they need less ball-dominant players and more overall well-rounded offensive players. The Suns need more of a shooter/defender at power forward that doesn't need to ball to be effective, which isn't Simmons at all.

Ingram

Not to sound like a broken record, but Ingram again fits really well in Phoenix. He is a player that doesn't need the ball to succeed and can effect the game just by being on the floor. Playing Ingram at small forward, with a new power forward or P.J. Tucker next to him and Devin Booker around a Bledsoe Tyson Chandler pick and roll would be devastating and a return to the classic Suns style. Eventually, when Ingram is stronger (and in some match-ups now) and you can play him at power forward with all three of Phoenix's guards, that would be something to see indeed. If neither Simmons or Ingram end up in Phoenix, Dragan Bender would be nice longterm fit at power forward.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Simmons

Considering two of Minnesota's young starters are pretty ineffective shooters, adding Simmons who is a completely ineffective shooter would not be ideal. Karl-Anthony Towns is actually the ideal center to player next to Simmons because he can protect the rim and shoot, but Andrew Wiggins and Ricky Rubio would just a be a spacing mess, especially because Simmons needs the ball to be effective, making Rubio entirely redundant. If Minnesota decides to trade Rubio, then Simmons would be a more interesting fit, especially if the Timberwolves find a point guard that is a knock-down shooter, with Zach LaVine at shooting guard.

Ingram

The Timberwolves main need is shooting, though Ingram is not an ideal fit because play small forward right now, which is Andrew Wiggins best natural position. Once Ingram fills out, he could definitely see significant time at power forward, which would work really well with Wiggins, Towns, Rubio, and LaVine, however right now I think it still might not be ideal. Though you could potentially player Ingram as the shooting guard offensively and small forward defensively, with Wiggins doing the opposite. If they don't end up with Ingram or Simmons, what Minnesota needs is a knockdown shooter at off-guard that can also be a secondary creator, like what Jamal Murray would provide. Still, Ingram's shooting and length would be a definite plus addition to the Timberwolves

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2015 Draft Review: Los Angeles Lakers

2015-16 Depth Chart

PG: D'Angelo Russell/Jordan Clarkson

SG: Kobe Bryant/Jabari Brown

SF: Anthony Brown/Nick Young

PF: Julius Randle/Larry Nance Jr./Ryan Kelly

C: Robert Sacre/Tarik Black

2015 Free Agents

SG Vander Blue (RFA)

PF Carlos Boozer

PF Ed Davis (player option)

SG Wayne Ellington

C Jordan Hill (team option)

F Wesley Johnson

PG Jeremy Lin

PG Ronnie Price

What They Did On Draft Night

Drafted Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell 2nd overall

A mild surprise, but D'Angelo Russell is certainly a deserving number two overall pick and fits well with what Los Angeles is trying to do with their roster. They want to bring in established superstars that will be the focal point of the offense like DeMarcus Cousins, LeMarcus Aldridge, and Kevin Love, so Russell's ability to shoot the ball will be important because when he'll still provide spacing and value even when he doesn't have the ball. And Russell's ability to pass will also help because guys like Aldridge, Love, and Cousins aren't coming to L.A. to watch Russell shoot. Russell's ability to play either guard spot is also valuable for the Lakers because it gives them flexibility in free agency, say if a certain former UCLA point guard hits the market, and no I don't mean Darren Collison, Defense on the perimeter will probably be an issue for L.A. this coming season regardless of what stars they get, they will need to find a big that can protect the rim and cover up for mistakes on the perimeter, Tyson Chandler perhaps?

Drafted Wyoming power forward Larry Nance Jr. 27th overall

A somewhat less mild surprise, the Lakers took what many consider to be a reach. It isn't so much that Nance is a bad prospect, he certainly would have been drafted, it is where they took him and who else was available that makes this pick questionable. The 22 year-old Nance Jr. is a good athlete that is very effective finishing at the rim (82%) but he doesn't take advantage of that ability very often, instead taking well over half of his shots between the rim and three-point line and converting them at a not great rate (37%). His face-up game is decent, but it is not exactly a weapon that a high level NBA team will want to use very often. I'd say his NBA role would be using his length and athletic ability as a rebounder/shot blocker/finisher, but only showed the ability to really do one of those things; his shot-blocking numbers were below-average and rebounding downright bad. A good steal rate suggests that Nance could be a decent perimeter defender, he has the athletic ability for it, which could be a help on a team that has some poor perimeter defenders. All of this sounds like an good lower-tier prospect, but not the kind of player you give a guaranteed deal to in the first round when better, younger players are available to you. I can't definitely say Nance Jr. has a better chance to succeed than Iowa's Aaron White, who went twenty-two picks later.

Drafted Stanford wing Anthony Brown 34th overall

This is much more like it, Anthony Brown is a far superior prospect to Nance Jr. and would have been good value at twenty-seven. Brown is exactly the type of player the Lakers need, a low usage 3-and-D wing player that has the potential to shoot 40%+ from three and play above-average defense. Players like Brown are crucial for a team like the Lakers who, even if they do absolutely nothing in free agency, already have three starters that can use up a ton of offensive possessions. Russell, Bryant, Randle, and whatever stars they try to acquire will be high usage players who have the ball in their hands quite a bit. Therefore it's important for the other players sharing the court with them to be effective on limited or no touches, which is where Brown's abilities come into play. Brown's ability to shoot the ball will make teams think twice about doubling off them, and make them pay if they do. That space is created whether he touches the ball or not, just by the very threat of giving up and open three-pointer. Brown is a better fit that Nick Young in the starting lineup and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he starts more times than not this season.

What To Do Next

This summer and next will all be about luring stars to L.A, whether it be Aldridge, Love, or any other number of free agents and trade targets. Whatever the Lakers do, they will need to find a defensive anchor in the middle because Bryant, Russell, and Randle may all struggle significantly on the defensive end. They signed UDFA Robert Upshaw, probably the best rim protector in the draft that went undrafted because of his off-court issues. If Upshaw cleans himself up, he could be that anchor but if not L.A. will be looking for someone to cover up their perimeter defensive shortcomings. Tyson Chandler, Robin Lopez, Omer Asik, and Kosta Koufos all could be non-superstar options for them at center. Aside from that, shooting and perimeter defense will need to be a priority. If the Lakers are willing to use some capspace on a non-superstar player, the likes of Danny Green, DeMarre Carroll, or Wes Matthews would really help particularly in those areas. Because he is able to play small forward, Carroll may be the best option of those three.

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2015 Draft Preview: Los Angeles Lakers

2015-16 Depth Chart

PG: Jordan Clarkson/Dwight Buycks

SG: Kobe Bryant/Jabari Brown

SF: Nick Young

PF: Julius Randle/Ryan Kelly

C: Robert Sacre/Tarik Black

2015 Free Agents

SG Vander Blue (RFA)

PF Carlos Boozer

PF Ed Davis (player option)

SG Wayne Ellington

C Jordan Hill (team option)

F Wesley Johnson

PG Jeremy Lin

PG Ronnie Price

2015 Draft Picks
1-2
1-27 via Houston
2-4(34) via Orlando

Team Needs
Does "everything" suffice? The Lakers have two players under 25 that project as rotation players on a good team: Julius Randle (age 20) and Jordan Clarkson (23). Kobe is 36 and could retire next summer, Nick Young is 30 and shot 37% from the field last season, Ed Davis will likely opt out seeking a bigger contract this summer. So really, the Lakers are set with young talent at power forward, backup guard (I don't see Clarkson as a starter) and literally nowhere else. Even if they resign some of their free agents, depth is a big issue: all of their projected backs are fringe NBA players at best. Shooting is also a serious problem for the Lakers (despite what Bryon Scott believes) and will become even more of an issue if they draft a particular big man who lacks range. Despite Clarkson's relative success last season, I still see point guard as a primary area of need, however my bet would be they look towards a more experienced free agent to fill that spot than trusting it to a rookie.

Potential Fits

As with any high pick, the Lakers need to take whomever they think is the best prospect. However, at this point it relatively safe to assume thier draft board is 1. Karl Towns, 2. Jahlil Okafor, so whichever of those two isn't drafted by Minnesota will likely be the Lakers selection, provided they don't do something foolish like trade the pick. That locks up both center and power forward while probably setting their starting lineup pre-free agency. With their late first they can go in two directions depending on their financial plans:

1. If they wish to save money for free agency, they can target a draft-and-stash prospect like Brazilian PG George Lucas or French wing Timothe Luwawu. By keeping them overseas, it keeps the guaranteed money given to a first round pick off the books until they are brought over at a later date.

2. If they want to add young, cheap talent immediately, they can basically go in any direction because of their dire need for depth at every position. Take the best players available here and in the second round, preferably with an emphasis on shooting and defense. Stanford wing Anthony Brown would make a ton of sense and could easily be the starting small forward on this team next season. His ability to make 3s at a high rate and defend on the perimeter is exactly what the spacing starved Lakers need to make thier offense run.

Mock

2. Towns/Okafor

27. Anthony Brown, G/F Stanford

34. Jarell Martin, PF LSU

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Los Angeles Clippers Draft Review

28. C.J. Wilcox, SG Washington Sr. (6-5, 201)
The Clippers are in win-now mode for sure, and therefore have been using the last couple drafts as ways to find players who can help them right now in this playoff/championship window. Last year, it was Reggie Bullock, who was buried behind veterans last season, but will be expected to contribute this season. As will C.J. Wilcox, who is a very good shooter and not only has the physical ability to defend but also the commitment and effort on that end, taking pride in his defense. That makes Wilcox and ideal role player who can stretch the floor on offense as well as play committed defense. He isn't likely the type of player that will move the needle much by himself, but a bench of quality role players is something that helps a team win championships.

Projected Lineup
PG: Chris Paul/Jamal Crawford
SG: J.J. Redick/C.J. Wilcox
SF: Jared Dudley/Reggie Bullock
PF: Blake Griffin/Matt Barnes
C: DeAndre Jordan

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Los Angeles Lakers Draft Review

7. Julius Randle, PF Kentucky Fr. (6-9, 250)
The Lakers lucked out, getting one of the top 5 players in the draft and one that fits their needs and team structure perfectly. Julius Randle fell because of concerns about a broken foot as well as suffering from some over-exposure. He is a much needed young talent for the Lakers, a beast on the boards and can really score in the post as well. Most importantly he is ready to contribute on a winning team right away, which is exactly what the Lakers want to be as soon as possible. Los Angeles may even end up trading him, though they'd be smarter to stick with Randle unless the return is unbelievable because sooner or later they're going to need young, premium talent. They can't always lure everyone with the L.A. lights, as they found out with Dwight Howard. They've got a potential 20/10 rookie big man and future All-Star in Randle, it's been a long time since you could say that.

46. Jordan Clarkson, G Missouri Jr. (6-5, 186)
The Lakers made another solid selection in the second round with Jordan Clarkson, a big, athletic combo guard who could become a full time point guard with some work. Clarkson is at his best getting into the paint where he can finish at the rim or find teammates. He is more a playmaker than someone who is going to run an offense at this point and his shooting has been very up and down, most recently down, so there is some risk that if he doesn't take to the point guard conversion, you're left with a shooting guard who can't shoot. Clarkson will likely spend a lot of the year in the D-League where he can get in game experience.

Current Lineup

PG: Steve Nash/Jordan Clarkson

SG: Kobe Bryant

SF: ???

PF: Julius Randle/Ryan Kelly

C: Robert Sacre

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Hot and Slow Starts

Because it is the beginning of the season, every little thing will be blown out of proportion by fans and unfortunately some media members as well. It isn't wise to take to much out of the beginning of the season, but it's also a bad idea to completely disregard everything you see...

Three teams that are expected to compete for a title got off to slow starts in their first game, with the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Clippers all lost their opening games. However, there isn't any reason for these teams to panic, as each one is incorporating new elements into their rotations. The Nets have five new rotation players while the Bulls and Clippers have three a piece, plus Brooklyn and L.A. have new coaches. Chicago struggled during the second quarter in which they were out scored by the Heat by 19, in large part because Jimmy Butler and Luol Deng got in foul trouble and new Bulls Mike Dunleavy and Tony Snell weren't quite on point with their rotations, particularly to the corners. Also Derrick Rose was clearly a little rusty, neither of these issues should last. The Nets on the other hand were tentative offensively, still figuring out how to play together together on that end. The absence of key reserve Andrei Kirilenko didn't help either. For the Clippers, there are signs that are a little more concerning but not dire, they were killed on the boards, including 18 offensive rebounds, and looked lackadaisical at times on both ends. Also, they were beaten by a Lakers team that was lost to Golden State by 31 the next night. However, I would be very surprised if they don't make a move for a big before the playoffs (Emeka Okafor when healthy?) and Doc Rivers should be able to instill some discipline in his young team. Bottom line is these are all very good teams and I see no reason why they shouldn't end up in the top 4 seeds in their respective conferences.

It was great to see the Kings still in Sacramento, with rowdy fans showing up en-masse to support their team on their way to an opening night win, thanks in large part to DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins registered 30 points (13-26 from the field, 4-7 from the line) 14 rebounds, a pair of steals and blocks, and an assist. Cousins has put up big numbers before, but he has rarely looked this good, showing off the whole repertoire on the block with hooks, drives, turnaround bank-shots, and one thunderous throwdown off his own miss. More importantly, he cut out bad jump shots, only shooting when he was wide open, and going 2-of-4 in that case. Perhaps most impressively, he played 39 minutes and still (mostly) brought effort on both ends. Cousins is supremely talented and if he can continue to play this way, Sacramento will be going in the right direction. I think it really helps having Greivis Vasquez playing alongside him. Vasquez played great and fit really well on the team, especially playing alongside Isaiah Thomas, the two combined for 33 points (on 11-18 from the field, 7-9 from the line, 4-6 from deep), and 9 assists to 4 turnovers, but most importantly they played good team basketball. Unfortunately, Marcus Thornton still had the blinders on and jacked up terrible shots, which was the norm in Sacramento in previous seasons, but really stood out against when, at least for one night, the Kings looked like a different team. Also, while he struggled offensively, I liked the way the Ben McLemore competed on the defensive end, which was an issue for him at Kansas. Once he is able to get going on offense, I would expect McLemore to move into the starting lineup with Thornton in a more logical bench role.

Michael Carter-Williams had a tremendous debut in the 76ers victory over the Heat, scoring 22 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 three point, 6-8 FT) with 7 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 turnover, and 9 steals. The boards, assists, and steals shouldn't be too big of a surprise (though nine is a lot, obviously), at 6-6 he can really see the floor and make things happen on defense. However, the offense and lack of turnovers are huge, if he can keep protecting the ball and continue to score somewhat efficiently, the future is very bright, because the rest of his game is there. 

The Detroit Pistons are going to make things very difficult for teams in the paint when they play Andre Drummond, Josh Smith, and Greg Monroe together. If they can keep a consistent offense and not foul too much, their defense could be really disruptive. 

Like the Bulls, Nets, and Clippers, the Pelicans are incorporating a lot of new pieces and while the talent and potential is evident, they need to work on their consistency and figure out how the 3 guard lineups are going to be working together. 

The Pacers, who beat New Orleans, who got big bench contributions in their first game, only mustered 10 points of the pine in this game, which will be something to monitor throughout the season, because the bench will be crucial for them in the playoffs after killing them last year. If Danny Granger returns to form, moving Lance Stephenson to the bench should help a lot.

The Thunder scored 101 points, but they only had 9 assists, including only one by Kevin Durant, who was really passing well in the pre-season. This offense is really going to struggle if they don't move the ball more. Russell Westbrook's return will help this immensely, but he is still out for a couple weeks. I would like to see Durant create a little more for his teammates, because without Westbrook they are really lacking ball movers. Note: shooting 33 free throws doesn't help assist totals, but the point still remains.

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