SD247's Top 8 Prospects For the Lakers...

ShowtimeDynasty_24/7 · Star Player Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 8361

1. F Thaddeus Young- I've really liked this player from Georgia Tech for some time now. I think he's one of the most underrated players in the draft. To me he's a poor man's Kevin Durant. With him and LO the Lakers would have two versatile fowards who can do many things.
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=450

2. F/C Tiago Splitter
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=25

3. F/C Josh McRoberts
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=227

4. G/F Brandon Rush
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=78

5. G Rudy Fernandez
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=22

6. G/F Nick Young
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=385

7. F Al Thornton
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=591

8. F/C Joakim Noah (Darkhorse)
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=589

Dr. Funkbot · Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 2:14 pm Post subject:

Not a bad list, but many of the players on your list won't make it out of the lotto let alone fall all the way to #19 such as Noah & Thornton.

I really do hate McRobert's game- guy is soft, we don't need any more soft players. Splitter would help right away and he is 7 feet tall. It would be stretch to think that he would fall to us, but if he is there, he would be hard to pass up. He has a ton of experience in Europe and has lead his team to the final four there this season. Not the best leaper, but he can play some good post D and has a limited aray of scoring moves.

T Young might be worth a look- he is pretty big for an SF with a 7'1" wingspan and good scoring touch. Not the best defender though and he has poor handles. I guess down this low, you are not going to find the perfect pick Corey Brewer.

All in all I hope we trade our picks to get some vets on the squad, we have too much youth as it is.
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Justwar · Starting Rotation Joined: 26 Dec 2002 Posts: 759

If Brandon Rush is there, take him over ANY of these guys. He's a healthier version of Caron Butler

ShowtimeDynasty_24/7 · Star Player Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 8361

I put Noah in there, because I feel come draft time his stock will drop because he really doesn't have a set position (PF, SF, C?), and there are fears he's just a great college player and may turn out to be just a solid NBA player.

Fan0Bynum17 · Franchise Player Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Posts: 15436

1. Gabe Pruitt
2. Thaddeus Young
3. Javaris Crittenton
4. Nick Young
5. Brandan Rush
6. Josh McRoberts
7. Ante Tomic

rwongega · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 6:24 pm Post subject:

We're probably going to get a swingman SG/SF who can play D and hit his standing jumpers. Someone like Nick Young/Brandon Rush or in the 2nd round, Afflalo. Keep in mind, Phil hates using rooks and uses them as a last ditch option so whoever we draft better get used to the NBADL or find a comfy spot on the bench. If we draft PG, PF, or C, they'll likely sit behind Bynum, Turiaf, and Farmar anyways so they'll be of little use.
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fansincemagic · Franchise Player Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 11107

Thaddeus Young looks like the best potential of the picks, and Noah may slip but you'd have to deal up (say 10-15) to get him. McRoberts looks like a Phil pick that would be able to contribute now but not much potential.

ShowtimeDynasty_24/7 · Star Player Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 8361

Sky from Clublakers said that the Lakers are very interested in Young... thats what I like to hear! Before the start of last season people were debating who would go #2 in the '08 draft after Oden. Durant and Young were the two players they were debating...

Smel Counts · Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 9:40 am Post subject:

This was in Thaddeus Young's draftexpress profile:

"Young’s lack of a right hand also hinders his finishing ability. Young avoids going to his weaker hand virtually at all costs, and when presented with an opportunity to finish cleanly with his right hand at the basket, he’ll instead make things more difficult by switching to his left hand in mid-air.

The lack of a right hand has made it easier for teams to defend Young, as they position their defenders to his left, daring him to go to his weaker hand. This, combined with his absolute refusal to go into the post and utilize his excellent natural tools to his advantage, is the main reason why he’s averaging just two free throw attempts per game, a stat that puts him at the absolute bottom of this draft class in that category."

"Momentarily, mid-way through the first half, we thought that the light bulb may have finally come on for Young in realizing what his strengths and weaknesses are. He was defended by players who are 3-4 inches shorter than him all day long, and finally decided to take them into the post and utilize his size and athleticism to do more than just toss up outside shots. Young showed terrific quickness and a beautiful left-handed jump-hook off a pretty spin move, and then received the ball again in the post the next time down the floor and was immediately fouled.

That was the extent of him playing up the strengths for the day, though, as he immediately faded back onto the perimeter and did a whole lot of nothing for the rest of the game, going back to his mid-range game. He settled for a long-range jumper off the dribble that he missed badly, and then had his next attempt blocked after curiously trying to get fancy with the ball for no particular reason. "

Yep, he seems to have all of Odom's shortcomings all right.

ArrOhBee · Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 11:26 am Post subject:

at 19. i draft him in a heart beat
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AirKobe8 · Star Player Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 8586

Where is Acie Law? I like him better.
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ShowtimeDynasty_24/7 · Star Player Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 8361

Mike@LG · Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 3:12 pm Post subject:

Young is more aggressive, and less disciplined.

Odom does have a more disciplined game.
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R-Tistic · Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 12:12 pm Post subject:

It's a very hard call....even though you can say we need a PG or PF, and even a SF depending on what moves we make...it seems like no one we draft will end up being better than who we have. Do you think any of the SGs will be better than Mo? Will any PG under Conley and Law be as good as Farmar? Will any SF, even if he's athletic, be as good or smart as Luke? We are really too low to expect anything but a decent backup, and as of now, our team has plenty of backups...just not enough strong starters.

Lakers 71-72 · Star Player Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 5059

^^There are some great athletes in this draft that are going to fall because of the glut of big men. The Lakers need athleticism badly after years of drafting Cooks, and Sashas, and Lukes, and Douthits, if anything to improve the game speed of the starters through more challenging practices.

Plus, the organization is going to have to manage some upgrades to the triangle. This team needs to run more and the triangle doesn't seem to inspire all out effort, whereas a team like Golden State looks like they're going to fall dead on the court from sheer speed.

There's no other way at this point to upgrade the athleticism on this team. Because they've drafted for and signed--ehem, Radmanovich, McKee, Divacs--some even-par talent, if not sub-par, there are no pieces to trade for an upgrade in talent.

The Lakers are going to have to add one athlete per draft for the next three years--why not?--for them to counter balance a roster of average athletes.

We all want Kobe and the Lakers to win now, but the Lakers are on the cusp of either falling into oblivion by panicking, or gradually building into a superior team. They will not become superior over night.

NestT · Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 11:28 pm Post subject:

R-Tistic · Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 6:51 am Post subject:

angel · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:11 pm Post subject:

I would trade the #19 in a heartbeat if it meant getting Kobe an All-Star caliber player to help while he's still in his prime.
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All_Star_Laker · Star Player Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 2672 Location: NYC

Flatlyner · Starting Rotation Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 518

Thornton is a beast! I would love to have him in the P&G!

Freakout · Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 9:04 am Post subject:

Rush and Young are my two favorite picks. For far to long have we passed up athletic guard/forwards.

I loved watching Rush at Kansas. While I doubt he will ever be a all-star, I do think he will develop into a very solid starter. The potential is there for him to become a very good defender as well.

I couldn't help myself but notice how he would plug right into the 3 spot in the triangle. Anyone that watched him knows he was money from the the left corner 3. Luke gets the same shot a lot in the triangle all the time.

Splitter would be my dark horse because every thing I hear and read about him screams Andris Biedrins and I think mobile 7 footers in that mold is the future of the NBA. With the zone rules they have become very valuable.

Mike@LG · Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 9:12 am Post subject:

ShowtimeDynasty_24/7 · Star Player Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 8361

In my next update I will have explanations beside each player and why they would help the Lakers. Brandon Rush will probably be #2, I have been watching some of his games and I am loving his skillset and potential...