[Sewok15Participant]

 Celtics might trade out if they want more help immediately.

Lonzo and Lavar are smiling thinking they are destined for Purple and Gold.

The Lakers would have been in big trouble losing out on this pick since they would have lost a 2019 pick to Orlando as well. Lucky day for the Lakers…stunning. 

On a sidenote the Kings should be pleased to move into the top 5 given their circumstances…too bad no prospects want to work out for them. 

 

 

 

 

[Reptilian MonkParticipant]

 Celtics trading Fultz and Crowder and assests to Bullls for Jimmy Butler. Lakers get Lonzo. 

[markfitz14Participant]

 Fultz is going to be sick. I would much rather Fultz. I could not give up that potential. Frothing at the mouth to see him in Green.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 The Lonzo era begins today. Lakers are back. Now they just need to sign Paul George and get rid of Russell. 

Looking like Josh Jackson is going to slip in this draft. Not to toot my own horn but I’ve been saying he is the most overrated prospect I’ve seen in years and the NBA is agreeing with me. 

 

[Sewok15Participant]

 You guys do know Paul George is not a free agent until next summer right? 

Everyone is assuming that PG will be a Laker but he needs to be traded there…and what exactly do the Lakers have of value that would entice Indy to do that outside of the number 2 overall pick. Russell, Randle and Ingram are all okay but not the type of players you build a superstar trade around.

Boston has much more ammo to make a move like this. If Paul gets traded to Boston he would probably enjoy competing for a title just as much if not more than going home to LA to play for a team fighting for the 8th seed.

 

 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 This is the 3rd staight year that the Lakers have jumped in the lotto.   The blatant cheating is one of the reasons I am losing intrest in the WWE, err, I mean NBA.

[HitsterParticipant]

 It will be interesting to see what Boston do with pick, is Fultz traded to become more win now or could he be the star to take them forward for the next decade.

The fun thing could be if Boston move pick and whoever gets it snaps Ball up first.

Kings 5th and 10th is quite good, they have come out better than what they had before even though Philly flip picks.

 

 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Boston might look at trades, but that was said last summer as well. I think this is probably Jackson’s best chance of going first. 

The Lakers getting the #2 pick alters their rebuild a little bit. If they lost the pick, it would have made more sense for them to wait on Paul George’s free agency. At this point, their best move is to aggressively pursue him this summer.

I’m not sold the Lakers take Ball. They might, but he isn’t a lock top 2 talent. That doesn’t even touch whether LaVar spends the next month killing the high regard his son is held.

 

 

 

 

[festar35Participant]

I like the #1 & Crowder to Chicago for Bulter as a possibility, that is if they can acquire Hayward.

I see Lakers holding the #2 & taking Lonzo Ball, but what I think them holding onto Ingram is now less of a priority. I’m sure Indiana asks for the #2 pick, but I think the best deal they get is Ingram, Clarkson & Nance.

Lakers would have
C. Euro (forget his name, young guy not Mozgov)
PF. Randle
SF. George
SG. Russell
PG. Ball
They could use Randle or Russell to free up their terrible Deng/Mozgov contract and find some run protection or another established star.

Pacers: Turner, Ingram & Clarkson to build around, with other young (ish) talent in Stephenson, Robinson, Nanve and 18th pick.

I also am happy for Sac-Town as they can get their PG be it Fox or Smith to pair with Hield from 5th pick.

[khaled_a_dParticipant]

It will be interesting if the Lakers doesn’t pick Lonzo just to see his dad reaction,that said I doubt it. They don’t really need a SF and Ball still better than Fox in their board most probably.

[The GoatParticipant]

A trade centred around #1 for Butler seems to be a common thought now. I still think it might work for Boston and the Pels if they swapped #1 and Boogie instead.

Lonzo is a Laker. Philly should try take Russell off their hands. Would they go for Oak now?

 

Philly can take Josh Jackson at 3. Simmons, Jackson, Saric, Embiid.. Russell would fit nicely, otherwise I’d try get Bradley from Boston for picks or Okafor. 

 

 

 

  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Looks like Sacto "won" lotto night.  5 is a good pick.  Then they are at 10, too. I think this is a top heavy draft. Mid-first has some question marks, then later on from the late first round down you have some more known quantities — guys who can be solid contributors in your rotation.  

Boston woulda had a top guy at any of the top 4 picks — and they already have two point guards in Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Smart with Avery Bradley being a 2 guard in a point guard’s body… no great big man in the top 5, and Tatum and Isaac aren’t locks for the top 3… so they could probably have had Josh Jackson at 3. Even if they picked at 4 they would still have had some wings.

Lakers avoid some turmoil. Now they keep their pick and at 2 they get one of the top players. Could use Lonzo. Or Fultz. But, most importantly, they need a SUPERSTAR.

Phoenix loses although they mostly have perimeter players anyway… they need a center… or a small forward so maybe Tatum or Isaac fit the bill. Now they have to hope that Jackson falls.  He might be the guy there… 

Sacto at 5: depends on what they need the most. A small forward or a point guard. So, I can see Dennis Smith Jr. at 5… if the Kings fall in love with him and Ball/Fultz/Fox are off the board… then you hope Tatum or Isaac free fall or get Markannen as a rotation big… or maybe they "REACH" if Justin Jackson wows them in workouts… good, solid all-around player who can defend, make plays, has some range, and can hit some nifty floaters… Smith, Jr. and Justin Jackson might be my picks for Sacto…

Then you introduce those two to Buddy Hield, WCS, and Skal and see what happens…

Looks like a pretty well-rounded team there. Nice young core. 

If they think UNC’s Justin Jackson will be there at 15, then I try to trade the 10th pick for 15 and 20. Or even 10 and 34 for 15 and 20.

At 20, they can take a flyer on Diallo, Giles (if he is there), or Jordan Bell. Or, get a safer commodity like Ivan Rabb or Luke Kennard.

I am not super hyped about the guys in the mid to late first round but who knows… lots of upside guys there.

Yeah, Sacto did well. 

Can’t think of a draft where I can say that, so this might be that draft…

Celtics will be overthinking it.  ANY of the top 4 picks would have been ok for them.

Lakers are in the cat bird seat. At least one of those top two point guards will be on the board. Josh Jackson might be there, too.

Philly kinda lost. Didn’t get the Lakers pick… they also have some options at the 3 (or forward spots in general), and they have Ben Simmons as their lead ball handler (supposedly). Not sure what they do here…

I am not actually sold on Simmons as a full-time point guard. So, then you have Simmons and Saric as versatile forwards and Embiid as a super center. Now you get a top notch perimeter guy. If Jackson is a 2 guard and you think he can shoot, get him if he is the best guy on the board.  If Fultz is there you take him. If Ball is there, I think you take him. Lead guard who can run a team and hit the long ball. Use Simmons as a secondary ball handler. Both guys can run the offense, create, and make others better. 

But, hey, if Malik Monk is killing it in work outs, and his measurements are there, then why not take him? Upside: the guy is a good athlete who can flat out SCORE. Or, look at Fox. Lots of upside. I like him. Can drive and defend.  If Dennis Smith Jr. shows out, then they should look strongly at him.  Especially if he can prove that he can consistently shoot from outside (and mid-range).  The Sixers need to look at this from the perspective of "ok, who would best complete our CORE FOUR?" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 I might be the only Lakers fan who is not in love with the idea of drafting ball. I like him and think he’ll be a decent NBA player. He has great size and amazing passing instincts. He would be a good fit in the unselfish and uptempo type of system that Walton is trying to implement. However, there are just some glaring weaknesses in his game that I don’t see as easily correctable. The inability to get separation off the dribble and the lack of effectiveness in the pick and roll are troubling to me, and his shooting form will make it difficult for him to get shots off against NBA level defenders. The Lakers also badly need defense, and this is an area where ball won’t help. I personally think Josh Jackson might be a better selection for us, but I doubt we would pass on Ball.

[BeastMode716Participant]

 I’m just not in Luv w/ Ball. He was not the primary PG at UCLA – Holiday handled the PG duties & guarded the opposing PG & he can’t penetrate off the dribble so now we have 3 guys – Russell, Ingram & Ball – who can’t penetrate off the bounce & can’t defend Anyone???

Fultz’s ability to shoot the 3 off the dribble & Penetrate & attack the rim would make Russell & Ingram So much better b/c they can both shoot open J’s but right now they can’t get open b/c no one can penetrate.

I am Very scared Phila will get Porter with our 2018 pick & if that happens I will Vomit all over myself. 

We need at least on eplayer who can create a mismatch by drawing a double team – that is how the NBA works – Everything functions off one or two guys who can’t be guarded one V one – look what happened to San Antonio the minute Kawhi went down

If we do take Ball I think we need to pry PG13 loose from Indiana b/c PG13 will open up thye court for Ball to work & I think then I would Luv Ball but if people think Ball can be the primary initiator in the NBA when he could not do it in college I just don’t see it. I don;t want to be negative but I’m not sold.

 

 

 

 

[llperez]

It’s cool if your down on ball, but it’s hard to take your post seriously when you say he wasn’t primary pg at ucla or primary initiator, that’s just crazy talk. He absolutely was the primary pg and initiator. Also I’m aware he has trouble breaking guys down one on one, but people are going a little overboard on that like he just stood in one spot and swung it. While he rarely got totally by his man, he was able to get into the lane a good bit then use his combination of height, athleticism and court vision to read where the open man was and kick it out.

I mean seriously, he averaged a triple double in highschool on the #1 team in the nation, set the McDonald’s all American game assist record, then led the entire nation in assists his one year at ucla, and your knock on him is that he is not an initiator who can create for others?

[theballerwayParticipant]

best served taking Fultz. Thomas is in the last year of his contract next season and a valuable – 9mil or so. After his becoming such a valuable player/star and being kinda underpaid for 3 years Im guessing he is looking for a big pay day, probably his last. Not sure how much you want to invest in him at that stage because as potent as he is on off he will always have the defensive issue/height. Assuming Fultz is the player he appears to be (explosive scoring combo g) thats your replacement at a fractionof the cost and with great potential to boot.

I dont mind Jackson here to as a future 2 guard. if he or Brown  ever get that jumpshot going its gonna be problems

Philly needs to stay away from Tatum imo. He seems like the worst possible fit. I cant see space for his mid range iso game tbh esp with Simmons controlling the ball and Embid needing touches 

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