A Simmons, Randle pairing

 Simmons will be able to guard 85% of SF’s in the league pretty easily.  He is a much better defender on the perimeter than he is in the paint.  Though his offensive game is probably more suited to play PF in todays game.  

I know I am in the minority that believes they could definitely play together.  

They would definitely get up and down the court.

People always are so quick to point to rim protection.  But the first step in protecting the rim is keeping guys in front of you.  They would be able to do that most of the time.

Of course there are exceptions that would absolutely shred them… but they are outliers.  

 Simmons will be able to guard 85% of SF’s in the league pretty easily.  He is a much better defender on the perimeter than he is in the paint.  Though his offensive game is probably more suited to play PF in todays game.  

I know I am in the minority that believes they could definitely play together.  

They would definitely get up and down the court.

People always are so quick to point to rim protection.  But the first step in protecting the rim is keeping guys in front of you.  They would be able to do that most of the time.

Of course there are exceptions that would absolutely shred them… but they are outliers.  

Randle likes to drive from either elbow. Simmons will play more from the perimeter and wing. Both will rebound like crazy. The only thing they might want to add is a rim protector and a couple shooters. I’d entertain Clarkson + Randle for a top 6 pick if Simmons was on board but if not I can live with Randle. Egos would determine if they can play together. Good players can play together it’s just basketball.

Randle likes to drive from either elbow. Simmons will play more from the perimeter and wing. Both will rebound like crazy. The only thing they might want to add is a rim protector and a couple shooters. I’d entertain Clarkson + Randle for a top 6 pick if Simmons was on board but if not I can live with Randle. Egos would determine if they can play together. Good players can play together it’s just basketball.

 My question is who plays center? Both are clearly best suited to play pf imo and neither will provide much rim protection. While they are not exactly similar as players they both operate most effectively from the same areas of the floor. I don’t believe you can play Simmons at SF unless you pair him with bigs that can shoot, which the Lakers don’t have. I just think it would be an awkward pairing that would create all sorts of spacing problems.

That’s not necessarily to say I don’t think they should draft Simmons if they are in position too. I think he projects as the better long term prospect than randle. I just think that if they do draft Simmons, it may be time to start gauging the market to see what they can get for randle.

 My question is who plays center? Both are clearly best suited to play pf imo and neither will provide much rim protection. While they are not exactly similar as players they both operate most effectively from the same areas of the floor. I don’t believe you can play Simmons at SF unless you pair him with bigs that can shoot, which the Lakers don’t have. I just think it would be an awkward pairing that would create all sorts of spacing problems.

That’s not necessarily to say I don’t think they should draft Simmons if they are in position too. I think he projects as the better long term prospect than randle. I just think that if they do draft Simmons, it may be time to start gauging the market to see what they can get for randle.

 Simmons and Randle could both play the SF/PF position and are both explosive and great out in transition. They could be weak defensively but if you can get an athletic young dominant rim protector like a Drummond/ Whiteside that would be ideal. 

 Simmons and Randle could both play the SF/PF position and are both explosive and great out in transition. They could be weak defensively but if you can get an athletic young dominant rim protector like a Drummond/ Whiteside that would be ideal. 

 If we are considering the Lakers taking Simmons and playing him as an SF mainly with Randle at PF then I’d guess they would want to target a rim protecting C.

Al Horford would be a top FA target for a lot of teams and would give offensive options but I don’t see him being an ideal fit for the Lakers as he is more an all round player. Noah is no longer a stater at the Bulls so would he be any better than bringing Hibbert back.

Whiteside is perhaps the most interesting as he is younger and would run the floor far better than Hibbert in particular but a lot of teams will be looking at him and Miami can offer him an extra year if needed. This will be Whiteside’s first big deal and as he will be 27 next summer, he’ll probably want to take the best offer he can get as it will gbe his best chance to really cash in.

I guess that Detroit will match any offers for Drummond so I’d discount him for that reason.

With teams going smallball the Lakers could go with Simmons and Randle as a frontcourt on occasions if they could add a good defensive SF to help reduce any size disadvantage.

 If we are considering the Lakers taking Simmons and playing him as an SF mainly with Randle at PF then I’d guess they would want to target a rim protecting C.

Al Horford would be a top FA target for a lot of teams and would give offensive options but I don’t see him being an ideal fit for the Lakers as he is more an all round player. Noah is no longer a stater at the Bulls so would he be any better than bringing Hibbert back.

Whiteside is perhaps the most interesting as he is younger and would run the floor far better than Hibbert in particular but a lot of teams will be looking at him and Miami can offer him an extra year if needed. This will be Whiteside’s first big deal and as he will be 27 next summer, he’ll probably want to take the best offer he can get as it will gbe his best chance to really cash in.

I guess that Detroit will match any offers for Drummond so I’d discount him for that reason.

With teams going smallball the Lakers could go with Simmons and Randle as a frontcourt on occasions if they could add a good defensive SF to help reduce any size disadvantage.

 Not sure I buy this whole "need a rim protecting center" to pair with the two of them.  If you are going to play the two of them together it needs to be in small ball lineups.  Pairing both of them with a shot blocking center would absolutely destroy any spacing they could possibly have.  Destroy it.

People still treat the center position as if it’s one where there are still 15 centers in the NBA who can give you 20+ if you throw someone small on them, which in truth there are only a handful.  

You lose shot blocking at the rim, but like I said previously… if you have enough speed on the floor to cut off driving lanes and close out on shooters then you need a "rim protecting" big even less.  Doesn’t GSW prove this routinely?  Draymond Green will pick up a block plus a game sure, but it’s not like he’s protecting the rim.  He’s moving his feet, keeping his hands in the air and closing out while switching on perimeter shooters.  This is where the game is going.  Where you can fit the most positionless people on a court at one time.  That is what I am referring to when I say small ball anyways.

Why can’t Randle play small ball center?  Because of his standing reach?  Please.  That comes into play only a handful of times a game, and there are other ways to make up for it…. ala preventing the ball from getting into the paint in the first place.

 Not sure I buy this whole "need a rim protecting center" to pair with the two of them.  If you are going to play the two of them together it needs to be in small ball lineups.  Pairing both of them with a shot blocking center would absolutely destroy any spacing they could possibly have.  Destroy it.

People still treat the center position as if it’s one where there are still 15 centers in the NBA who can give you 20+ if you throw someone small on them, which in truth there are only a handful.  

You lose shot blocking at the rim, but like I said previously… if you have enough speed on the floor to cut off driving lanes and close out on shooters then you need a "rim protecting" big even less.  Doesn’t GSW prove this routinely?  Draymond Green will pick up a block plus a game sure, but it’s not like he’s protecting the rim.  He’s moving his feet, keeping his hands in the air and closing out while switching on perimeter shooters.  This is where the game is going.  Where you can fit the most positionless people on a court at one time.  That is what I am referring to when I say small ball anyways.

Why can’t Randle play small ball center?  Because of his standing reach?  Please.  That comes into play only a handful of times a game, and there are other ways to make up for it…. ala preventing the ball from getting into the paint in the first place.

 I’m starting to think that a Simmons and Randle frontcourt could be fun to watch along with Russell, Clarkson, and a 3 and D guy.  This would all be contigent on Randle or Simmons becoming more respectable away from the basket but with the way the NBA is trending with small ball, this lineup could be fun.  Obviously there would be concerns about their lack of size and who guards the other teams center, but both of these guys are great rebounders and would be diffucult for the opposing team’s center to guard as well.  If the Lakers were to draft Simmons, I’d still definitely want them to have a traditional center but this could be a dangerous offensive lineup in theory.  

 I’m starting to think that a Simmons and Randle frontcourt could be fun to watch along with Russell, Clarkson, and a 3 and D guy.  This would all be contigent on Randle or Simmons becoming more respectable away from the basket but with the way the NBA is trending with small ball, this lineup could be fun.  Obviously there would be concerns about their lack of size and who guards the other teams center, but both of these guys are great rebounders and would be diffucult for the opposing team’s center to guard as well.  If the Lakers were to draft Simmons, I’d still definitely want them to have a traditional center but this could be a dangerous offensive lineup in theory.  

 In an era of positionless basketball, I think you just put Simmons on the floor and let him do what he does without trying to give it a name.  The other four guys on the floor are going to be the ones that need defined roles.

Years ago, in the Magic Johnson era, Pat Riley said that the ultimate basketball team was five 6′ 9" guys who were all multiskilled and able to play anywhere on the floor.  We are seeing more of these guys, for sure.  Imagine if the GSW "small ball" system was pulled off by a group of guys around 6′ 9" instead of 6′ 2" to 6′ 8".

 In an era of positionless basketball, I think you just put Simmons on the floor and let him do what he does without trying to give it a name.  The other four guys on the floor are going to be the ones that need defined roles.

Years ago, in the Magic Johnson era, Pat Riley said that the ultimate basketball team was five 6′ 9" guys who were all multiskilled and able to play anywhere on the floor.  We are seeing more of these guys, for sure.  Imagine if the GSW "small ball" system was pulled off by a group of guys around 6′ 9" instead of 6′ 2" to 6′ 8".

If the Lakers get Simmons I feel they are going to try to become Warriors 2.0, that’s the entire point of them drafting Clarkson. I also think Luke Walton will be the Lakers head coach next year. Simmons, Randle, Clarkson, and Russell can all pass and score. With a head coach who can put the pieces into place they will be perfect. We also can’t act like all of these players have reached their max potential. Clarkson, Randle, Simmons and Russell all have room to grow and they all seem to be really hard workers, I believe they can not only play together but they can be dominant together. 

If the Lakers get Simmons I feel they are going to try to become Warriors 2.0, that’s the entire point of them drafting Clarkson. I also think Luke Walton will be the Lakers head coach next year. Simmons, Randle, Clarkson, and Russell can all pass and score. With a head coach who can put the pieces into place they will be perfect. We also can’t act like all of these players have reached their max potential. Clarkson, Randle, Simmons and Russell all have room to grow and they all seem to be really hard workers, I believe they can not only play together but they can be dominant together. 

 Spacing would be a issue with both Simmons and Randle on the court. The Lakers would need a stretch C to maked things work

 Spacing would be a issue with both Simmons and Randle on the court. The Lakers would need a stretch C to maked things work

If the Lakers were lucky enough to get Ben Simmons, but not lucky enough to land one of the big whale free agents (of course KD would make rebuilding much easier), then I believe they have to be willing to adjust their rebuild to put Simmons in the best position to succeed. Teams should not try to make themselves easy to defend, and there is a real risk to having too many ball dominant players who are not great off the ball. Julius Randle is an in-the-paint scorer. Jordan Clarkson is pretty decent as a tough and/or bad shot maker, but is not a great spot up shooter. D’Angelo Russell is only a 19-year old rookie, but clearly does not have NBA range yet.  They will also have to spend around $50 million in free agency just to get to the required 90 percent of the $89 million cap next year (Boban’s getting paid!). In my ideal world where Simmons is in the mix, I would look at Jordan Clarkson as a 2nd unit lead guard and look to deal Julius Randle for either another first round pick or another young player. I think a guy like out-of-favor Markieff Morris would be an option . Ryan Anderson is another option to pair at the forward spot. Andrew Nicholson has finally gone from step-inside the arc range to 3-point range, and now sees the floor in Orlando. He could be a nice backup signing, and one who could emerge. Bradley Beal would probably have any offer matched by Washington, but Evan Fournier could be a nice option. Kent Bazemore will be a free agent as well and has made a decent living in the corners for the Hawks. These are not necessarily guys who get the Lakers from 10 wins to 50, but they are guys who can help create a shape for how the team would want to be for the next 10-15 years with Simmons.

If the Lakers were lucky enough to get Ben Simmons, but not lucky enough to land one of the big whale free agents (of course KD would make rebuilding much easier), then I believe they have to be willing to adjust their rebuild to put Simmons in the best position to succeed. Teams should not try to make themselves easy to defend, and there is a real risk to having too many ball dominant players who are not great off the ball. Julius Randle is an in-the-paint scorer. Jordan Clarkson is pretty decent as a tough and/or bad shot maker, but is not a great spot up shooter. D’Angelo Russell is only a 19-year old rookie, but clearly does not have NBA range yet.  They will also have to spend around $50 million in free agency just to get to the required 90 percent of the $89 million cap next year (Boban’s getting paid!). In my ideal world where Simmons is in the mix, I would look at Jordan Clarkson as a 2nd unit lead guard and look to deal Julius Randle for either another first round pick or another young player. I think a guy like out-of-favor Markieff Morris would be an option . Ryan Anderson is another option to pair at the forward spot. Andrew Nicholson has finally gone from step-inside the arc range to 3-point range, and now sees the floor in Orlando. He could be a nice backup signing, and one who could emerge. Bradley Beal would probably have any offer matched by Washington, but Evan Fournier could be a nice option. Kent Bazemore will be a free agent as well and has made a decent living in the corners for the Hawks. These are not necessarily guys who get the Lakers from 10 wins to 50, but they are guys who can help create a shape for how the team would want to be for the next 10-15 years with Simmons.