YourMajesty
F*ck Ya Corny Debates
^^ it's a 100% chance we take a point guard now after the D-Lo trade
Ballers Wanna Ball, Rollers Wanna Roll, But We're Taking All--The Official 2017-2018 Lakers Thread
- Thread starter Admiral Ackbar
- Start date
Reid2Achieve
Superstar
He's not elite at anything right now but he has an advanced skill set for his age. Nobody is saying he is a potential top 5 player...but what player at his age can score from everywhere on the floor and make advanced reads in the pick and roll? His only real weakness is man to man defense and consistency. That's not unusual for a young player. We are going to go through the same growing pains all over again if we select Ball or any other young point guard. He's going to struggle for a few years just like D'Angelo did and virtually any other young PG prospect.
Russell's strengths can be sharpened to make him an elite player. If he improves his shooting to shoot 40% from three and strengthens up to absorb contact at the rim and finish better then his game would progress to another level. Like 22 and 6 at the least.
Let's be 100. You're hate of D'lo has nothing to do with basketball and i respect that. Out of all the D'lo haters I respect you the most because your consistent and it's all apart of the overarching OSU Michigan beef. But trying to use the numbers to justify trading D'lo isn't gonna work
. For his age, position, and minutes on court, he was an above average prospect by any stat or metric. Maybe not a superstar but he was no bust
Agreed. @Regular_P wants to use numbers now and cite minor knee injuries. Well we could use Ingram as an example of a player who was objectively bad in his rookie year. There is little to no precedent for a player who's stats were as bad as his rookie season stats were to turn in to a star. Not to mention he has already missed games for knee issues as well. But he's untouchable... and I don't disagree.
But half of the fan base and half of the organization seemingly never liked Russell for intangible reasons like he is "aloof" or "immature" - or because he wasn't Okafor. That's pretty much the organization's only justification. It can't be production. He was the best player on the team, production wise. One of the best PG prospects in the last 5 years. And was only 21 in his second year.
They Lakers gave up on him and sold low because they didn't like his personality
MCW and Ricky Davis put up good numbers on bad teams too.
Just by the eye test, Russell looked like a guy who didn't care and floated through games on a regular basis. I think he has a natural feel for the game and gets to spots he shouldn't be able to. His athleticism is sub-par for the league and with arthritis in his knees at 21, that was a major (and legitimate) concern to me.
Mitch wouldn't have gone out like this
Mitch went out signing Deng and Mozgov to AWFUL contracts, setting back the rebuild a couple years. Fukk Mitch.
ALonelyDad
Veteran
I still can't believe it and especially now that the PG trade is looking less likely
I AM WARHOL
Veteran
Mcw had a fatal flaw. Ricky Davis wasn't even a quarter of the player Russell is at the same age. Neither are comparable st all.MCW and Ricky Davis put up good numbers on bad teams too.
Just by the eye test, Russell looked like a guy who didn't care and floated through games on a regular basis. I think he has a natural feel for the game and gets to spots he shouldn't be able to. His athleticism is sub-par for the league and with arthritis in his knees at 21, that was a major (and legitimate) concern to me.
Moving up and down the court like Patrick Ewing on the Sonics is a fatal flaw to me.
Bilz
Superstar
I don't think his numbers were a problem. Ingram had awful numbers but they liked what he was doing.
Russell just doesn't look like the player he was in college. I don't know if it's a decline in athleticism or if he is purposely playing closer to the ground in fear of killing his knees more. He doesn't seem like a guy who can be a primary distributor on a good team, but if he's just playing off ball, is he any better than the post Achilles version of Wes Matthews? That's not a bad thing but you can't still value that player like he is a #2 pick.
Bilz
Superstar
Moving up and down the court like Patrick Ewing on the Sonics is a fatal flaw to me.
DLo will do well, but he won't contend for MVP awards
MustafaSTL
Achievement In Every Field of Human Endeavor
Geez, now Russ is gonna be a yearly MVP candidate and clear top 2 guard in the league? Just say you don't like the trade, no need to go too far,
ALonelyDad
Veteran
Btw Swaggy p finally opted out, most likely done with lakers.
ALonelyDad
Veteran
King Biko
A King With A Concubine
Moving up and down the court like Patrick Ewing on the Sonics is a fatal flaw to me.
You really over hyping the knee thing right now. I know that might be your way of dealing with the trade but after trade deadline he was easily the Lakers best player and showed a huge improvement after Lou left.