Karl Towns vs Jahlil Okafor

[Malta]

Does Towns shy away from contact? Even if he's not a true center, with the way the league is shifting, it'd make me think Towns and Randle could work in the front court. He's already blocking twice as many shots as Okafor. I'd much rather have the guy who's already committed defensively than a giant question mark at that end of the floor.

He's getting better at playing with contact, he's been on a roll lately and has been pretty physical.

I don't think playing him at the 5 would be the best way to maximize his talents, he's athletic enough to cover PnR's and he'll have a height advantage over most PFs if you play him at the 4. The best way to utilize him is playing him next to a legit center, I think you're overestimating the move to smaller lineups, the vast majority of the best teams in the league have big centers.

You're right though, his defense is already way ahead of Okafors, and those blocks he gets are in 10 less minutes than Jahlil. I think the Lakers would give D'angelo Russell a serious look at 1 as well, you have the worst collection of guards in the NBA right now.

 

[The War Report]

 

[Figdcotton]

U nikkas buggin.. Okafor is gonna be a monster in the league.. Towns is gonna be cool doe.. I never put much stock in nikkas who go to Kentucky now.. After ad it's like if u choose Kentucky I just feel u can't be a star u a I need help type player.. Sleeper of this draft will be rashaad Vaughn though.. Monster scorer

 

[Regular_P]

He's getting better at playing with contact, he's been on a roll lately and has been pretty physical.

I don't think playing him at the 5 would be the best way to maximize his talents, he's athletic enough to cover PnR's and he'll have a height advantage over most PFs if you play him at the 4. The best way to utilize him is playing him next to a legit center, I think you're overestimating the move to smaller lineups, the vast majority of the best teams in the league have big centers.

You're right though, his defense is already way ahead of Okafors, and those blocks he gets are in 10 less minutes than Jahlil. I think the Lakers would give D'angelo Russell a serious look at 1 as well, you have the worst collection of guards in the NBA right now.

They absolutely have the worst perimeter talent in the league, but give me a big who can play defense first.

Will Randle have any value this offseason coming off the injury? What if they can trade him for a wing, draft Towns and sign Koufos? They'd still have money for Dragic or to make a nice offer to a guy like Khris Middleton and hope Milwaukee doesn't match.

 

[Malta]

They absolutely have the worst perimeter talent in the league, but give me a big who can play defense first.

Will Randle have any value this offseason coming off the injury? What if they can trade him for a wing, draft Towns and sign Koufos? They'd still have money for Dragic or to make a nice offer to a guy like Khris Middleton and hope Milwaukee doesn't match.

There are going to be some unrestricted free agent bigs on the market -

Robin Lopez
DeAndre Jordan
Tyson Chandler
Roy Hibbert (has player option, may not pick it up)

You also have two first rounders and a big could slip, I think D'Angelo Russell is the guy the Lakers would want, they were linked to Exum last year. Koufos would be a good player to go after, but I don't really think he's a starter on a good team. Randle has value, but nobody is giving up a first rounder without heavy protections for him, the NBA is all about those protections now

 

[Recca Gatsby]

How drastically have mock drafts changed since the beginning

 

[Malta]

How drastically have mock drafts changed since the beginning

D'Angelo Russell is really the only big change, he went from like mid-first round to now being top 3 and in some cases number 1.


Also, Kelly Oubre and Cliff Alexander are dropping like rocks, didn't like either of them to be honest.

 

[hood b. goode]

anyone got Towns highlights? D angelo Russell highlights?

 

[Malta]

anyone got Towns highlights? D angelo Russell highlights?

 

[Sensitive Blake Griffin]

He's getting better at playing with contact, he's been on a roll lately and has been pretty physical..

yeah, he tried to avoid contact earlier in the year but the past few games he has been playing aggressive and strong as fukk down low. He used to take a little too long to make a move, now he catches the ball and within 2 dribbles he makes a strong and very quick move.

 

[Recca Gatsby]

D'Angelo Russell is really the only big change, he went from like mid-first round to now being top 3 and in some cases number 1.


Also, Kelly Oubre and Cliff Alexander are dropping like rocks, didn't like either of them to be honest.

Damn Russell is really legit like that, that is shocking. Hope it ain't just some fluke college shyt.

Kelly Oubre shocked to hear that aswell, Cliff....well I never really liked Cliff either.

 

[DredScott]

if i'm a GM there's no question that i'd take okafor over towns barring some kind of injury. okafor is so advanced offensively and a true back to the basket player while towns reminds me of too many PF/C prospects that prefer to drift around on the perimeter instead of going inside and using their size.

I also think aside from okafor holding a little too much weight which hinders his defense, the fact that Duke has nobody else really to play the post effectively on offense is what keeps him from being a better defender. he can't afford to play aggressive D and possibly pick up fouls, cause there's literally nobody else to go inside to if he gets in foul trouble, while kentucky has like 4 or 5 legit post players that can spell towns if he gets in foul trouble...

 

[IGSaint12]

Lakers need to get Towns and pair him with Randle.

 

[Malta]

Damn Russell is really legit like that, that is shocking. Hope it ain't just some fluke college shyt.

Kelly Oubre shocked to hear that aswell, Cliff....well I never really liked Cliff either.

Yeah, Russell is averaging 20/6/5 on 48% and 45% from 3, those kind of numbers from a 6'5" freshmen guard is automatic top 3. There's nothing flukey about it, he's scoring with ease and he was a McDonalds All American, just that nobody expected him to be this good.

Oubre will be a lottery pick, but he was among the top 5 early in the year, now he's on the verge of falling out the top 10 and Winslows/Johnson/Hezonja should all go before him. I knew Alexander was gonna be the second it came out he was only 6'8", all that bully ball @ 6'8" 260 is cool in HS but you better be insanely athletic to make up for the height in the NBA.

 

[Regular_P]

There are going to be some unrestricted free agent bigs on the market -

Robin Lopez
DeAndre Jordan
Tyson Chandler
Roy Hibbert (has player option, may not pick it up)

You also have two first rounders and a big could slip, I think D'Angelo Russell is the guy the Lakers would want, they were linked to Exum last year. Koufos would be a good player to go after, but I don't really think he's a starter on a good team. Randle has value, but nobody is giving up a first rounder without heavy protections for him, the NBA is all about those protections now

Who are quality bigs who could slip around the 20-25 range where Houston's pick will probably land? Koufos might not be a starter on a good team, but he's a decent stop gap for a rebuilding team and he'll look like Kareem compared to Sacre. He's hungry for more playing time, so he'd be a relatively easy guy to sign. Lopez, DJ, Chandler and Hibbert are in much better situations than what they'd go to with the Lakers.

I was thinking if they traded Randle for a quality wing and drafted Towns. You think Russell or Towns has a higher ceiling? With where the Lakers are at, I want the most talented player and work out the roster afterwards.

I could be rooting for two former Buckeyes next season.