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| These Three picks add to a very talented young Lakers Corps |
Fortunate or unfortunate Jordan Clarkson emerged and was arguably their best player down the stretch landing him on the First Team All-Rookie Team with 11.9 pts and 3.5 Assists. In paying roughly $3M for pick number 46 in the 2014 draft there was NO WAY the Lakers were NOT going to play Clarkson. They just probably could not predict that he would be their starter at the end of the season.
As far as starters THIS season?
Who knows. We DO know Kobe is back but this is a "player" that has logged 41 games the past two seasons combined.
It seems pretty clear that the plan is to focus on this re-build through the draft:
Julius Randle (7) and Jordan Clarkson (46) 2014 Draft: JC, obvi, created value with his stellar play and attitude. Meanwhile, Randle's value resides, still, with his play at Kentucky and projected promise since he unfortunately went down in game one of the 2014-15 season and never returned.
"It is heartbreaking, because I saw him all summer," coach Byron Scott said. "I saw the work that he was putting in. I saw the progression that he was making, the steps that he was taking to get better. And his first game, he goes down. I don't think anybody in that locker room is happy about the way we played, but we're even more saddened about the fact that we lost one of our young guys."
It WAS heart-breaking. It was sad to see the highest Lakers' Lottery pick since James Worthy, J Dub 42, go down before his first NBA game ended.
Perhaps Laker Fans should take a page from S.A.G and just SAY IT,
Maybe NOT, BUT We need something to reverse-this-curse.. riiight?
Riddled with injuries, Free-Agent deals gone wrong in a BIG DH12 kinda WAY, Nashty's "Neck," Kobe's, well.. Kobe...
(sigh)
A reflective moment for season's past. #LakerLore reigns supreme, "Sir" Charles. This is something you WILL never understand. I realize it must be tough for you..to stay away from the Hometown Buffet..
to pray and pray ev-er-y day
that you could PLAY
for the Lakers back-in-the-day
hey,
Oh...
But, you didn't Chuckles. You NEVER got a ring. One of the "top ten players to NEVER win an NBA Championship."
So, STOP.
STOP hating on the Lakers.
Lakers WIN Championships.
Barkley does NOT.
Tarik Black and Jabari Brown were both undrafted rookies in 2014 that landed on the D-Fenders before signing with the Lakers
Vander Blue is an undrafted rookie (2013) that found himself beginning the D-League season on the D-Fenders and ending the season with the Lakers, like Jabari, after Dwight Buycks got injured. He currently has a qualifying offer in front of him at roughly $1.2M
Dwight Buycks (Bikes) is back for the Lakers Summer League squad, challenging for a spot amidst a very competitive corps of players of the same ilk. A talented player like Brown, Black & Blue. Yep.
Larry Nance Jr. although probably more known for his now-famous " tweet " to his pal Kobe is a nice player the Lakers CLEARLY like from Wyoming. Oh yeah, it's Dr. Jerry Buss' alma mater. Go Cowboys!The Lakers jumped well ahead and "off-board" to draft Nance Jr. This will be a pick that haters (Barkley), especially of Mitch or Jim, will scrutinize. Other players with arguably more talent were available there but Lakers Brass be showin dem Balls and went with a high-flying player in "junior" who can defend well. Some say that with this player the Lakers say bye to R Kelly. I say "goodbye Wes Johnson." Both will probably be going for different reasons.
Anthony Brown slipped a bit to the Lakers at 34 and no doubt they were stoked to get him there. The Lakers get two very athletic, talented players that can shoot and defend multiple positions in Nance Jr. and Brown.
Robert Upshaw went undrafted. Dude had some heart-thing that popped up going into the NBA Combine . He has also had some issue with attitude and "other" alleged violations of team rules but has since committed to getting back on track. If this IS the case and the Lakers sign this 7-footer he becomes another fly-swatting Big like Hibbert that can hold down the paint and start the break especially with his skill at controlling the blocks.
and,
DLoading...
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| "with the second pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select..D'Angelo Russell..."
A bit of a surprise perhaps but not shocking. What's funny is hearing that the Lakers selected the guard over the big because "Today's NBA is changing."
Ummmm, yeah, so no other team needed a point guard in "yester-year's" game of round ball? C'mon. Grow up.
No.
I think it is a bit of a chance. With Okafor you are getting a talented Big that will come in and have some dominating games. How do his wheels hold up over 82 though?
The Lakers NEEDS were not limited. They needed a Big and a Point and, well, everything else too.
So, why not go with the flashy-passer from THEe Ohio State University?
One thing is for sure. The Lakers got younger.
THIS NBA Summer League Squad is DOPE:
Building through the draft and creating asset value
Baby Lake Show ?
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