Lakers Thread

[johnwest1985]

What u guys think about Russel ?

to me he was a bit wild... lakers need some teamballers right now. He does seem talented but basketball is more then that. Clarkson though was great and to me can be a future all star.

[Kevin]

What happened? I fell asleep just before the game.

[[Q]]

Russell was okay. Didn't really blow me out of the water but had a decent game, showed some signs of greatness. If anything, he'll be at least a solid NBA player for years.

All that Randle hype and it looks like he's about the same skill-wise as he was last year. He's said he's lost weight despite Calabro & Reggie Miller commenting that he looks like he gained weight but he's probably quicker than he was last year. Still has trouble finishing at the rim, but he needs to use his quickness to his advantage. He's basically pulling a Blake griffin where he'll catch the ball, hold onto it for a couple seconds, then make a move. Just make a move before the defender can react!!

Yeah, I can see why KAT was the undisputed 1. He's got a nice shot, he's defensively solid, he surprised me with his passing/vision (helps being able to see over the defense) and he can make free throws. Most surprising was the passing for me, hadn't read much about that.

That's why I was hoping Minnesota would take okafor when those reports came out that flip really wanted him. But okafor must be a really inconsistent player if his stock kept falling the more they saw him play

[Jackal]

Been a while since Laker fans had anything to be excited about. The young guys are exciting.

Russell wasnt overly erratic I think, he's got vision and a passer and like Q said, he'll at least pan out to be a serviceable player. How far he goes/what he becomes are yet to be seen, he's only 19.

Upshaw has signed a 2 year deal with the Lakers. It's not that I'm thinking he'll be a GOAT, just reading that he's had issues and is trying to overcome them reminds me a bit of RonRon. And he's much more serviceable than our cheerleader Sacre so there's that.

Undrafted free agent center Robert Upshaw and the Los Angeles Lakers reached an agreement on a two-year deal, league sources informed Northeast Ohio Media Group. The seven-footer would have been a lottery pick had he not been kicked off of two collegiate programs (Fresno State and Washington) for disciplinary reasons. His skill-set has never been questioned. It was his character that was cause for concern.

The Fresno native showed his promise in his Summer League debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves by swatting away three shots in 12 minutes of play. If he continues to develop and mature, the sky is the limit and the Lakers might have gotten a steal.

In 19 games for the Huskies last season, Upshaw averaged 10.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 blocks.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf ... er_ro.html

I'm glad they signed him.

[Kevin]

Steal for the Lakers if he can stay away from trouble.

[air gordon]

Russell was okay. Didn't really blow me out of the water but had a decent game, showed some signs of greatness. If anything, he'll be at least a solid NBA player for years.
....
That's why I was hoping Minnesota would take okafor when those reports came out that flip really wanted him. But okafor must be a really inconsistent player if his stock kept falling the more they saw him play

It was just one summer league lol
I think KaT being drafted first had more to do with Kats overall skills versus your speculation of okafor being inconsistent. Were there any reports of this lost between his vibrant workouts for the lakers???

[Kevin]

If you're talking about Okafor, no. His workouts were actually "very good". As for KAT, he didn't workout for any team except the Wolves.

[mp3]

I think the Lakers should of drafted Okafor honestly I think he would of being a better fit for the future even of it ment trading Randle

[Bruce]

Some random musings:

I think talent-wise Russel right now falls somewhere in between Brandon Roy and Brian Shaw. Doesn't really play above the rim. Mostly his game relies on good decision making. I just hope he is not MCW 2.0.

Nance Jr. Has an unbelievable leaping ability, post move is almost non-existent. Right now he looks like a very poor man's Blake Griffin or a better Josh McRoberts.

[Jackal]

Randle hasn't impressed. So far his offense consists of going to the hole hard and not finishing or losing the ball.

[[Q]]

After signing Upshaw, I believe they got 15 guys under contract so there's your Lakers roster right there.

I hope Madsen gives Will Davis some minutes so he can shine and get an opportunity elsewhere. Clippers, maybe?

[Bruce]

Randle reminds me of glen davis. For an undersized PF, Randle appears to me like he has short arms a small hands. I think the small hands could contribute to him loosing the ball. I hope Randle could develop into a player like Larry Johnson or David West.

[Bruce]

After signing Upshaw, I believe they got 15 guys under contract so there's your Lakers roster right there.

I hope Madsen gives Will Davis some minutes so he can shine and get an opportunity elsewhere. Clippers, maybe?

How do you figure the roster is at 15? I count 14. Also, Sacre and Kelly might be in danger of being traded or cut though.

[[Q]]

I think Anthony Brown is guaranteed at least partially but yeah there is a chance big Rob, Nick young, or Kelly get moved

[air gordon]

Randle reminds me of glen davis. For an undersized PF, Randle appears to me like he has short arms a small hands. I think the small hands could contribute to him loosing the ball. I hope Randle could develop into a player like Larry Johnson or David West.

Pre injury grandmama and west are 2 entirely differently players. LJ reminded me of Barkley. Explosive to the basket, a beast in the post, and could run the floor.

If you're talking about Okafor, no. His workouts were actually "very good". As for KAT, he didn't workout for any team except the Wolves.

Yes heard the same and your gm was just doing his due diligence on him while the rest of the Lakers people wanted Russell

[Bruce]

I know the wins are meaningless in the summer league, but damn, mudiay and vonleh are doing much better than russel and randle. Mudiay and Vonleh are the two players playing the same positions as randle and russel picked immediately after them.

[NovU]

Yep. Summer league doesn't mean much especially for Randlo imo. He just came back from freak injury and he's not fully back to his original condition. Besides he's not lengthy enough to compensate his weakness much but he relies on his legs(ie. lateral quickness, deceptive moves, etc) heavily to play to his strength. I'm looking forward to his Preseason for now.



But D'Angelo Russell... ugh, cmon kid. Gimme one good game.

Winslow's been more disappointing though. Heat version of Otto Porter in making?

[Kevin]

Still praying to the almighty Scott he starts Randle and Russell together in the season so they can develop.

[[Q]]

Still praying to the almighty Scott he starts Randle and Russell together in the season so they can develop.

At this point, I hope Scott starts Brandon Bass instead of Randle so Julius can play against the benches of other teams. I have a feeling he'd get owned by most starting PFs in the league

[Kevin]

Learn from your mistakes

Also, your sig needs some changing

[Bruce]

lakers just dropped a game to a worse seeded dallas team. I think most of the blame should be put on russel, I think he has been trying too hard to pass to teammates when in fact they have have not felt out each others game yet. Maddog madsen should have just told russel. "It's the summer league kid. have fun, just flat out ball."

[mp3]

The funny thing with Russell is that Clarkson is playing point but Russ is turning the ball over like crazy!

I think the Lakers would of being better drafting Okafor and trading Randle, they could of gotten a better fit to play next to Okafor like Bass which they got anyway and have a more balanced team.

It's very early days but Clarkson/Russell doesn't look like a great pairing so far

[Kevin]

They did come close, though

[NovU]

Clarkson, Russell, and Randle need to learn to play off each other. They probably are too used to play as top dog on the team.

Summer League is just a street ball. Pre season with better coaching and actual systematical basketball should provide better forecast for this year's Randle and Russell.

[Bruce]

definitely it is premature to call Russell a bust, but to put things in perspective, I think a top draft pick should be able to rise above his peers. Even if it is in a street ball scenario like in Rucker park, legit NBA players should stand out, even the young inexperienced ones.

Anyway, here is an article I found on sbnation comapring the first PGs drafted and their summer league performance.

http://www.slcdunk.com/2013/7/14/452301 ... int-guards