I’ve heard some NBA followers compare the day of the NBA Draft to Christmas morning. The Ping-Pong balls delivered the kind of draft order that will make Devin Booker and others more money.
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D’Angelo Russell ends up as the third pick, quite a pick for the Sixers, timely as well. Jahlil Okafor and Kristaps Porzingis went with maroon. The fact is that none of these questions will be answered for the next few months. It would create one of the more imposing NBA frontcourts. It’s possible that there are several impact players in this draft, and it’s equally likely that some will be busts. The only change in the trade is that instead of Barnes for Lamb, it’s Ridnour and a 2016 second round pick for Lamb (again via Woj).
David Lee, drafted in 2005 (30 overall in the 1 round), last seen winning a title with the Golden State Warriors.
The Timberwolves are in an interesting position. The Wolves might now have a choice but to keep him. Between Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor, Towns has the better outside shooting touch. His ability to score in the paint because of his athleticism and size, combined with a smooth shooting touch, make the 6-foot-11-inch, 248-pound Towns a prototype center for today’s NBA.
Why they would not: Given the commitment Jackson made to Anthony last summer-and Anthony’s 31 years of age-the Knicks may decide timeline is more important than potential.
No new news yet on Demarcus Cousins, but if you haven’t seen his very transparent exchange with a fan on twitter last night about his situation, check that out here. He can sign a free-agent deal after the draft. Good thing, since he’ll be cast as the understudy to LA’s current star, 37-year-old Kobe Bryant.
It’s clear that Okafor is a fabulous talent: ESPN’s Chad Ford has called him the best low-post scorer in a decade.
This massive decision was always going to be about specific individuals, not the positions they play, and the vibe from Russell has been that he fits the mold of a leader, a winner and a Laker.
“Believe me, if I got a promise, I would let you know”, Towns told SI.com. At best, he can be the player who helps the 76ers return to prominence and success.
And it’s noteworthy that he shot considerably better from deep-45% as opposed to 31%-when he shared the floor with floor-spacing big man Okafor.
Delon Wright, PG, Utah: A combo guard who’s solid enough to play alongside Kyrie Irving in a pinch or take over point guard duties for decent stretches.
The Knicks, for the sake of everyone’s sanity, have to get this right-something they haven’t done since 1994. Either way, the Knicks should be better next season. Torch Red, Georgia Granite Gray and Volt Green replace the red, white and blue color scheme that had represented the team since June 2007. With Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo, they’re set in the backcourt and have an opportunity to snag a much-needed scoring punch in the frontcourt.
“Quinn has had really good workouts”, Krzyzewski said.
His offense is lacking, but it is probably undersold. Winslow would be a flawless fit for this team as they try to make the playoffs this year after years of rebuilding. Mudiay might not be the ideal point guard for the triangle, but at this point, he’s the safer of the two options left on the board. He would also be a physical presence on defense. Some say he’s going Utah with the 54th pick, but attitude problems may hamper his stock. The Cavs aren’t in any major need of anyone and Wright could be a nice piece to add to an already great team. There are too many forwards on this team, and there is no star to build around. “I think it’s hilarious”.
With the trade for Ersan Ilyasova, it appears as though the Pistons have decided that they will not bring back Greg Monroe.
Mario Hezonja, F, Croatia: Here’s where there’s some intrigue. He may be a bust, but the team needs a shooter, and he has a pure stroke. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.
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