Most... talented... draft class... EVER

Do people at SI have nothing to do all day?

Thursday is Draft day?

Great! I'll take a Bass Pale Ale, a Hefeweizen, and a Budweiser for my domestic friend.

Caharles, Absolute.....make mine a Fat Tire!

I think it would be more interesting to assume the players are all the same age (since we're having a hypothetical draft anyway)

BTW, how do they have Oden going before Socks?

Another idea that would be cool would be to take the "best of" each draft position.

Who's the best 24th pick ever? Who's the best #1?

I'll go out on a limb here and say the best #3 pick was MJ and the best #13 pick was KB24.

Interesting how well the Spurs come out. Oden 6 spots ahead of Bynum? How? Bynum has 2 and half years of NBA experience to Oden's zero. Oden had the much more serious injury. Crazy.

I think Bynum, with a bit of speculation of course, could have cracked the top 10. Ironic from last year to this year but it is shaping up to be a brilliant pick.

I have still yet to see Howard do anything when it counts. He has immense physical gifts. Le Bron was from another planet when he won that game against Detroit last year and also how he played in game 7 this year. Hard to argue against him number 1 but Kobe also hard to agrue at number 1. Kobe at worse is a clear number 2 for me although it would be a Bird Magic situation for 1 and 2.

I don't see how anybody can make an argument that Kobe shouldn't be #1 on that list. He's got another 5 years ahead of him, possibly tapering off a little towards the 35-36 year old range. Even after that, he could play another 2-4 years if he leans more on, say Bynum, if they are still together. He's the full package, he's better than Lebron, etc. at taking over games in the clutch, playing D on the other teams best man, plus he's probably the greatest box office draw in the league today. Nobody puts in more hours preparing for a game or season for that matter than Kobe. I don't see the logic in picking a Lebron or Wade or whoever, expecting them to ever approach the level Kobe is currently at and will stay at for the next 5 years.

I also think Oden is being overhyped and Durant should be much higher on that list but... this is why some people win fantasy leagues and others lose. LOL!

Hey... I didn't see Kwame on that list, the ROCK, the GREAT CALVES of the Sacred Trust, the man they call... CAKE...

Kobe's position was hurt (justifiably) relative to the others because of his age.

Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 25, 2008 at 10:15 AM

Agree!

I hope cats stop putting Luke Walton and Vladamir Radmonovic in trade proposals.

No NBA team on earth will trade for Luke with 5 yrs left on the ridiculous contract he signed with us at a vulnerable time last yr. We would not make that deal this yr with a stronger team, at least I hope not.

Nobody wants Radmanovic for 3 yrs at that price.
He might be worth something in 2 summers maybe if packaged with someone else.

We're screwed with him too.

A number of posts here about the age factor and I agree... it just struck me in reading the article, how much aging, through either years or injuries, is factoring into the current NBA landscape.... it will be interesting to see where the league is, 5 years or more from now. Will new stars fill the vacuum as quickly as the old ones leave?

If anyone gets read bored, take a look at the draft and list three players that you think might become true all-stars.

LakerBake,

I hope you are wrong. But in this case, you make total sense.

Hopefully where there is dumb, there is Memphis.

Regards,

The way it's looking right now, I'd guess that the Lakers expect Radmanovic to become the player they originally signed and fill the SF position with Ariza providing 15-20 minutes off the bench. Odom doesn't make any sense playing with the starting group so maybe the 6th man theory is right, he could be the leader of the second group which would have 3 point shooting in Farmar and Sasha to spread the floor with Odom playing the PF slot and either Mihm or KWAME BROWN at Center.

I don't know where this leaves Turiaf but that's a real solid second unit that could obviously be altered due to foul trouble or injury. Again, you have to ask, where does Luke Walton fit in here? He's not going to be on the first unit, he simply can't play the minutes without getting injured and Ariza, Sasha and Odom fill possible "Walton" slots on the second unit. Radmanovic is needed as a 3 point threat for the first unit unless the Lakers bring somebody else in, like Posey - would he even start? or ???

I'm starting to agree with the theory the best move the Lakers can make with Odom is to sit on him until the trade deadline and decide if they want anything back for him at all or just let his contract expire, allowing them to spend on the players they already have.

LakerBake,

Ok, Al Harrington wants out of Golden State. Nelson loves streaky-i dont care about defense-outside shooters.

Would you (don't bust a vein brother) and others trade for Al Harrington = Vlad and Mihm? Salaries match.

Scalaweenie was paid $15 mill for 3 years to sit on the bench for the Keltics. And I'm sure Golden State Donnie would give Vlad more PT.

Just curious...

Maxwell Smart (from the TV show), Jim West, and Sgt Troy from "The Rat Patrol"

Kwammas Brownus says this draft looks like the biggest collection of stiffs in years. The Lakers picked a great year to trade their pick away because they wouldn't have gotten anything of value anyway.

Who wants to lay odds Roy Hibbert is out of the league in 3 years? What about the Lopez brothers? Which one will end up in Europe in 3 years?

Kwammas Brownus also says, what's the difference in having the 25th pick or the 45th pick? I'd rather have the high second rounder because their contracts aren't guaranteed. Whatever happened to J. R. Pinnock? Kwammas Brownus doesn't remember flexing his massive calves over a laid out J. R. Pinnock on an NBA court...

Kwammas Brownus also says we should trade up for Bill Walker for the sheer entertainment value. Doesn't matter if he ever plays in the NBA, we all want to see him dunk in the preseason.

Charles -

If you're handing out drinks, I'd love to have a cask conditioned ale - served at room temperature, please!

Charles - Beasley's definitely a real good player but (like Love) he's a bit undersized at the 4 and I don't know if he can make it in the league as a 3.

exhelodrvr - excellent choices! What about Lurch? Can't teach size as they say.

AK, interesting idea by Chris Mannix, but I think he should have done an entire draft to fill full rosters and see what the teams would look like. Then each team, based on where they were in the draft order, would have to consider what players would be available after every other team had drafted and rather than take the player with the most potential, they may consider taking a center because there may not be any top caliber centers after the first round. Perimeter players, although all the Wades and Kobes would be gone, there maybe some reasonable players available in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. That would have been more interesting.

LakerBake

I agree that we are stuck with Walton for awhile unless he gets back on track, at which case it wouldnt matter. But Vlade on the other hand would be marketable for run and gun teams off the bench. He tends to shoot better in transition, then he does in the half court set. Now could we get back anything we need in return is the real question. With salary cap issues, perhaps an expiring contract would be enough.

MH

I'll tell you what...

Every player better come back next year with something added to their game.

Vlad, that means you buddy. It's a rare occasion that a team comes as close to a championship as we did, and I hope the players take advantage of their circumstances and come back next year with specific, tangible improvements. Bynum needs to hold the block better. Ariza needs a jumper. Kobe needs to work on his 3 point shooting and passing. A lot of players need to work on their shooting and defense. Maybe add some muscle.

Next year is going to be one heck of an exciting year. I can't wait for training camp to see how Bynum and Gasol mesh.

Wow.

Wes

Caliphilosopher - LakerFaze

Finger point at cha'

I'm looking thru the Sports Illustrated magazine that features KG and Bill Russell on the cover.
And I'm sick to my stomach.
I hate the Celtics.
However, I admire the toughness of:
The Big Ticket (Kevin Garnett)
The Truth (Paul Pierce)
Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen)
I love the Lakers.
However, we have a soft team.
The Lakers will not beat the Cs with Lamar/Luke/VladRad.
Man, I'm depressed all over again.

LAKERBAKE,

GOOD call and analysis with regards to Vlad and Walton...I am getting tired of all these trade scenarios by people who just package 2 or 3 of our worst players for one good player on another team...it's time to wake up...nobody would be willing to take Vlad or Walton..those two dudes are here to stay so let's make the best of it!

I am very intrigued by the discussion of Odom coming off the bench. Would it work? Who knows. With the Lakers front line being so big, spacing might not even be an issue since we'll be able to dominate the inside so much!

I know some of you are going to think I'm crazy, but:
How do you blow a 24 point lead in game 4?
How do lose by 39 points in game 6?
And how do you do the above to the hated Celtics?
The Celtic players understand the history being a Celtic.
The Celtic players understand the need to hate the Lakers.
The Lakers do not understand the 2 above sentences.
Sad.
PS: remember when Luke stated-after losing to Phoenix in 5 games-"let's win some championships?"
Kevin/Paul/Ray=passion.
Lamar/Luke/Vladimir=soft.
Again, sad.

dave m,
"What about Lurch? Can't teach size as they say"

Supposedly he's not a good teammate.

Odom off the bench makes the most sense from what I see. The first unit needs a 3 point threat to spread the floor, so you would have Fisher or Farmar as one, then the SF would be the other, allowing Kobe to either play outside or drive the lane. So Radmanovic, if he could up his defensive skills at all, would be the most likely starter. Walton can shoot the 3 but he can also go into a tailspin and he's also injury prone so I just don't see Phil depending on him as a starter.

You get towards a few minutes left in the first quarter, Odom could come in at PF, Bynum and Fisher could rest, Gasol moves up to C, and you now have this year's lineup with Farmar at PG.

If Radmanovic gets in foul trouble, this is where Luke would come in for his 3 point shooting to keep the floor spread OR Ariza develops his 3 point shot over the summer.

Second quarter, Kobe, Gasol and Radmanovic sit if Radmanovic wasn't already in foul trouble, Sasha, Ariza and the backup Center comes in, say Mihm. Again, you've got pretty good spacing with Farmar and Sasha hovering outside, Ariza will have to find a midrange game, Odom would be the anchor of the unit and we'll see if Mihm can get some of his offensive game back.

Then the starters would rotate back in. Where does Walton fit in this scenario? What about Turiaf? I'd like to keep Turiaf as injury protection but some other team may just make him a good offer.

I like MBenga as a person but... come on... dude is a stiff, he may get a little better but... hopefully Mihm will be ok otherwise... this is why I'd be all for bringing back Kwame. The 2nd unit would be pretty solid, we wouldn't need Kwame to score at all. MBenga isn't an offensive threat either - he just hasn't been studied yet by players around the league so whatever cute little shot he comes up with will eventually be STUFFED. I'd rather have Kwame's giant calves back there putting some wear and tear on the other team's starting Center. Then Bynum could come back in and whale on him.

That's a 10 deep lineup right there, and if we still have Luke, he would be the 11th in case there are any injuries.