We all know why Lakers drafted Russel instead of okafor

[retaxis]

Everyone knows Russel was not a top player in the draft but the only reason they drafted Russel was because they thought Byron Scott (who coached Cp3 and Irving) and Kobe (also ball dominant guard) could show him the way to be an all time great (we will see how that goes). They were afraid that there was no one on the team to teach Okafor how to be an all-time great big man and that Okafor may not have ended up as great as his potential would have allowed him.

Now its all up to either Kobe or Byron to make it up to the Lakers because they were the ones who wanted to draft an average player and teach him the ropes of their games. They obviously threw away the opportunity of a great player because they wanted to off-load knowledge on an average player so lets see whether Russel can become one of the greats. Good luck.

[Cocaine80s]

Dont they have Kareem?

[NZStreetBaller]

That little italian dude is better then russell....

[Gileraracer]

If they want, I think they can afford some of the best. Didn't several lakers train with Hakeem in the past?

[senelcoolidge]

Is he still out with a bruised ass? Softy. He cares more about his hair cut than his game.

[Vaniiiia]

Or because he's marketable.

Kobe basically ruined any chance of them contending now or in the immediate future, due to his extremely cancerous, self-absorbed, narcissistic, anti-social personality.

Lakers management is only concerned with selling tickets now. Kobe single-handedly ruined the winning tradition of a once great franchise.

I'll never let him live that down. I'll be here on my death bed talking about how Kobe ruined everything for the Lakers and gave the Clippers a chance to take over

[outbreak]

OP is an idiot.

The reason they took russell is the same reason other teams were high on him, he looked great in work outs against other college prospects. His issues have been coming with the increased pace of actual NBA games. A lot of rookies (especially guards) take time to adjust to the pace of the game and I expect Russell will be no different. The big question mark though is that he still looks sub par in his foot speed so will need to find ways of over coming that which isn't impossible. Just don't expect him to be an over night star and he'll be fine eventually, hopefully the lakers fanbase and media can accept that and not hamper his development though.

[bobopenguin]

as long as this guy turns out better than okafor i am all good.
if not, fk BS and Jimmy..

[DaOldLion]

Or because he's marketable.

Kobe basically ruined any chance of them contending now or in the immediate future, due to his extremely cancerous, self-absorbed, narcissistic, anti-social personality.

Lakers management is only concerned with selling tickets now. Kobe single-handedly ruined the winning tradition of a once great franchise.

I'll never let him live that down. I'll be here on my death bed talking about how Kobe ruined everything for the Lakers and gave the Clippers a chance to take over

in a thread about a completely different player, you managed to name drop Kobe 3 times while dedicating all but 4 words of your post to him

good job you obsessed loser

[Akrazotile]

If they want, I think they can afford some of the best. Didn't several lakers train with Hakeem in the past?

So many fans think great players can just bequeath mystical secrets onto others at thei position that will make them much better.

By the time you get to the pros, youve learned eveything about the game. Coaches are there to make substitutions and game plans. Not to show a guy how to play point guard.

Only person gonna make you better at that point is you.

[outbreak]

So many fans think great players can just bequeath mystical secrets onto others at thei position that will make them much better.

By the time you get to the pros, youve learned eveything about the game. Coaches are there to make substitutions and game plans. Not to show a guy how to play point guard.

Only person gonna make you better at that point is you.

Shooting coaches may be the exception, due to the mechanics of a jump shot specialists who can come in an analysis a players form and find a way to adjust it while keeping it natural for the player can make a difference.

[DoctorP]

No. Don't complicate it. They Fd up. Okafor will be good. Probably better than EMeka.

[no pun intended]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the underlying rationale behind drafting Russell.

The Lakers front office gambled on signing an all-star bigman this offseason, but failed. Drafting Russell would have allowed them to build around that big.

[warriorfan]

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