Laker fans: Jahlil Okafor or D'Angelo Russell?

[1987_Lakers]

Okafor is a great offensive talent, I love his moves on the block, but his lack of defense concerns me. He looks very slow and uncoordinated when he is defending and the fact that he isn't much of a rim protector his a turn off.

Russell is a straight up skilled scorer and another big plus is that he has elite court vision, guards like that are hard to find.

Right now I'm leaning towards Russell.

[Dr Seuss]

What makes your thread better than the identical one midway down page 1?

[HOoopCityJones]

Let me ask you a question OP, why are people so quick to highlight Okafor's lack of defense in a depleted big league but don't inquire the same of Russell? who if he comes to the Lakers will be facing the best guards the league has to offer almost nightly.


Okafor has the higher ceiling in my opinion, Russell has pre draft hype.

[1987_Lakers]

What makes your thread better than the identical one midway down page 1?

Sorry, didn't see it.

[PejaNowitzki]

It'd be awesome if people looked down the front page at least halfway to see if the same exact thread wasn't already there before making it again. Just saying.

[1987_Lakers]

Let me ask you a question OP, why are people so quick to highlight Okafor's lack of defense in a depleted big league but don't inquire the same of Russell? who if he comes to the Lakers will be facing the best guards the league has to offer almost nightly.


Okafor has the higher ceiling in my opinion, Russell has pre draft hype.

Interior defense is more important in the NBA, if you are a Center and you can't play D then there is a good chance you won't be an elite defensive team unless you have a good amount of elite perimeter defenders. and you can't really play Okafor at the 4 neither since he doesn't have a shooting touch.

Okafor by the looks of it will be like Al Jefferson, good numbers, but not much impact because of his D.

[Rooster]

Okafor is a great offensive talent, I love his moves on the block, but his lack of defense concerns me. He looks very slow and uncoordinated when he is defending and the fact that he isn't much of a rim protector his a turn off.

Russell is a straight up skilled scorer and another big plus is that he has elite court vision, guards like that are hard to find.

Right now I'm leaning towards Russell.

I can understand your concern about Okafor defense or apparently lack of but if he has an elite offense, you can find players to complement him at both ends.

The only thing that turn me off on Russell was people are saying that he has an average athleticism so his upside might be limited especially for a guard.

I've been wrong before, I'm just hoping Lakers get it right. I know both of them have a couple of workout so Lakers must be doing their due diligence.

[dreamwarrior]

His defense is terrible. Even in high school he barely managed 2.7bpg.

[Genaro]

Okafor. He can work on his defense but his offense skills are rarer to find.
Talented guards aren't really hard to find and Russell has a higher possibility to bust.

[raprap]

Okafor's motor is lacking. Russell would be my pick. Cousins + Russell or Randle + Russell would be great for the Lakers.

[Optimus Prime]

Boogie Cousins.

Barring that, Okafor.

[longtime lurker]

Jerry West said that he believes Russell will be the best player in the draft and he sees him as a 15 time allstar. Never bet against The Logo. I'm all in for Russell, the game is changing and we can find defensive bigs in free agency.

[NBASTATMAN]

DRussell looks to be a star in the making

[ClipperRevival]

Jesus Christ, 4 of the 5 experts on the ESPN predraft show said Russell is the best player in the draft, has special skills and expects him to be a superstar. I know it's not a popular pick but we can't pass on this guy. We just can't. We will live to regret it.

[longtime lurker]

Jesus Christ, 4 of the 5 experts on the ESPN predraft show said Russell is the best player in the draft, has special skills and expects him to be a superstar. I know it's not a popular pick but we can't pass on this guy. We just can't. We will live to regret it.

Looks at username, looks at bolded, looks back at user name