Now that the dust has settled and the speculation is over, we finally know who the Los Angeles Lakers have decided on with their multiple draft picks. The team surprised many by opting for guard D’Angelo Russell over traditional center Jahlil Okafor and only time will tell if they made the right choice.
Additionally, the Lakers took high-energy forward Larry Nance Jr. from Wyoming with the 27th overall pick, another surprise considering Georgia State’s R.J. Hunter was still available. With their second-round pick the Lakers took Stanford’s Anthony Brown, a prototypical ‘3-and-D’ wing.
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With so many possibilities in free agency and trades, it is anyone’s guess as to whether all three of these players are on the roster by the time training camp rolls around. Until something changes, we can go forward under the assumption that all three will be with the team moving forward.
The question now becomes, what exactly did the Lakers get with their draft picks and how good can these guys really be? For those who aren’t too familiar with the new players, I am here to give you a best and worst case scenario for each of the selections. This is not to say that these players will definitely reach these heights, but rather to give you an idea of what each is capable of should they fulfill their potential.
CONTINUE READING: Best And Worst Case Scenarios For The Lakers’ 2015 Draft Picks
D’Angelo Russell – Best Case: Brandon Roy, Worst Case: O.J. Mayo
Russell has drawn comparisons to players like Stephen Curry and James Harden and while I do see some similarities, the player he most resembles is former Portland Trail Blazer Brandon Roy.
Before his knees fell apart, Roy was on his way to becoming one of the NBA’s brightest young stars as a guy who could play both guard positions. At his early peak, he was a 20-5-5 guy who made three straight All-Star teams and consecutive All-NBA teams.
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Russell has the same feel for the game as Roy does. Unlike most young guards, Russell plays at a very controlled pace and is excellent at changing speeds to get to the basket and finish or set his teammates up. Also, like Roy, Russell is more of a smooth athlete, and not the explosive highlight-reel jumper that many other guards are these days.
I do believe Russell is a better shooter while Roy was a little more developed physically when he came into the league, but the ballhandling, basketball IQ, passing, and feel for the game are very similar and should Russell reach his potential, the Lakers have a star on their hands.
Likewise, O.J. Mayo was touted as a new-age point guard at 6’5 and while he is still a rotational player, never came close to reaching his potential in the NBA. If Russell can’t quite make up for his athleticism, and becomes more of a scorer than playmaker, a career similar to Mayo’s is not out of the question.
CONTINUE READING: Best And Worst Case Scenarios For The Lakers’ 2015 Draft Picks
Larry Nance Jr. – Best Case: Thaddeus Young, Worst Case: Louis Amundson
Larry Nance Jr. was the most unknown of the Lakers’ picks as many experts had him pegged as a second-round pick at best. Nonetheless, there are a lot of things to like about Nance’s game.
Nance uses his athleticism, speed, and length to be effective on both ends of the floor. He’s an average rebounder and shooter, but his activity and heart give opponents fits as he never takes plays off. Thaddeus Young of the Brooklyn Nets has a very similar build and style and has made it work for him in his career thus far.
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Like Nance, Young is slightly undersized as a power forward and relies more on his length and athleticism to be effective. He doesn’t need plays to be ran for him, but his understanding of how to get open and finding spaces in the defense gets him a ton of easy baskets. Young is also quick enough to switch out on wings defensively and cover them on pick-and-rolls.
If Nance wants to have a long NBA career, he will have to thrive in the dirty work role. Non-stop activity and hustle will be his bread and butter, and defensive versatility will be his calling card. He likely won’t ever be in the situation Young was to put up the scoring numbers that Young did, but his style of play is something that Nance should be looking to emulate as he can be a stat-sheet stuffer.
Louis Amundson always seems to find a home somewhere in the NBA as an end of the bench hustle guy. If Nance is unable to develop his skills, he could find himself in a similar role as a journeyman big struggling keep a foothold with a singular team in the league.
CONTINUE READING: Best And Worst Case Scenarios For The Lakers’ 2015 Draft Picks
Anthony Brown – Best Case: Courtney Lee, Worst Case: Landry Fields
Anthony Brown has all of the physical tools as the prototypical ‘3-and-D’ wing in today’s NBA. He doesn’t need to be a star, but he definitely could be a long-term starter in the league, very similar to Courtney Lee of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Brown is a little bigger than Lee, but their games are similar. Lee is a fluid athlete who excels on the defensive end, and must be accounted for as a 38 percent shooter from three-point range for his career. Brown can have a similar impact in the league if he focuses on what he needs to.
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The good thing about Brown is that he comes in knowing his role, and he doesn’t try to do more than what he’s capable of. Most of Brown’s offense will likely come from catch-and-shoot opportunities, but he is smart enough to be able to take advantage of defenders who close out too hard, and can make the right pass when necessary.
Wherever Courtney Lee has been in his career, he has always found a role because of his great defense and ability to make shots. That is something that Brown can become, and relatively quickly.
On the other end of the spectrum, Brown’s fellow Stanford alum Landry Fields looked good out of the gate, but his lack of athleticism and consistent shooting ultimately did him in. If Brown can’t knock down his shots consistently, he could find himself on the end of the bench, just like Fields.
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