Topic: We ask fans which big man they want to see drop to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night, Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns or Duke’s Jahlil Okafor?
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Context: With the Los Angeles Lakers moving up to the second overall selection, the team is now in prime position to select one of the two big men most consider the top prospects in this draft class in Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor. The Lakers have a long history of dominant bigs, and either player could be the next in line.
Towns is widely believed to be the top prospect and most believe he will be the top pick, but the Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly prefer Okafor which could leave the former for the Lakers to take at number two.
Okafor is extremely polished on the low block and should be able to contribute immediately on offense, but he isn’t much of a rim protector and lacks the overall upside of Towns. Towns is an excellent defender who would immediately provide rim protection. He is capable of scoring down low as well as facing up, but isn’t as polished as Okafor.
The Lakers of course, aren’t locked into anyone with their pick and could very well take someone else other than Okafor or Towns. However, at this time it would seem as if the Lakers would lean towards a big man. The question is which one would fans rather see in purple and gold?
Verdict: We went to Twitter to ask the loyal Lakers Nation followers which big man they hope falls to number two for the Lakers, Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor? These are some of the responses:
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation I'm good either way. I'm going w/Okafor. Coach Scott can develop him on D, he's already special on O #LNDebate
— Michael Gartrell (@TeamMike206) May 30, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Okafor doesn't fit today's NBA. Back to the basket players are outdated. Karl Anthony-Towns #LNDebate
— David Tran (@davideeeezy) May 30, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation #LNDebate Okafor. His offensive skills r just too good to ignore when comparing the two.
— Raymond Jones (@MRPhotosbyRJ) May 30, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation #LNDebate Okafar is more NBA ready & looks like a guy you can build around in the next 2/4 he looks like a leader
— Jake Miller (@whitemamba2124) May 30, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Karl Anthony Towns. Looks like he has more potential even though Okafor might be more NBA ready now. #LNDebate
— YayaJosh (@eeezup) May 30, 2015
@TheeCoreyH KAT, he's a better defender, better all-around game. #LNDebate
— J.Williams (@thelifeofjay) May 30, 2015
@TheeCoreyH Karl-Anthony Towns without a doubt. He offers rim protection and multiple ways to score. #LNDebate
— Rivas (@cgrivas13) May 30, 2015
The Lakers Nation faithful have spoken and this debate was split pretty evenly. There may have been a very slight edge towards Towns, but there were plenty of votes for both bigs.
Personally, I am very torn on this subject, but lately I have been leaning towards Okafor. He can be a dominant force on the block which the Lakers sorely need and while Towns is the better defender, I don’t believe Okafor’s defense is as bad as people make it out to be. In time, he will be more than passable on that end.
At the end of the day, I will be ecstatic regardless of which player the Lakers take. The NBA has turned into more of a guard’s league, but every single championship contender this season had some sort of inside presence. The Lakers have a chance to get their next great big man and they would be wise to take it.
[divide]Lakers Nation NBA Draft Podcast: Top-5 Prospects
