Los Angeles Lakers: Grading The Offseason

The Draft

With the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Lakers had options. They could’ve gone with Jahlil Okafor, a traditional back-to-the-basket big with quite possibly the best set of post moves we’ve seen from a draft prospect in over a decade. They could’ve taken Kristaps Porzingis, a raw 19-year-old seven-footer with immense potential.

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Instead, they took a somewhat refreshing route, selecting a point guard in D’Angelo Russell. Emmanuel Mudiay was another option, but the Lakers felt confident enough in Russell’s potential, his ability to play both guard positions and his court vision.

Though he’s not an elite athlete, he was one of the best college players in the country last year, averaging 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game to lead the Ohio State Buckeyes. He also shot an impressive 41.1 percent from three-point range on 6.6 attempts per game.

There are concerns about the dip in his numbers against superior competition, and NBA Summer League did little to erase those doubts. Russell admittedly displayed great court vision in Las Vegas, and he had a solid final game, putting up 21 points on 10-of-20 shooting.

But he still shot an anemic 37.7 percent from the floor, an abysmal 11.8 percent from three-point range and committed 5.2 turnovers per game. Russell could be a home run selection down the road, but he’s got a lot to prove as a top-5 pick for a franchise in desperate need of someone to carry Kobe Bryant‘s enormous torch once his time is done.

With Los Angeles’ second pick at No. 27, the Lakers threw a bit of a curveball with Larry Nance Jr. The son of former Phoenix Suns/Cleveland Cavaliers Larry Nance, this young power forward from Wyoming brings athleticism, above-the-rim play and a ton of energy and effort (especially now that he’s got something to prove following the unearthing of an embarrassing tweet).

However, until Nance develops his perimeter game and improves past this raw stage of his game, he brings a lot of similar skills to the power forward position that Julius Randle already provides.

As for Anthony Brown, the Lakers’ second round pick at No. 34, he made sense as a 6’7″ guard/forward who can potentially spread the floor with an effective three-point shot. However, Byron Scott isn’t a fan of the game’s most important offensive weapon, and Brown will probably want to improve from the 25 percent he shot from downtown in Vegas.

With three picks in the top-35, the Lakers did well to add youth to a roster that needs to be rebuilding with long-term goals in mind. If Russell can become the new star in Los Angeles, this draft will have been a success no matter what becomes of Nance and Brown.

Grade: B+

Next: The Hibbert Trade