I know it's impossible to look back and change the past, but when you look to Mitch's drafts, I'd say he's had two solid ones--2005 and 2006. the 2005 second round bugs me, though. We took Von Wafer over the likes of Ryan Gomes, Monta Ellis, and Andray blatche. Other than that round, I love those drafts, I think it has equipped the Lakers with a future core of talent. When I look @ the drafts before those though, I get sick when I realize we could've had Josh Howard, Carlos Boozer, Leandro Barbosa, and others. 2002 Drafted: Kareem Rush Could've Had: Dan Gadzuric, Carlos Boozer, Flip Murray, Darius Songaila, Rasual Butler 2003 Drafted: Brian Cook, <u>Luke Walton</u> Could've Drafted: Josh Howard, Leandro Barbosa, Mo Williams, Kyle Korver 2004 Drafted: Sasha Vujajic, Marcus Douhtit Could've Drafted: Chris Duhon 2005 Drafted: <u>Andrew Bynum, Ronny Turiaf</u>, Von Wafer Could've Drafted: Danny Granger, Gerald Green, Jarret Jack, Monta Ellis, Andray Blatche, Ryan Gomes 2006 Drafted: <u>Jordan Farmar, Danillo Pinnock</u> Could've Had: Nobody better <u>Picks I don't Mind</u> Picks I would've loved
yeah, Josh Howard, man, that would be nice and I was also mad about Blatche, he could have been a second development job with Bynum. Man, Bynum and Blatche with Farmar for the future, I'd take that in a heartbeat. I was hoping for Mike Gansey as our second-round draft pick in '06, but this was before Pinnock put up these numbers in the Summer League, so I'm okay with that.
That Von Wafer pick killed me. When he was drafted I was like wtf? I have never heard about this kid at all, and like you said, there were a lot of good players still on the board, like Ryan Gomes. That Wafer pick was a waste. Look at where he is now. He couldn't even crack the starting lineup for his NBDL team
Only if we had Jerry West as a GM..... He was the best thing to to happen to the Lakers, first to Magic Johnson.
seriously we pick some really stupid people so far. Im not too fond of andrew bynums progress either. I hope Jordan Farmer will pick it up for us in the draft pick.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting bigballer111:</div><div class="quote_post"> Im not too fond of andrew bynums progress either.</div> The kid's only 19, so calm down. He will have a long career, and if he continues to have a good mindset and continues to work with KAJ, I have no doubt that he will become a great player one day.
no team has a perfect draft history. looking at our track record, i'd say that mitch has done an average to above average job with his drafting. remember, even jerry west had his draft busts when he was GM. the one move that makes him look like a genius was the vlade for kobe trade. afterall, he's been with memphis a while and well...some of his moves at memphis have been questionable. so, while i agree that jerry west was an amazing GM (if only for signing shaq, trading for kobe, and getting pjax to coach) i think mitch has done a decent job. i wouldn't mind having bryan colangelo, joe dumars, or RC Buford at the helm, but other than those three, i have a hard time believing that any other GM is FAR and AWAY better than Mitch.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting LongLiveChickH.:</div><div class="quote_post">no team has a perfect draft history. looking at our track record, i'd say that mitch has done an average to above average job with his drafting. remember, even jerry west had his draft busts when he was GM. the one move that makes him look like a genius was the vlade for kobe trade. afterall, he's been with memphis a while and well...some of his moves at memphis have been questionable. so, while i agree that jerry west was an amazing GM (if only for signing shaq, trading for kobe, and getting pjax to coach) i think mitch has done a decent job. i wouldn't mind having bryan colangelo, joe dumars, or RC Buford at the helm, but other than those three, i have a hard time believing that any other GM is FAR and AWAY better than Mitch.</div> Traded for Kobe AND signed Shaq as a FA in the same summer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">The kid's only 19, so calm down. He will have a long career, and if he continues to have a good mindset and continues to work with KAJ, I have no doubt that he will become a great player one day.</div> Exactly. The kid is still a baby. I'd give him some time before calling him a bust. He'll develop his game. 3-4 years would be better to make judgement. Remember, there is only one LBJ. Most dont come in at 18 ready to play at a high level of basketball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trench:</div><div class="quote_post">Exactly. The kid is still a baby. I'd give him some time before calling him a bust. He'll develop his game. 3-4 years would be better to make judgement. Remember, there is only one LBJ. Most dont come in at 18 ready to play at a high level of basketball.</div> Plus, most centers don't come out of their shell for a while compared to other stars, ESPECIALLY without that college experience
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trench:</div><div class="quote_post">Exactly. The kid is still a baby. I'd give him some time before calling him a bust. He'll develop his game. 3-4 years would be better to make judgement. Remember, there is only one LBJ. Most dont come in at 18 ready to play at a high level of basketball.</div> Most...but some do. Dwight for example. But nonetheless its still to early.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YourNewChef:</div><div class="quote_post">Traded for Kobe AND signed Shaq as a FA in the same summer.</div> i wouldn't say that signing Shaq is a genius move...what other GM didn't want shaq?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting LongLiveChickH.:</div><div class="quote_post">i wouldn't say that signing Shaq is a genius move...what other GM didn't want shaq?</div> Of course everyone wanted Shaq. That's what makes him such a genius. Everyone wanted Shaq but Jerry West somehow convinced him to come to LA. You think someone with Mitch's IQ could have done that? lol
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Most...but some do. Dwight for example. But nonetheless its still to early.</div> howard avg like 12 ppg and shaq did more in their rookie year and bynum got like 1 ppg? so we all pretty much know hes not going to be the next shaq
I think the lakers are picking up really soft players. like shooters instead of guys who can play defense. They need defensive minded players.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting philip2136:</div><div class="quote_post">howard avg like 12 ppg and shaq did more in their rookie year and bynum got like 1 ppg? so we all pretty much know hes not going to be the next shaq</div> That doesn't really mean anything about 1 year. The kid is still 19. Patience. The other O'Neal, Jermaine took 4 years to avg more than 5+ ppg and 15+ mins and look at him now. Shaq went to college, so he had a year on Bynum anyway and who is going to be the next Shaq? Dwight Howard is just a freak. No big since Moses Malone has ever played as well as Dwight straight out of HS. There won't be anyone that dominates the way that Shaq did/does. Shaq is out of shape and has a "down year" and he gets 20 and 9 with a championship, while aging.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheNCAA:</div><div class="quote_post">That doesn't really mean anything about 1 year. The kid is still 19. Patience. The other O'Neal, Jermaine took 4 years to avg more than 5+ ppg and 15+ mins and look at him now. Shaq went to college, so he had a year on Bynum anyway and who is going to be the next Shaq? Dwight Howard is just a freak. No big since Moses Malone has ever played as well as Dwight straight out of HS. There won't be anyone that dominates the way that Shaq did/does. Shaq is out of shape and has a "down year" and he gets 20 and 9 with a championship, while aging.</div> Amare Stoudamire ring a bell?
convincing shaq to come to LA boiled down to we had the money it's los angeles. shaq wanted to be here too. it would take someone really stupid to MESS it up, but i don't think it would've taken a genius to get it done.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting LongLiveChickH.:</div><div class="quote_post">convincing shaq to come to LA boiled down to we had the money it's los angeles. shaq wanted to be here too. it would take someone really stupid to MESS it up, but i don't think it would've taken a genius to get it done.</div> If you're inferring that Mitch messed it up, or even Kobe, you're wrong. After the Lakers lost in the finals, Shaq said that he wanted out of L.A.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">Of course everyone wanted Shaq. That's what makes him such a genius. Everyone wanted Shaq but Jerry West somehow convinced him to come to LA. You think someone with Mitch's IQ could have done that? lol</div> West didn't do much convincing at all; Shaq has made comments that he wanted to play for LA, so all West had to do was try to beat Orlando's offer....
