Post by Dave on Apr 27, 2013 20:33:47 GMT -6
All kinds of rumors are floating around the greater Los Angeles area this evening over the possible quick trigger on replacing Mitch Kupchak. Mitch was given the position because of his ability to rate players future ability. This was a position that the Lakers needed to knock out of the park due to most of the coaching staff being below average scouts. Things may be rough out of the gates with Pat Riley having been extended 5 more seasons as head coach at over 4 million dollars a season, and some within the organization suggesting that the team could be just as well off with Assistant coach Paul Westhead taking the reigns of such a young team.
The Lakers were sitting in a tough spot going into the ABCA Legends draft. They were selected to pick 28th, which left new GM Dave Thompson to think that they would have a solid 1-2 combo to build a hopeful Laker dynasty. However when many of the targets of the GM coming off the board things started to become apparent that there was going to be trouble at the end of the 1st. There were two trains of thought going into the night. First was trying to hope that a Jack Twyman or another young talent with high potential would fall to them, and the second being that they would draft to win now with age and talent. Those strategies seemed to butt heads all the way up until the pick was to be made. The General Manager decided to put the drafts final decisions on the team of Pat Riley and Mitch Kupchak, and the Lakers 1st ever selection of Frank Selvy was made. This was a risky pick because while Frank brings one of the sweetest long balls to the league, he also brings some of the worst defense for a first round selection. There is alot riding on Mitch not being a great talent evaluator when it comes to perimeter defenders, because this was a trend that seems to be continuing.
So with a stellar outside shooter the Lakers knowing that they'll be getting a big dose of Wilt Chamberlain for many seasons (until he joins the Purple and Gold) so they needed an anchor in the post. It wouldn't be a Laker team without a big center in the post. Bill Spivey will not bring much on the offensive side of the ball but he will bring one of the best rebounders on both the offensive and defensive end. With all the shooters that are being put on the floor, he'll be needed. This would be a very long wait until the Lakers would make another selection and the GM had time to sit and look at the first two picks wondering where the offense is going to run through. So it was a long discussion about needing to add a PG to the roster. The staff was split on where to go with this pick, and word is that some wanted Sparky Wade and others wanting John Moir. In the end it came down to the age difference of a few years for the team. Mitch confided with Mr. Thompson that this needed to be a team that won't be long in the tooth right out of the gate. That with a young core they would have options as far as dealing for talent or building through the draft. Many know that GM Thompson has been watching nothing but Jerry West basketball since it was announced he will be coming to the league after next season and I hear he'd look good in Purple/Gold.
At the time of this writing we've seen them add more youth over immediate talent with a young SG Rafael Valle. Much like Selvy but only 23 Valle has the scouted potential to be a sharpshooter for years to come and being 6'7 makes him either an oversized SG or a quality SF. We've also seen the addition of a defensive SF Richardo Duarte and what should be the starting PF Ed Kalafat.
Mitch has built this team to have quality youth and put alot of hope that the lottery will be good to them in the next season or two. If not he knows that his position will be in jeopardy. The Lakers are not a franchise that is used to being in the lottery, and it is a major risk hoping that they land the potential hall of famer Jerry West to take over the team. There are still players to be had in the draft and a few more players that the Lakers would like to add to the current roster and see if the Run and Gun style that Assistant coach Westhead has brought to the table will be more then a flash in the pan offensive scheme.
We'll keep the community and fans up to date with all the biggest Laker news and notes throughout the season.
The Lakers were sitting in a tough spot going into the ABCA Legends draft. They were selected to pick 28th, which left new GM Dave Thompson to think that they would have a solid 1-2 combo to build a hopeful Laker dynasty. However when many of the targets of the GM coming off the board things started to become apparent that there was going to be trouble at the end of the 1st. There were two trains of thought going into the night. First was trying to hope that a Jack Twyman or another young talent with high potential would fall to them, and the second being that they would draft to win now with age and talent. Those strategies seemed to butt heads all the way up until the pick was to be made. The General Manager decided to put the drafts final decisions on the team of Pat Riley and Mitch Kupchak, and the Lakers 1st ever selection of Frank Selvy was made. This was a risky pick because while Frank brings one of the sweetest long balls to the league, he also brings some of the worst defense for a first round selection. There is alot riding on Mitch not being a great talent evaluator when it comes to perimeter defenders, because this was a trend that seems to be continuing.
So with a stellar outside shooter the Lakers knowing that they'll be getting a big dose of Wilt Chamberlain for many seasons (until he joins the Purple and Gold) so they needed an anchor in the post. It wouldn't be a Laker team without a big center in the post. Bill Spivey will not bring much on the offensive side of the ball but he will bring one of the best rebounders on both the offensive and defensive end. With all the shooters that are being put on the floor, he'll be needed. This would be a very long wait until the Lakers would make another selection and the GM had time to sit and look at the first two picks wondering where the offense is going to run through. So it was a long discussion about needing to add a PG to the roster. The staff was split on where to go with this pick, and word is that some wanted Sparky Wade and others wanting John Moir. In the end it came down to the age difference of a few years for the team. Mitch confided with Mr. Thompson that this needed to be a team that won't be long in the tooth right out of the gate. That with a young core they would have options as far as dealing for talent or building through the draft. Many know that GM Thompson has been watching nothing but Jerry West basketball since it was announced he will be coming to the league after next season and I hear he'd look good in Purple/Gold.
At the time of this writing we've seen them add more youth over immediate talent with a young SG Rafael Valle. Much like Selvy but only 23 Valle has the scouted potential to be a sharpshooter for years to come and being 6'7 makes him either an oversized SG or a quality SF. We've also seen the addition of a defensive SF Richardo Duarte and what should be the starting PF Ed Kalafat.
Mitch has built this team to have quality youth and put alot of hope that the lottery will be good to them in the next season or two. If not he knows that his position will be in jeopardy. The Lakers are not a franchise that is used to being in the lottery, and it is a major risk hoping that they land the potential hall of famer Jerry West to take over the team. There are still players to be had in the draft and a few more players that the Lakers would like to add to the current roster and see if the Run and Gun style that Assistant coach Westhead has brought to the table will be more then a flash in the pan offensive scheme.
We'll keep the community and fans up to date with all the biggest Laker news and notes throughout the season.
