| 30 Teams, 30 Days: L.A. Lakers Draft Preview Authored by Jason M. Williams - June 24, 2009 - 1:52 pm
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2009 Draft Picks: 29th, 42nd, 59th
Pre-Draft 2009-10 Projected Starters:
PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Trevor Ariza
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum
Key Reserves:
PF Lamar Odom
PG Jordan Farmar
SG Sasha Vujacic
SF Luke Walton
What The Lakers Do Well:
The Lake Show returned to the top of the basketball world earlier this month by capturing its 15th championship with an impressive Finals victory over the Orlando Magic. Kobe Bryant silenced his doubters and proved that he could win a title in Los Angeles without the help of The Big Fella.
Chris Wallace deserves a championship ring for the role he played by dealing Pau Gasol to the Lakers for Marc Gasol and some scraps. Ever since Gasol joined the Lakers, they went from a mediocre .500 team to a Western Conference powerhouse.
However, the Lakers are not without question marks heading into the offseason. One of the biggest reasons for their ascent to the Promised Land was the play of second year Laker Trevor Ariza. The LA native came over from Orlando a season ago and has matured into not only a defensive nuisance, but also a force on offense. The problem is that now Ariza is up for free agency.
Lamar Odom is also heading into this summer as a free agent. The Lakers will have to determine whether or not they can/want to retain both Odom and Ariza. Both were integral members of the title team, but both will be looking for significant paydays following their elevated efforts.
Greatest Areas Of Improvement:
Changing Of The (Point) Guard
While everyone felt a bit of extra warmth in their heart after the timeless Derek Fisher nailed the three-pointer send Game 4 of the Finals into OT and virtually end the series, the Lakers must realize that he is aging and it’s time to add another point guard to the mix. Whether or not they see Jordan Farmar as the point guard of the future, they will still need to start grooming a new backup to fill his current role.
Depth On The Wing
I could have went with more big bodies, but the Lakers love keeping DJ Mbenga around, so we’ll leave it at that. With the potential (though unlikely) departures of Ariza and Odom, the Lakers might want to start thinking about the future at the small forward position, one that doesn’t spell L-U-K-E as the starter.
Who’s Gone Number 29 Recently?
As expected the 29th pick hasn’t amounted to much since 2003 when the Mavs snatched Josh Howard out of Wake Forest. Mardy Collins is most remembered for starting the Knicks-Nuggets Brawl, and the jury is still out on D.J. White after he missed all of last season.
2008
D.J. White, Detroit Pistons (traded to Oklahoma City)
2007
Alando Tucker, Phoenix Suns
2006
Mardy Collins, New York Knicks
2005
Wayne Simien, Miami Heat
2004
David Harrison, Indiana Pacers
Who Should The Lakers Target?
Darren Collison of UCLA
This just feels right. Collison has been running the show for the Bruin offense the past four years and all he has to show for it is that he helped get Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday into the lottery. Well, that and three Final Four appearances. Look for the Lakers to keep him in LA and back up his former UCLA teammate, Jordan Farmar.
Jonas Jerebko of Angelico Biella
This Swedish combo forward could be a steal in a couple of seasons. Jerebko possesses extreme athleticism for his size and is conveniently stuck between the 3 and 4 positions, much like Lamar Odom. He naturally creates mismatches with his speed, quickness, and strength and could be the next contributing overseas player plucked at the end of the first round.
Chase Budinger of Arizona
While its highly unlikely Budinger will be available for the Lakers here, they would love to add him to the roster. He could be a very suitable spot shooter and an athletic team player who would fit nicely in the triangle offense.
Picks Over the Past Five Years
The Lakers have actually done a great job drafting over the past five years. They quietly selected solid picks that were big parts of their championship drive with Sasha at 27th in 2004, Bynum at 10 in 2005, Farmar at 26 in 2006. They also got Pau Gasol for a package centered around picks Javaris Crittenton and Marc Gasol, two picks from 2007. Their two second rounders from 2005 are now contributing role players in Golden State (Turiaf) and Houston (Von Wafer). And Joe Crawford and Cheikh Samb were both signed out of the D-League by the Knicks last season so they got a make some dough and hang out with Mike D’Antoni in the city. Not a bad deal!
2008
Joe Crawford, 58th
2007
Javaris Crittenton, 19th
Sun Yue, 40th
Marc Gasol, 48th
2006
Jordan Farmar, 26th
Chiekh Samb, 51st (traded to Detroit)
2005
Andrew Bynum, 10th
Ronny Turiaf, 37th
Von Wafer, 39th
2004
Sasha Vujacic, 27th
Marcus Douthit, 57th
Who Do the Fans Want?
According to Andrew Perna’s Los Angeles Lakers Draft Summit, an interactive forum featuring the responses of true RealGM hoops fans hoping to add their two cents to the Lakers draft discussion, the fans of Los Angeles have made it known that they would like to draft a point guard or an additional big man.
The Verdicts
1. What do the Lakers need to do in order to defend the title next season?
salmahayek: We need to re-sign our players, Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom. Also, add a player in free agent that is a penetrater and distributor.
TylersLakers: Obviously, re-sign Odom, Ariza and Shannon Brown. It's all about Jerry Buss and how much he's willing to pay.
Mindflayer: A healthy team, Andrew Bynum especially, and the Lakers may be able to get by without re-signing both Odom and Ariza.
Iceburg Slim: They need to get tougher and play some consistent basketball. We allowed a team like the Rockets to take us to seven games. Unacceptable. Championship teams bring it every night and do not take games off like we did often times.
aussie_laker: Re-sign Odom, Ariza and get another point guard.
Erik Eleven: If they keep all current players on the roster.
hermes: We need to stay hungry, focused, and healthy
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
salmahayek: Kobe.
TylersLakers: Versatility. We could play any kind of style. Our rotation of big men was probably the best in the league with Bynum, Gasol and Odom.
Mindflayer: Depth and Kobe’s leadership. We played the second half of the season with our third most important player (Bynum) injured or not as effective because of injury.
Iceburg Slim: When we go inside consistently, we're unstoppable.
aussie_laker: Length and versatility.
Erik Eleven: Depth and adaptability.
hermes: Versatility.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
salmahayek: No one surprising, if I had to pick, Josh Powell played well.
TylersLakers: Shannon Brown. He came late in a trade, but because of his playoff impact, I'd rate him. He worked on his jump shot, proving a lot of critics wrong.
Mindflayer: Ariza. We really needed his perimeter defense, but who thought he could shoot like this?
Iceburg Slim: Odom really stepped it up for us especially after being moved to the bench.
aussie_laker: I thought Lamar was great, as well as Trevor.
Erik Eleven: Brown.
hermes: Brown.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
salmahayek: I thought Bynum would do more, even with injury issues taken into account.
TylersLakers: Easily, Sasha Vujacic. He got a big contract and just couldn't make a shot. It wasn't for lack of effort though, you see him shooting all the time and you could see it drained on his confidence.
Mindflayer: Vujacic. It looked like the old Sasha when he was missing wide open shots. Derek Fisher was a close second.
Iceburg Slim: Vujacic. He got to go. Apparently he's settled into his contract.
aussie_laker: Sasha. I expected him to have the same numbers as last year. He was awful.
ALL HAIL: Jordan Farmar. I always thought he was a bad fit for this team, but he proved me wrong two seasons ago. This season, he went backwards.
Erik Eleven: Vujacic.
hermes: Vujacic.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
salmahayek: I've been a big fan of Dr. Buss and Mitch Kupchak all along and will continue to be.
TylersLakers: Confident. When you have a championship team, it's easy to be confident. That's a far cry from a couple years ago when I wanted Mitch gone and Buss to sell the team.
Mindflayer: Very. Three good trades filled needs in the last two years. Even if we don’t re-sign Odom or Ariza, I think Mitch can find an impact free agent with the mid-level exception.
Iceburg Slim: We're doing alright. I feel good about them right now.
aussie_laker: If they have the money, then they will make the correct signings.
ALL HAIL: I think they'll re-sign our players, but will they spend money to improve the team? That, I'm not too sure about.
Erik Eleven: See trophy No. 15.
hermes: I’m pretty confident.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
salmahayek: A point guard.
TylersLakers: A quick point guard. If Lamar leaves, we're definitely going to need a backup big man that can bang down low and bring some toughness.
Mindflayer: A fast point guard that can at least stay in front of quicker point guards.
Iceburg Slim: I would have to say a backup guard.
aussie_laker: A point guard a backup big.
ALL HAIL: In no particular order: point guard, two-guard and small forward.
Erik Eleven: Best player available.
hermes: Some depth.
7. Who would you like the Lakers to take with the 29th pick?
salmahayek: Gerald Henderson. I don't think he'll be there, but he’s very underrated in my book.
TylersLakers: Marcus Thornton, Dionte Christmas, or Darren Collison.
Mindflayer: Patrick Mills.
Iceburg Slim: Austin Daye, Earl Clark, Danny Green, or Jack McClinton.
aussie_laker: Mills, only so I have an Aussie to follow.
ALL HAIL: If Nick Calathes is on the board, I think you’ve got to take him.
Erik Eleven: Collison.
hermes: Someone that can come in and excel in a supporting role.
Click here to read other draft previews in our 30 Teams, 30 Days series
Who do you want the Lakers to draft at number 29? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions. |
