Why Lakers drafted D'Angelo Russell over Kristaps Porzingis
The Los Angeles Lakers made a bold choice by selecting Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell with the No.2 overall pick during the 2015 NBA Draft. Eighteen months later, do they regret passing on Latvian sensation Kristaps Porzingis?
Heading into draft night, most insiders expected the Lakers to draft centre Jahlil Okafor, who was fresh off a national championship with Duke and was projected to become a perennial all-star in the NBA. The common consensus was that Okafor was "the safe pick" while Russell and Porzingis were "boom or bust" choices.
It was difficult to project an upside for either Russell or Porzingis since they were unknown commodities. While Russell's performances in the college circuit hadn't drawn too much attention, teams were sceptical about Porzingis due to the reputation that presides past international big men. For every Dirk Nowitzki, there have been a dozen players such as Darko Miličić who couldn't succeed in the NBA.
The Knicks also made a bold choice of rolling with Porzingis when "safer choices" such as Justise Winslow, Emmanuel Mudiay and Willie-Cauley Stein were still available. Now, it's safe to say that New York has unearthed the next NBA superstar and their new franchise player.
READ: Kristaps Porzingis enters Beast Mode as Knicks beat Lakers 118-112
Lakers misjudged Kristaps Porzingis
According to a report on Bleacher Report, the Lakers had serious discussions about drafting Porzingis over Russell last June but were hesitant to go with the Latvian due to his lack of physicality and inability to play in the post.
"The physicality of the Lakers' workout was not what Porzingis' agent, Andy Miller, had expected or approved. But the results led the Lakers to lock in on D'Angelo Russell despite how intrigued they'd been by Porzingis, one of the few quibbles anyone could have with how well they've scouted lately," wrote Lakers insider Kevin Ding.
The report added that the Lakers' old school thinking that Porzingis didn't have the physical gifts to play the centre position in the NBA could come back to haunt them. Remember, they already had Julius Randle on the roster -- and perhaps felt Porzingis and the Kentucky forward would be a bad fit together.
"Nevertheless, the Lakers squandered the opportunity with the outdated premise that Porzingis needed to fit into a customary NBA power forward position," added Ding, suggesting that the Lakers mad the wrong choice on draft night.
On Sunday, Kristaps Porzingis had 26 points, 12 rebounds and 7 blocks as the Lakers had no answer to the rising superstar during New York's 118-112 victory at the Staples Center. After the game, Porzingis was asked about the Lakers, his favourite team growing up, passing on him at the draft. "The Lakers are a great organization. But I'm happy where I am."
Kristaps Porzingis and D'Angelo Russell will square off once again on Feb. 6 when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Both teams are trying to return to the postseason after a three-year slump.
