Rookie Promise Lavine vs Okogie

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Also #freeokogie

[Lipoli390]

I'm picking Okogie.

But that's because he's here... and LaVine isn't.

I advise you not to look at my posts from when LaVine was here... or from anybody else during that time. Ahem.

Ignoring Abe's advice, I've been reviewing his posts from LaVine's time with the Wolves. In an effort to reconcile those posts with this recent one, I interpret Abe to be urging the Wolves to trade Towns and a future unprotected 1st for LaVine and then start Okogie and LaVine together.

Do I have that right, Abe?

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Okogie is an easy one for me.

Ive never been enamored with lavine. Lavine had alot of flash, but most of the time I felt it was staged to get espn time.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I loved Lavine's potential. He had everything to be a superstar offensively, but he was never aggressive enough. He has the athleticism to get whatever look he wants at any time and good enough ball handling to do it. He just didn't seem to have the IQ to match with his skill. And then when you factor in that he can't play a lick of defense he just became another great athletic talent who didn't match up his actual play with that athleticism like oh so many before him in this league.

[bleedspeed]

Crickets here.

Vikings crushed the Phins. The offense was on fire first 3 drives. They showed a heavy dose of multiple TE's and FB. Lots of play action and more under center plays. We will see if they can sustain this.

The Vikings got 4 players into the initial Pro Bowl list. Barr was one of them. I am not sure how that happened.

[Wolvesfan21]

Crickets here.

Vikings crushed the Phins. The offense was on fire first 3 drives. They showed a heavy dose of multiple TE's and FB. Lots of play action and more under center plays. We will see if they can sustain this.

The Vikings got 4 players into the initial Pro Bowl list. Barr was one of them. I am not sure how that happened.

Barr did? I guess they remembered him from years ago when he made a play.

[Monster]

Edit: posted the Vikings related post on the Vikings board.

[bleedspeed]

Edit: posted the Vikings related post on the Vikings board.

:-)

[bleedspeed]

Realistically I would have still gone with LaVine. His promise at the time was off the charts. I would have taken the ceiling on him or Okogie. Okogie is a good story and has a chance to be in the league a long time, but I don't see him being a borderline starter to starter most of his career.

[kekgeek]

Its so hard to compare the 2 just because we are going to be a little biased that we know what Lavine has developed into and Okogie is a rookie with such a wide range of his outcomes to become.

If I remember right I didn't like Lavine his rookie year and he seemed super lost playing PG. He couldn't even make a simple pocket pass. But in year 2 I was super high on his potential. He looked like he could be a star. It is hard to find guys in the NBA that can create their own shot off the dribble and Lavine was developing into that and possibly at an elite level.

Now with Okogie I have loved what he has brought to the table. He just dosen't stop. Sometimes he gets leaning the wrong way on defense because he is uber aggressive but he recovers nicely. His mentality reminded me of Bazz actually. They both go balls to the wall but Okogie is a smarter player on both ends of the court but both of their energy can impact a game (in bazz case it did it negatively a lot).

My concerns with Okogie going forward is can he keep up the energy that he brings if he is starting and playing big minutes in a 82 game schedule. Also can he continue to develop into an above average shooter.

I would take Okogie year 1 over Lavine year 1 but I would have taken Lavine year 2 over Okogie year 1. I am super high on Okogie though.