I'm now convinced Flip will take Towns

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I agree with them not trading much to move up, but as a St Louis Rams fan I have seen an irrational team pay way too much to move up. Two different sports I know.

I don't know if we have to bullets to do this, but I really want to see Flip get back into the lottery. I want another young difference maker.

Ahh, well if you remember, that was hyped up to be a two QB class (little did they know, Russell was in the third round). The Redskins weren't in a position to get Luck or RGIII so they paid a premium to get No. 2. This is different. The Lakers and Sixers are in place to get guys they want (LAL = Towns/Okafor, PHI = Russell). What you're talking about would compare to the Magic at No. 5 paying a ton to get to No. 1, which won't happen.

At best we're looking at a future first from LAL (which will be in the 20s) or a heavily protected first from Philly or maybe even Saric. None of which is worth making the move and risking losing out on the best player.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

I agree with them not trading much to move up, but as a St Louis Rams fan I have seen an irrational team pay way too much to move up. Two different sports I know.

I don't know if we have to bullets to do this, but I really want to see Flip get back into the lottery. I want another young difference maker.

Ahh, well if you remember, that was hyped up to be a two QB class (little did they know, Russell was in the third round). The Redskins weren't in a position to get Luck or RGIII so they paid a premium to get No. 2. This is different. The Lakers and Sixers are in place to get guys they want (LAL = Towns/Okafor, PHI = Russell). What you're talking about would compare to the Magic at No. 5 paying a ton to get to No. 1, which won't happen.

At best we're looking at a future first from LAL (which will be in the 20s) or a heavily protected first from Philly or maybe even Saric. None of which is worth making the move and risking losing out on the best player.

I agree. Unless LA puts Randle up they don't have much in trade value. If the 76ers put up the LA pick and the Heat pick together or Noel I'm listening. Highly doubtful though.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Who are you targeting on a move up?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Noel would have me thinking long and hard about it, but I highly doubt that's on the table. The LAL pick and MIA pick are super mehh, though. That's basically what I mean.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Who are you targeting on a move up?

I guess it depends on how high we can get. If Flip was willing to move Martin in a deal, I actually feel confident we could pry Charlotte's No. 9 pick away. I don't think Martin's going anywhere, though.

So, I believe the target is Houston at No. 18. My cluster of guys around that area would be Bobby Portis, Jerian Grant, Tyus Jones and Trey Lyles.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Who are you targeting on a move up?

I guess it depends on how high we can get. If Flip was willing to move Martin in a deal, I actually feel confident we could pry Charlotte's No. 9 pick away. I don't think Martin's going anywhere, though.

So, I believe the target is Houston at No. 18. My cluster of guys around that area would be Bobby Portis, Jerian Grant, Tyus Jones and Trey Lyles.

Good grouping of guys to target. No clue why Portis would be there at 18, but mocks do have him in that range. PF and PG should be our targets.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

One theory I've come up with over the last 2 days is that Flip could be sending out the Okafor signals in order to get the Lakers set on the thought of taking Towns and then in the last 24/48 hours send Towns smoke signals to try and get the Lakers to panic and over bid in order to secure Towns. Or possibly to cause as much confusion/murkiness in the top half of the lottery in the hopes of a player possibly falling?
I dunno maybe I'm just losing my mind at this point.

That's an interesting theory, FF, and may have some merit. I'm been trying to figure out 2 things: 1) Why Flip may favor Okafor over Towns, and 2) Why he would be talk about it. The first one doesn't baffle me too much. I happen to be a Towns guy, but I can certainly see how Flip could build a case for an offensive force like Okafor. But the second one has been bothering me, and maybe FF has nailed it.

If Flip really does prefer Okafor, and believes LA prefers Towns, he may be working the Big Con on the Lakers. The more he suggests he is going to take Okafor, the more excited LA gets about Towns falling to them. What if Flip calls LA the night of the draft and says he has changed his mind and is thinking about taking Towns, although he would be satisfied with Okafor if the Lakers were able to offer something of value. Imagine the panic in the LA war room! It's kind of like what would happen if your wife really loved a house on the market and was already decorating it in her mind, and the realtor calls you and says there is a higher offer out there. The Lakers could be tempted to overcompensate, just like the hapless husband might. And since Flip preferred Okafor anyway, any compensation from the Lakers would be gravy.

But, if he actually prefers Towns (as most of the experts do), he would need a substantial return from the Lakers to give up the first pick. And maybe next year's first rounder plus a player (Clarkson or Davis?) would be enough for me to drop one slot in this draft. Some of you have argued that a 1st from the Lakers isn't worth much, but I'm not so sure. The Lakers were terrible last year, and who knows how strong Randle and a 37 year old Kobe bounce back from injuries. I think the Lakers are in the lottery again next year, and if they continue to have crippling injuries (hey, the Wolves have proven that injuries can continue) it could be a very high lottery pick.

Flip may think Okafor, Clarkson and the Lakers 1st is a better package than just Towns. And he might be right.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

One theory I've come up with over the last 2 days is that Flip could be sending out the Okafor signals in order to get the Lakers set on the thought of taking Towns and then in the last 24/48 hours send Towns smoke signals to try and get the Lakers to panic and over bid in order to secure Towns. Or possibly to cause as much confusion/murkiness in the top half of the lottery in the hopes of a player possibly falling?
I dunno maybe I'm just losing my mind at this point.

That's an interesting theory, FF, and may have some merit. I'm been trying to figure out 2 things: 1) Why Flip may favor Okafor over Towns, and 2) Why he would be talk about it. The first one doesn't baffle me too much. I happen to be a Towns guy, but I can certainly see how Flip could build a case for an offensive force like Okafor. But the second one has been bothering me, and maybe FF has nailed it.

If Flip really does prefer Okafor, and believes LA prefers Towns, he may be working the Big Con on the Lakers. The more he suggests he is going to take Okafor, the more excited LA gets about Towns falling to them. What if Flip calls LA the night of the draft and says he has changed his mind and is thinking about taking Towns, although he would be satisfied with Okafor if the Lakers were able to offer something of value. Imagine the panic in the LA war room! It's kind of like what would happen if your wife really loved a house on the market and was already decorating it in her mind, and the realtor calls you and says there is a higher offer out there. The Lakers could be tempted to overcompensate, just like the hapless husband might. And since Flip preferred Okafor anyway, any compensation from the Lakers would be gravy.

But, if he actually prefers Towns (as most of the experts do), he would need a substantial return from the Lakers to give up the first pick. And maybe next year's first rounder plus a player (Clarkson or Davis?) would be enough for me to drop one slot in this draft. Some of you have argued that a 1st from the Lakers isn't worth much, but I'm not so sure. The Lakers were terrible last year, and who knows how strong Randle and a 37 year old Kobe bounce back from injuries. I think the Lakers are in the lottery again next year, and if they continue to have crippling injuries (hey, the Wolves have proven that injuries can continue) it could be a very high lottery pick.

Flip may think Okafor, Clarkson and the Lakers 1st is a better package than just Towns. And he might be right.

The Lakers pick wouldn't be for a few years because they already owe their current pick that I believe is something like top 3 protected next year.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Lakers have 2 firsts this year. I would take Clarkson, 27, and Okafor over Towns for sure. Towns and Okafor are neck and neck in my opinion. There is a lot to love about both. Clarkson is great Rubio insurance and a great bench asset at minimum. Pick 27 gives us another trade up chip.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

What makes you think Clarkson's equivalent or better can't be had for any combination of 31/36/Bjelica? If we're targeting a PG in the middle of the first round, that'd be something to consider.

Clarkson + Okafor or Grant/Jones + Towns?

I'd take the latter, personally.