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Lakers Fast Break- Lakers Championship Follow-Up with Michael Visenberg!

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Michael Visenberg from Viseland stops by to talk about the Lakers Championship, LeBron’s greatness, and what they need to do to have a chance to repeat, the best prospects available for the team at #28, and how following basketball this season (and now offseason) for his work and being a fan has been different from any other.

Don’t forget to Subscribe to our shows and leave us that 5-Star Review with your questions on Apple Podcasts or e-mail us at lakersfastbreak@yahoo.com!

Presented by our friends at NBA Draft Junkies, lakerholics.com, Pop Culture Cosmos, Zero Cool Films, the novel Congratulations, You Suck (available for purchase HERE), and Retro City Games where it’s 10% OFF Storewide all October!

5 Things: Lakers win game 1 against the Heat

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That was a lot of fun although I really hate it when guys get injured in the playoffs, leaves a slightly bitter taste in the mouth. But it is what it is so we’ll have to hope Dragic, Butler and Bam are good to go tomorrow night while also expecting the Lakers to bring their A game. I would say we got a B/B+ game from the squad last night and, with the help of injuries to key players and some under-performing on the Heat’s part, brought the first NBA Finals win in a good long while home.

  1. Lakers have found their way, the way is defense, and they are putting in work to make it happen. There’s not much you can do when a team defense is as locked in as the Lakers are right now. It’s not like we’re doing anything new, we;re just executing the bedrock principles of Frank Vogel’s schemes with excellence, communicating well on the back line and doing a fantastic job of adjusting or switching schemes or coverage’s on the fly. It’s easier to make this look good when superstars buy in and even easier when those guys are AD and LBJ. Danny Green was also excellent on defense last night. This series will be won on this end, as all of our series have been won up to now.
  2. Welcome to the NBA Finals Anthony Davis! His NBA Finals debut in terms of points scored tied for 3rd in Laker Lore (He and Elgin both dropped 34, George Mikan and Shaq are ahead of them). He also blocked 3 shots, had 9 rebounds and 5 assists. AD is a riddle I don’t think Miami has an answer for. They can slot Bam on him but it won’t be enough and it’ll mean you’re playing Kelly Olynyk or another under-sized player is going to have to contain Dwight Howard. Speaking of Dwight, his return trip to the NBA Finals was highlighted by two awesome dishes to AD on drives to the hoop for easy buckets. The Heat basically have to hope for a bad game from Davis, they don’t have a player that can stop him and doubling opens up an evolving passing game.
  3. That other good player we have, what’s his name…oh yeah! LeBron James. The King missed another triple-double by one assist. You could tell he was fishing for it a bit at the end but then quickly shut that down by returning to a more aggressive posture and scoring at will. Miami, like the rest of the NBA, doesn’t have much of an answer for ‘Bron. Iggy is up for it but lacks the legs or conditioning to hang with him all game and after that it’s Crowder who is more of a foul risk and lacks the acumen and savvy AI brings. I expect to see Miami double LeBron and force other guys like AD to make plays, the problem being that they can and will. Also, Frank’s got an easy counter to that in subbing Rondo in for either KCP or Green. Then you have to account for off-ball LBJ and we’ve seen how that fares, thus far.
  4. Laker Bench did enough. Outside of Caruso and Morris the Laker bench didn’t bring a lot of offense. Miami, when healthy, has the better scoring bench with Tyler Herro, Iggy and the oft-overlooked Kendrick Nunn. If Dragic can’t go I actually expect to see Nunn return to the starting line up. The rookie was on the All NBA rookie team, finished second in Rookie of the Year voting (despite the late surge of Zion). Between Nunn and Herro the Heat have some decent options to replace G=Dragic. I would add at this moment that, before you go writing rookies off in the NBA Finals citing a lack of experience or what-have-you that you take a moment and recall one Earvin “Magic” Johnson who corralled an NBA Finals MVP of his own after a serious ankle injury forced Kareem to sit out against Philly while one Pat Riley sat in the broadcast booth that season calling color alongside Laker legend Chick Hearn. Lotta mystical mojo there. There’s a benefit to being young: you don’t know what you don’t know, coach just tells you to go ball and you’re loose. Not saying that’s what’s coming but cautioning against dissing NBA talent from the comfort of one’s chair.
  5. What to expect in game 2. I think we’ll see more of Kelly Olynyk matching up against Dwight and if Bam sits out a game (which I don’t expect but will likely end up being a game time call) we might even see Myers Leonard. While this shouldn’t strike fear into the heart of Laker Nation it does present a slightly different challenge. Kelly-O is a willing three point shooter and under-rated defender. Like everyone on the Heat he plays hard and has no quit in him. Myers and Kelly could bang with Howard and burn fouls on AD, making him work harder than he wants to. I expect Spo to gum up the works of the game. They can’t keep up with us so they need to slow the game down, muck it up, play more like Riles’ Knickerbockers back in the 90’s. Jimmy Butler would have to be killed vampire-style in order not to play, he’s playing. Goran Dragic is a whole other issue. If he’s got a torn plantar I don’t see how he can be effective. That means Miami will either start bigger (maybe have Iggy start) but I think they’ll call on Kendrick and turn him loose while keeping the rest of the playoff rotation that has worked as-is. There aren’t a ton of options. Mainly the Heat need to play more to type, they need to generate more free throws and be more aggressive driving to the rim. It was only one game and the Miami Heat can definitely play better than we saw last night. I still think there’s a series here, even if Dragic can’t go. But they need to play pretty perfect basketball and I don’t see them doing that for 4 of the next 6 games. They can make it competitive, I still don’t see them winning it all.

5 Things: Lakers advance to the NBA Finals!!!

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We’re back where we belong. Since our last NBA Finals ended With Kobe standing atop the scorer table joining the city of Los Angeles in celebration while the team celebrated around him on the court so many things have come and gone in Laker Nation. Luke Walton went from a key contributor on that tree am to the Laker head coach to Sacramento, Pau Gasol has played for 3 different teams, Phil Jackson took a shot at running the Knickerbockers, Lamar Odom almost died partying in Nevada, Kobe and Gigi tragically passed away this year. Through it all Laker Nation never wavered in its support for the team, critique and criticism is not a loss of fandom or submersion of support. All of this just goes to show that it’s a long way to the top of you want to rock and roll.

https://youtu.be/-sUXMzkh-jI
  1. LeBron James putting the nails in the coffin. James turned in a stellar performance to ensure there would be no game 6, to make sure that he and other key Laker vets got the extra rest that can give them an edge against whomever they faced, and most of all to make sure the NBA was put on notice. He joined James Worthy and the as the one if three NBA players to post 35+ points, 15+ rebounds and 10+ assists in a close out playoff game. Historical footnotes aside, LeBron was spectacular. He fed teammates for easy buckets, He had a personal best 16 points in the 4the quarter. The Nuggets has no answer.
  2. Anthony Davis and his long journey to the precipice of greatness. Playing in the NBA Finals makes you part of a small group of NBA players. Davis carries the Lakers for stretches in last night’s game and during the regular season. Last night he again didn’t rebound like we’re used to but that can perhaps be forgiven in light if two of his teammates grabbing 25 rebounds on their own (James 16, Howard 9). Where he shined was on defense and scoring the balm efficiently when it was needed to stop Denver runs. His 2 steals were great but his block of a Michael Porter Jr. dunk put a stamp on his defense and this series. He hit 2-4 from 3, 8-16 in general. Anthony looks poised, gritty and ready to beast in the NBA Finals. The extra rest might benefit him the most as it’ll allow him to get extra treatment on that ankle he’s tweaked a couple times in the last 2 games.
  3. Laker starters answering the bell. The other Lakers who start shot 7-12 (2-5 from three), grabbed 10 rebounds, had 2 dimes, 4 big blocks, 2 steals and none had a negative +/- (AD was the only starter with a -1, lol. Misleading stat) They all played 26+ minutes aren’t locked in on defense when they played helping contain the Denver attack.
  4. The Laker bench. As we entered the playoffs it was largely agreed upon that Kyle Kuzma was the most important player outside of James and Davis. It turns out that the Laker bench is one of our greatest strengths, as it should be for an NBA Finals-bound team. Rondo has returned to a youthful posture and leads the team when James sits or allows him to be an off ball wrecking crew when they share the floor. Markieff Morris has shown versatility, grit and his three point acumen. JaVight McHoward has shown they can start, cone off the bench, sit and cheer or whatever: they’re here to contribute however the team needs. Kyle Kuzma continues to grow, while still streaky with his scoring he’s found some identity on defense and team play. Alex Caruso has impressed with his defensive tenacity, basketball IQ and toughness. Last night Caruso shines brightest off the bench with surgical stroke cuts for buckets, great defense and some in the flow assists. Rondo only played 1: minutes, Kuzma looked a little ‘deer in the headlights’ at times but found ways to be a force. All of that will be needed in the NBA Finals.
  5. Hats off and high fives for the Denver Nuggets franchise. They’re going to be a problem for a long time. They have two up and coming superstars, a great coach and a bevy of solid role players. I have nothing but admiration for the Denver Nuggets and how they overcame the odds and pundits to get to the Western Conference Finals. They never folded, played with a ton of heart (Jamal Murray gutting it out on one leg should go down in Denver playoff lore) and Jerami Grant showed the NBA he’s more than a role-player and might be the third star Denver needs to sign. I’ve long admired Paul Milsap’s game and wish the plucky vet nothing but the best. Congrats to the Denver Nuggets for reminding us why it’s important that we ply the games and not just go with predictions or hype.

At any rate, it’s on. I can’t deny my excitement and joy both at how we’re playing right now, especially on D, or how close we are to another banner going up in STAPLES. James and Anthony look like a nigh-unstoppable duo right now and we need to ride this wave to four more wins against whomever the East throws at us. Enjoy this, though, Lakerholics. Winning the west isn’t often celebrated by the purple and gold and their fans, it used to be seen as fait accompli. But it’s been so long and we’ve seen a road so dark for so long that this one feels different. So it’s cool to double-point and snap at that person wearing a Laker jersey walking by, smile under your mask, let this shine a little light on our lives during a tough time on Earth.

Lakers Fast Break- Mock Draft Version 3.0

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All the time I got to spend so far talking to draft experts Rafael Barlowe of NBA Draft Junkies, Stone Hansen of Draftsite.com, and Michael Visenberg of The Stepien, Viseland, and Prospective Insight have left me with quite a few opinions on this year’s upcoming draft (including up above as we did our first-round mock draft for NBA Draft Junkies). With that being said, my friend LakerTom at lakerholics.net recently challenged me to come up with my own mock draft. So without further delay, let’s get into it with my thoughts (with the changes in positions noted up or down from the previous mock drafts you can find HERE and HERE) on what NBA teams are going to do in this year’s draft (Videos provided by Rafael Barlowe of NBA Draft Junkies. Draft order is post-lottery and stats provided by the good folks at ESPN and Tankathon):

1.  Minnesota Timberwolves- (+2) SG Anthony Edwards |6’5″ 225 lbs. |Freshman |Georgia|18 years old |(19.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.8 apg) |Biggest Strength- Superstar athleticism |Biggest Weakness- Feel for the game- Anthony very well may be the best athlete in this year’s draft and has the highest superstar potential. The questions still being asked lie in improving his court awareness and drive to truly fulfill his potential. Should he land with the right team, his development could far exceed anyone else from this year’s draft.

2.Golden State Warriors- (-1) C James Wiseman |7′ 1″ 237 lbs. |Freshman |Memphis|19 years old |(30.8 ppg, 16.7 rpg, 4.7 bpg) |Biggest Strength: Upside potential |Biggest Weakness: Experience- Let’s be clear, among draft pundits from all over James Wiseman is probably the most divisive player at the top of the draft. Some still have him as a clear #1 with his combination of raw power and athleticism backed by a touch from both inside and out. Others still question his maturity and drive after a brief three-game stint at Memphis brought more questions than answers. That being the case, whoever selects Wiseman could have the biggest steal of the draft, or the biggest bust, depending on Wiseman’s motivation to reach that next level. Will Golden State trade this pick? Should they keep it? Either way the Warriors are looking at being in an enviable position now that the lottery is done and the NBA Draft is on the horizon.

3. Charlotte Hornets- (-1) PG LaMelo Ball |6’7″ 190lbs. |Illawarra Hawks |18 years old |(17.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 6.8 apg) |Biggest Strength: Distribution |Biggest Weakness: Shooting-The biggest riser after the lottery may have their eyes set on this Ball brother who is unquestionably the best distributor in this year’s draft. His unique passing ability (which has been argued as being better than brother Lonzo’s) has kept LaMelo at or near the top of everyone’s draft boards. Any team who winds up winning the lottery that’s looking at a playmaker is likely leaning in his direction. But to reach great heights, he must shore up deficiencies in shooting and overall defense.

4. Chicago Bulls- (+4) PF Obi Toppin |6’9″ 220 lbs. |Sophomore |Dayton|22 years old |(20.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.2 bpg) |Biggest Strength: Efficiency |Biggest Weakness: Man to Man Defense– College Basketball’s player of the year is bound to get some major interest from teams drafting in the lottery. His ability to be an inside-out threat makes him very desirable even though his ceiling may not be as high as his younger counterparts. Even though he must improve his defensive positions, Toppin may very well be the readiest to play now prospect in the draft. With the Bulls moving up after the lottery, Toppin might just have enough developed talent to help the team win sooner than expected.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers- (-1) PF/C Onyeka Onkongwu |6’9″ 245 lbs. |Freshman |USC |19 years old |(16.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.7 bpg) |Biggest Strength: Defensive stalwart |Biggest Weakness: Turnover prone- NBA teams, in the current state of devaluing the center position, are always desperately looking for that one special big who can match up defensively and not be run off the floor by smaller players. Onyeka looks like he can fit the bill as a rim-running, multi-defending cornerstone that can guard multiple positions. Could this be enough for teams in need of some defensive adrenalin like the Cavaliers? We will have to wait and see…

6. Atlanta Hawks- (+1) SF Deni Advija |6’9″ 215 lbs.| Maccabi Tel Aviv| 19 years old| (4.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.2 apg) |Biggest Strength: Versatility |Biggest Weakness: Shooting- Even though the Hawks dropped a couple of spots, Advija could be a great pick to help the Hawks. With size, skill, and a good feel for the game, Deni could become a plug and play replacement in the mold of a Dario Saric. He does need to improve his strength and shooting ability from both the free throw (55.7%) and the 3-point line (27.7%) if he is to develop into becoming a “glue guy” for an NBA contender.

7. Detroit Pistons- (-2) PG/SG Killian Hayes| 6’5″ 187 lbs. |Ratiopharm Ulm| 18 years old (12.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 6.2 apg) |Biggest Strength: Playmaking Ability |Biggest Weakness: Shooting- A fast climber among draft experts, Killian’s stock has risen due to his stellar play overseas. His outside shot needs to improve (29% in 3-pointers), but his free-throw percentage (88%) projects that should happen. Hayes may never become a star in the league but most think he will be a solid starting point guard in the years to come.

8. New York Knicks- (-2) PG Tyrese Haliburton |6’5″ 175 lbs. |Sophomore |Iowa State|20 years old |(15.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 6.5 apg) |Biggest Strength: Passing |Biggest Weakness: Aggression- A skilled playmaker, Tyrese has the ability to emerge as one of the best young point guards in this year’s draft. Could he be the building block to work around for the New York Knicks? His height and excellent basketball awareness have allowed him to become a hot name in the draft. Any team that selects him, however, must attend to his lack of aggression and confidence in his jumper so that he can reach his full potential.

9. Washington Wizards- (NC) SG/SF Isaac Okoro |6’6″ 225 lbs. |Freshman| Auburn |19 years old |(12.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.0 apg)| Biggest Strength: Potential defensive stopper |Biggest Weakness: Potential offensive stopper- Isaac is that special defensive player, that if selected, could provide shut down defense against either guard or small forward position. But his below-average efficiency (29% on 3-pointers, 67% at the free-throw line) could be cause for concern and essentially leave a team playing four on five on the offensive end. He must substantially develop his skill-set so he can become an asset on both sides of the court instead of a liability on the offensive end.

10. Pheonix Suns- (+1) SF Aaron Nesmith |6’6″ 213 lbs. |Vanderbilt |Sophomore |20 years old |(23.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.4 spg) |Biggest Strength: Shooting |Biggest Weakness: Defense- Widely regarded as the premier shooter in this year’s draft, Aaron’s stroke from long range (52% on 3’s) projects him to be a contributor on a team for many years. If his shot fails him at the next level, he could quickly find himself out of the league due to a lack of athleticism and poor defensive position that will leave him as a target for opposing clubs while he’s on the floor. The Spurs or anyone else looking for a long-range sharpshooter should look Nesmith’s way because his consistent performance at Vanderbilt points toward a future in the NBA, and not somewhere else.

11. San Antonio Spurs- (-1) SF Patrick Williams| 6′ 8″ 225 lbs. |Freshman |Florida State| 18 years old |(9.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 spg) |Biggest Strength: Premiere athlete |Biggest Weakness: Inconsistency- At his size, Patrick could develop into a small ball Power Forward/Center which a great deal of NBA teams are coveting. With the size and athleticism that he has, Patrick could be a major key to a team’s success if he develops. His outstanding free throw shooting translates to a strong chance he can develop his currently shaky outside shot. Patrick must also develop his on-ball defensive skills if he is to make it in the league as a much desired “3-and-D” wing player.

12. Sacramento Kings- (NC) SG/SF Devin Vassell |6’7″ 194 lbs. |Florida State|Sophomore |19 years old |(12.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 spg) Biggest Strength- All-Around ability |Biggest Weakness: Playmaker- Devin has an above-average rating on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. A solid shooter (41% from the 3-point area) and smart defender, Devin has quite the array of tools he can utilize. For him to succeed, he must show confidence in those tools to make a bigger imprint in his games and learn how to develop his playmaking skills. If he puts it together, he can become the two-way threat so many teams are desperately searching for.

13. New Orleans Pelicans-(NC) PF/C Aleksej Pokusevski |7’0″ 200 lbs. |Olympiacos B| 18 years old |(9.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.8 apg) |Biggest Strength- Upside|Biggest Weakness- Lack of Strength- “Aleksej P” as he is often referred to has a variety of skills that on the surface would make it very hard for an NBA team to pass on. Height and length? Check. Can he stretch the floor? Check. Team defender with shot-blocking skills? Check. Is he a good passer? Check. His skill set checks off a lot of boxes but at only 200 pounds, to say Aleksej is paper-thin is probably doing the paper an injustice. He must go to a team that’s willing to help him build his strength while honing his potential. If they do, he could be one of the biggest surprises in this draft.

14. Boston Celtics (from Memphis)- (NC) SF Saddiq Bey |6’8″ 216 lbs. |Sophomore |Syracuse| 21 years old| (16.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.7 apg)| Biggest Strength- The catch and shoot part |Biggest Weakness- The defending part- As a potential 3-and-D player, Saddiq has at least the “3” part off to a good start. At a robust 45% shooting overall and 51% in the catch and shoot option from beyond the arc, his outside shooting translates well at the next level. It’s the “D” part that’s the issue as his lack of quickness and defensive awareness had him getting beat by smaller opponents on too many occasions. If he is to become that elusive 3-and-D wing so many teams covet, that “D” part of the equation must also stand for development as he has to gain a true commitment to the defensive end in order to find prosperity in the league.

15. Orlando Magic– (+2) PG Kira Lews Jr. |6’3″ 165 lbs. |Alabama |Sophomore |19 years old |(18.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.3 apg) |Biggest Strength- Quickness |Biggest Weakness- Finishing At The Rim- Probably one of the fastest players in the draft, Kira combines his blazing speed with a solid all-around court ability that on the surface shows few glaring weaknesses. He can shoot, drive to the basket, has quick hands-on defense, and can fill up the box score positively in almost every stat column. The question after seeing quite a bit of footage of him is his willingness to do so much at Alabama led to poor shot selection, high turnovers, and inability to be consistent going to the rim. If he doesn’t put too much on his shoulders at the NBA level, his fast-rising stock can be truly realized.

16. Portland Trailblazers- (NC) SF/PF Precious Achiuwa |6’9″ 223 lbs. |Freshman |20 years old| (15.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 1.9 bpg) |Biggest Strength- High motor |Biggest Weakness- Free throws- As someone who can come in and hit the boards with toughness, run the lane in the fast break, and be very effective in the pick-and-roll, Precious has great promise in filling that bill. His style and potential fit in the league has often be compared to Clint Capela or Montrezl Harrell. While adding a consistent outside shot would prove to be a bonus, he must focus more on developing better free throw accuracy to maximize his effectiveness in a half-court offense.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Brooklyn)– (-2) PG/SG RJ Hampton| 6’5″ 188 lbs. |New Zealand Breakers |19 years old |(8.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.4 apg) |Biggest Strength- Ball-handling |Biggest Weakness- Shooting- What we have here is a versatile player with good size (6’8″ wingspan) who can compete on both ends of the floor and at both guard positions. What we have here is a skillful tactician that can rise to the basket with ease and can also find the open man. What we unfortunately also have is a poor shooter (29% from the 3-point line while playing in Australia) that needs to develop to become a major contributor to an NBA team.

18. Dallas Mavericks- (NC) PG Cole Anthony| 6’3″ 184 lbs. |Freshman| North Carolina |20 years old |(18.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.0 apg) |Biggest Strength- Confidence |Biggest Weakness- Overconfidence- With North Carolina’s basketball team hitting a rare sour note, as one of the high profile recruits Cole was supposed to lead the team to a different conclusion. Yes, he was injured for part of the year, but despite the ability to score and make plays as good as advertised, his perceived belief he could bring the team up all by himself led to a consistent string of poor decisions on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Can he put it together on the next level and be the player many thought he would be coming out of high school? Yes. But whether it was the team’s poor performance or Cole’s willingness to do everything, his development (similar to Kira Lewis Jr.) hinges on him grasping a better feel for his own game, and the team he ultimately ends up getting drafted on.

19. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia)– (NC) SG Jahmi’us Ramsey |6’4″ 195 lbs.| Freshman |Texas Tech |19 years old |(15.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)| Biggest Strength- Defensive efficiency| Biggest Weakness- Inconclusive shot- With Jahmi’us, you’re really not sure what you’re going to get. You can get a player who can play as an effective on-ball or team defender (93.2 defensive rating per 100 possessions). You also can get a player who shot well from beyond the three-point line (43%) in college. Why he isn’t higher on this draft board stems from questions on how effective his shot will be in the NBA with a currently shaky (64%) experience from the free-throw line. Add to this some inconsistency with his playmaking and driving to the basket, and what you may get is a puzzle where all the pieces may not add up. But if a team figures how to put it together, Jahmi’us may be a valuable asset on a championship team.

20. Miami Heat- (+2) PG Tyrell Terry| 6’1″ 160 lbs.| Stanford | Freshman |19 years old |(14.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.2 apg)| Biggest Strength- Shooting |Biggest Weakness- Size: Crafty, shifty, slick, creative. Those were often the words I saw and heard when it comes to Tyrell Terry. Tyrell has found many different ways to pick apart opponents in a half-court offense. His willingness to find the open man is only superseded by his ability to shoot the basketball (40% from three, 89% free throws). But at 6’1″ is Tyrell talented enough to take aim at the NBA like other smaller guards (i.e. Trey Young, Fred Van Vleet) that are currently flourishing the league. Can he also play well enough defensively to resemble what we see from Van Vleet, and not what we see from Young? The jury may be out on that but what talent that is already there may be too good for a team to resist.

21. Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City)– (NEW) Grant Riller|6’3″ 190 lbs.|Charleston|Senior|23 years old| (21.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.9 apg)|Biggest Strength- Stat stuffer|Biggest Weakness- Turnovers- Grant exemplifies the term “win now” player when it comes to the NBA Draft. As one of the oldest players in the draft at age 23, Grant’s potential ceiling may not be as great as others coming in, but his readiness to help a team sooner rather than later makes him a more attractive player for a team looking to add a valuable rotation player at the point guard spot. With the ability to score, rebound, and make plays at a high level, Grant can provide a lift coming off the bench. His turnover ratio is a bit high (3.1), but many feel he can make those adjustments because of his maturity very quickly, and thus the reasoning behind his fast rise up the draft boards.

22. Denver Nuggets (vis Houston)- (-1) SG Tyrese Maxey| 6’3″ 198 lbs.| Kentucky| Freshman |19 years old| (14.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.2 apg) |Biggest Strength- Hand-in-your-face defender |Biggest Weakness- Outside shot– Again here we have another five-star recruit (#10 on Rivals) that endured through a disappointing freshman season and his draft stock has plummeted because of it. He showed glimpses of NBA-level talent on his on-ball defense and his driving to the basket. Teams looking at him as a prospect will probably do so gambling on the now relied upon formula that a good free-throw shooter (in this case 83%) can work his way into being a competent three-point threat.

23. Utah Jazz- (NC) PG Theo Maledon |6’4″ 174 lbs. |ASVEL |19 years old |(7.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.7 apg)| Biggest Strength- Potential |Biggest Weakness- Experience- As I watched the footage and videos available on Theo out there on the internet, a little voice sounding very much like former Manhattan coach and long-time ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla kept speaking to me inside my head. Nothing too detailed, nothing too in-depth, just one of his most famous lines ever uttered when he was reporting at the 2014 NBA Draft. Like the player drafted at the time Bruno Caboclo, Theo has the promise and look like he can become a player one day in the NBA. But his lack of time and experience out on the court for ASVEL leads me to believe (just like Fran said about Bruno) that “He’s two years away from being two years away.” Whatever team drafts Theo is going to have to be patient, and possibly contemplate having the bulk of his time spent in the G-League or developing as a “draft and stash” overseas.

24. Milwaukee Bucks (via Indiana)- (NC) SG Josh Green| 6’6″ 206 lbs. |Arizona| Freshman |19 years old |(12.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg)| Biggest Strength- Defensive length| Biggest Weakness- Touch around the basket- While his numbers don’t particularly stand out, there’s a lot to like when it comes to Josh Green. With a 6’10” wingspan, solid shooting mechanics, and good athleticism, it’s easy to see why Josh was a top-10 rated prospect (#7 with Rivals) coming out of high school. His length often creates turnover opportunities in the half-court and helps serve him well when it comes to one-on-one defense. The key for Josh will be if he can continue to develop his offensive skill set. If he does, a potential late-round steal could be in the making.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Denver)- (NC) SG Leandro Bolmaro| 6’7″ 180 lbs.| FC Barcelona|19 years old| (8.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.5 apg)| Biggest Strength- Got Some Sizzle In His Game| Biggest Weakness- Needs More Steak Though- While the numbers don’t pop out at anyone, Leandro has qualities and a style that can translate better to an NBA format. With limited time for FC Barcelona, Bolmaro has been able to showcase effective ball-handling and playmaking skills with some flash that can blend in well within a well-constructed offensive set. We’ve seen before where players limited in experience playing in Europe thrive in the NBA when they get the playing time, and if Leandro works on his outside shooting and fundamentals, we could see a similar path when it comes to his game.

26. Boston Celtics- (-6) PF Paul Reed |6’9″ 220 lbs.| Depaul| Junior |21 years old |(15.1 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 2.6 bpg) |Biggest Strength- Defense |Biggest Weakness- Range- At the latter portion of the draft, you can usually find winning teams that are just looking for pieces that they can either develop long-term or who can contribute at least something right away. With Paul, you get at an older prospect who is ready to defend and rebound at an NBA level. Can he develop on the offensive side of the ball to become more than a specialist? Is he strong enough to be that rim-running small ball five so many are looking for? It’s still “iffy” on those questions and his status as a starter in the league but he can definitely provide you quality minutes, and do so sooner than a lot of the other prospects in this year’s draft.

27.  New York Knicks (via LA Clippers)– (NC) PF Jaden McDaniels |6’9″ 184 lbs. |Washington| Freshman |19 years old |(13.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.1 apg)| Biggest Strength- Potential| Biggest Weakness- Commitment- Coming out as the top-rated power forward (and #7 overall) out of high school according to Rivals.com, Jaden had a ton of expectations headed his way. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned as he, fellow prospect Isaiah Stewart, and the rest of the team failed to live up to some lofty predictions. A great concern has come over McDaniels and Stewart over their lack of growth in their time at Washington. Any team drafting either player has to be warned that although the talent to be a skillfully, playmaking big man is there, the lack of desire to grow further at Washington could also hold him back in the NBA.

28. Los Angeles Lakers- (+1) SG Desmond Bane|6’5″ 215 lbs.| TCU|Senior| 22 years old| (16.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.9 asg)|Biggest Strength- Strong shooting|Biggest Weakness- Age– One of the best shooters in the draft, Desmond can be counted on from the outset to fill a specific role because his court savvy and experience already in the college game. Can become a quality role player in the league but due to him being one of the older players in the draft, his ceiling and potential may not be higher than the most. For a team that’s ready to win now, Desmond Bane could be a good fit for their plans.

29. Toronto Raptors– (-1) PG Tre Jones| 6’2″ 185 lbs.| Duke| Sophomore| 20 years old| (16.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 6.4 apg) |Biggest Strength- Consistency| Biggest Weakness- Long-range shooting- With Tre, you know what you are going to get. A solid, smart playmaker who will make the right decision, just not the flashy one. His resume built up at Duke and the footage available screams that he will become a valuable point guard coming off the bench for the next eight to twelve years. He must improve his outside shooting in order to be just exactly what almost every draft aficionado thinks he will be. And judging by his free throw shooting (77%) that will most likely be the case.

30. Boston Celtics (via Milwaukee)- (NC) SF Tyler Bey|6’7″ 215 lbs| Colorado| 22 years old| (13.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.2 bpg)| Biggest Strength; Defense| Biggest Weakness: Offensive limitations- Experienced, athletic, and with a great defensive background, Tyler has got all the makings of a player you can plug right in and become a defensive fireplug for your time. With a decent touch from the perimeter and the ability to be effective on the pick-and-roll, Bey could become a key peice to a winning organization. Working on his limitations of ball-handling and playmaking will come when entering the NBA, so as long as a team are more relaint on his off-the ball skills and his defensive prowess, Tyler could become the glue guy to help everthing come together for a championship-minded club.

Dropped Out: Vernon Carey Jr.

That’s my mock draft for now. Stay tuned to our latest episodes of the Lakers Fast Break podcast and popculturecosmos.com for revisions as we get closer to the draft tentatively scheduled for October 15th.