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Mara gets 4.6 blocks per 40 minutes, compared to Krivas 2.9 blocks per 40 minutes. Also, Mara shoots 67% from the field, compared to Krivas 59% from the field. Mara is 7-3, 255 and Krivas is 7-2, 260. Mara dunks a lot in the video I saw, while Krivas mostly shoots hook shots and push shots in the post. If you pull up video of Kessler, there will be a montage of dunks. Kessler has a high dunk rate, and catches lobs. Mara is the better prospect, imo.

 

The draft might end up being loaded with bigs that fit the profile we need. Cyril is a dunking and shot blocking machine. Same with Thiam. Same with Budenga. Lakers need to scout these guys, but basic counting stat wise, FG% and blocks per game gives an indication of high dunk rate and rim protection, which is what we need. If we could get 2 of 4 of Mara, Cyril, Bidenga, and Thiam. Plus there are more choices too.

 

For the record, I don't disagree that Mara is the more obvious fit with us, especially offensively. IMO he's the more natural "Laker" pick over Krivas in general, even if it's obvious that he'll need a few years to develop and work on his conditioning. I also think those stats you mentioned are why Mara is so regularly expected to be drafted earlier than Krivas across mock drafts, especially his size. He's the better prospect long term and I'd argue he likely has a far higher ceiling than Krivas.

But Krivas has some rather impressive defensive statistics in his corner too, so I wouldn't rule him out and I don't think he's a bad choice either. Moreover there is merit to the idea of us benefitting from Krivas being more immediately ready for the NBA than Mara.

But hey, if we walk out of Draft Night having selected Mara, I'll be over the moon. Hell, I'd be elated if we draft him and then shortly afterwards the Lakers go and hire on Pau to help coach and develop Mara one-on-one like they did with Kareem and Bynum back in the 2000's.

IMO the top 3 Big candidates for us are Mara, Krivas and Morez Johnson Jr.

Morez is just so versatile in what he can do defensively, plus his current offensive game is reasonably close enough to work with Luka as a lob threat and he's showing signs of potentially developing into a floor spacer too. The one thing holding him back from being my top pick overall is the fact that he'd be a small ball 5 at 6'9". But then, so is Bidunga and one of my favorite NBA center candidates to pair with Luka is Jarrett Allen at 6'10", so I certainly wouldn't complain if we walked out with just Morez this summer.

That said, I hadn't looked at any tape of Thiam or Cyril until now. Thiam looks really promising to me and it seems he's projected to be a Second Round pick, so I could see us being able to scoop him up pretty easily by buying into the Second Round. I don't know if he'd be a starting caliber Center or not, but his floor spacing prowess and athleticism would be a great addition for us to invest in as a rotation piece alongside whoever our starter 5 winds up being and Jaxson.

Cyril looks like another great option too. Could see him developing into a Daniel Gafford type.

Yeah, this is a very astute point to consider too. I've seen so many people suggest online for the past year or so that the Lakers should try and go get Mitchell Robinson and/or Robert Williams III as a center and while I like them both and get the reasonings for the suggestions, their health concerns are very apparent. We'd basically be getting them with the intent of mainly saving them for the Playoffs.

I went to the Kansas-NC State game back in December to go get a first hand look at Peterson. I wasn't all that impressed at the time, might've been a bad night for him, but I did notice Bidunga in that game.

 

As an aside, I'll be at the ACC Tournament games on Thursday (well... all of them except the UNC game ), so hopefully I'll be able to keep a close eye on Patrick Ngongba II there. He's not my personal favorite target for the Lakers in the draft, but I've seen a lot of mock drafts having us select Ngongba, so I might as well keep an eye on him there to see how he fares.

 

I would put Mara, Cyril, Thiam, and Bedunga over Krivas, for what our needs our. We need a lob catcher and shot blocker. Now, Krivas could walk into 12 rebounds a game in his sleep, and might be an effective post player and even a 20/10/2 guy. He's like a 7-2 Domantas, with better defense, but less passing. But unfortunately, he is also in the Aytin mold, offensively. A player like that defintly has value. Just with a Luka team, you need a rim runner, and as good of a rim protector as possible. Need to be able to differentiate play style. Some folks wanted us to get bigs like Poertl, Sharpe, and Sabonis. They are good bjgs, but not good fits with Luka.

Mara and Cyril both produce about 4.5 blocks per 40 minutes, and they score close to the basket, not off of post moves.

 

I can't fully agree with this. I get your argument, but the only Bigs I can get onboard with us drafting over Krivas are Mara and Morez. Cyril, Thiam and Bidunga are all commonly projected to be Second Round picks, so I'd rather us just draft Krivas if Mara and Morez are already taken with our First and then draft one of Cyril, Thiam or Bidunga the following night too for versatility and having at least one natural offensive fitting Big for Luka alongside Krivas as a defensive anchor.

 

Okay, I see what you are saying. Maybe you want to get Krivas for perceived asset value? Morez has got more publicity than Cyril, Bidunga, and Thiam, but I could see some players moving up too. Morez is listed at 6-9, but he might be 6-8. He gets 2.1 blocker per 40 minutes, which is low compared to the other bigs. His shooting is a small sample size. I'm hoping we could get one of the OKC 1st's, either 12, 16, or 18 (projected). Maybe even along with Dort. I would pick one big with that OKC pick and one big with our #22. Then sign Hayes to about 8 million, using his bird-rights. Then you have a three-headed monster at the 5. Neither has to play huge minutes. Hayes is better in sprints, and the rookies have more time to get acclimated, and develop.

Some intangible stuff about Mara:

The Luka/Spain connection: They both speak Spanish and played in Spain. Also, he has the euro play style that Luka could relate to.

The Gasol connection: Gasol still seems to be close to the Lakers organization. Mara has said Pau was his favorite player. Also, Kobe and Pau also had that Euro connection, and probably even communicated on the court in Spanish, similar to how Luka and Mara might do.

PR/Marketing: Former Bruin, L.A. Spanish speaking market, Lakers management and fans love for Kobe and Pau.

 

krivas would be hayes's backup were we to draft him, imo. so he'd slot where ayton should be right now, playing in the second unit with reaves as the primary playmaker. if we need another lobcatcher as the third center, those guys are out there as vet mins every year.

 

My line of thought for next year was Lebron leaves, Rui slides into the starting 4, Hayes starting 5, we keep Kennard (backup 2), sign a starting caliber POA defender (fingers crossed for Ellis), smart moves to the bench, JLR backup 3. To me that leaves some backup 4 & 5 minutes. It'd be great if Adou could get that backup 4 spot (is he a good rebounder?), which leaves the backup 5 which is why I was leaning towards Krivas in the second round. I haven't seen him mocked in the 1st round yet.

Thanks @showtime24 for point out some other prospects that weren't on my radar. Thiam seems pretty raw and super skinny for the 5. Cyril also looks solid, good athlete/lob finisher and blocks a ton of shots (haven't seen him mocked anywhere, maybe he stays in school). Of the group Krivas is the only one shooting about 80% at the foul line and he's got one of the highest offensive rebounding rate plus is playing on a top team in nation. @Hurricane Billy I'd love to hear more of your perspective from the ACC tournament. I like Mara too, I just think he could go lottery and Krivas is more ready to step in next year. I'd rather gamble on a 2way wing in the first round. I agree with @abeer3 3rd string centers are pretty easy to find.

 

Damn Doncics going through some s***. Dude just compart mentalized. Hasn’t seen his daughters. Only have seen them twice since training camp.

not a basketball take but bizarre. They were engaged and she didn’t want him to take the kids with him to L.A.

I can see her side. When a woman has her kids she wants to spend as much time as she can with them when she has them.

Maybe you could let him take one kid.

but just seems crazy. And she wouldn’t let him see any of the kids. Calling the police. Yeah I see Lukas comment definitely a roller coaster.

and she wanted child support when they were engaged. Damn.

 

Gold diggers hail from all across the globe. One of the Kardashian sisters,are intently observing this situation. (Probably).

 

Bam 70 points and it's still 4 quarter.
but the really wild stats 16 3points shots.
He matched Kobe 62 points in 3 quarter

 

Bam Adebayo? 4real?

 

83 points and 43 FTs

 

81

NBA is crap

 

The Wizards should be contracted.

 

Damn I’m pissed.

 

What kind of defense was that???

 

31 points in the 1st Quarter???????