Analyzing all options for the Lakers’ picks
The Lakers will have to weigh various questions on what they should do with their respective No. 17 and 47 NBA draft picks.
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1. Analyzing all options for the Lakers’ picks
The Lakers will have to weigh various questions on what they should do with their respective No. 17 and 47 NBA draft picks, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Mark Medina.
Well before they are on the clock during the NBA Draft on Thursday, the Lakers will have to weigh various questions on what they should do with their respective No. 17 and 47 picks.
Should they follow the old-adage of selecting the best talent available, or should they prioritize addressing positional needs? Should they value youth and upside, or should they choose experience and predictability? Should they deal the pick even before the NBA Draft starts (5 pm PT), or should they wait to make any trades until free agency begins (June 30)?
No doubt, the Lakers have plenty of options. They don’t necessarily have easy answers. Below are a few scenarios to consider.
2. Clippers should feel relieved Brogdon trade fell through
The Clippers dodged a bullet with the failed Malcolm Brogdon trade, but where do they go from here? The Sporting Tribune’s Mark Medina takes you through the trade that was and then wasn’t.
A week before the frenetic free-agency period began, the Clippers already tried to make big moves to their roster. A day before the NBA Draft took place, the Clippers then made decisions that will now require them to go back to the drawing board.
In a three-team trade with the Boston Celtics and the Washington Wizards, the Clippers initially planned to acquire a proven veteran point guard (Malcolm Brogdon). In exchange, the Clippers would have sent a promising young player (Amir Coffey), a formerly dependable veteran that fell out of the rotation (Marcus Morris) and their No. 30 pick to Washington. After Kristaps Porzingis would have opted into the final year of his $36 million contract, Washington would have traded him to Boston for Danilo Gallinari. Before all teams finalized those trades, ESPN first reported that talks fell apart.
So what happened? Well, the Clippers had misgivings that made this trade a red flag in the first place. Substack’s Marc Stein reported the Clippers raised concerns about Brogdon’s injury status, a legitimate issue considering that Brogdon reportedly played through a partially torn tendon in his right arm during the playoffs. Brogdon also had a checkered injury history through his seven-year NBA career. Nonetheless, Clippers were not included in subsequent trade talks after those inquiries. ESPN reported that Washington completed the deal to include Memphis sending guard Tyus Jones to the Wizards.
3. Wembanyama tops a very deep NBA draft class
With the NBA draft on Thursday, here is where The Sporting Tribune’s Brandon Deutsch projects one of the deepest draft classes ever going, including a blockbuster trade.
David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and now Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs have gotten a generational player with the #1 pick three times. The best prospect since LeBron James and a generational talent on both ends of the floor, at 7-5 with a whopping 8 foot wingspan, Wembanyama can handle the ball like a guard, has elite 3-level shot creation with an unblockable jumper (because of his height). He is also one of the more versatile defensive prospects in recent memory.
Though his efficiency has dwindled down toward the end of Metropolitans 92’s season, the volume was still elite as Wembanyama still averaged 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game last season with a TS% of 58. I wouldn’t be surprised with the pace of play in today’s NBA if he averaged 22+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 2+ blocks per game as a rookie for a Spurs team that is desperate for two-way production (ranked 29th in offensive rating and 30th in defensive rating last year).
Wemby the all the talent in the world and could become the greatest player in NBA history if he reaches his potential, though his career will not be deemed a failure if he doesn’t reach his ceiling despite many critics putting enormous amounts of pressure on him to succeed.
4. Ohtani deals but Dodgers beat Angels again, 2-0
Shohei Ohtani was brilliant, allowing just five hits and one earned run in seven innings of work, but was handed the loss, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Joey Linn.
Shohei Ohtani took the mound on Wednesday night for Game 2 of the Freeway Series between the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani was brilliant, allowing just five hits and one earned run in seven innings of work, but was handed the loss as the Angels failed to score. Ohtani also finished with 12 strikeouts on the mound, which pulled him within 10 of Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman for the American League lead in that category.
Speaking with reporters after the game, Ohtani was asked about how good he felt on the mound, and said, "I definitely felt way better this time than last time. I felt the most comfortable on the mound so far this year."
When asked if there is something specific he found mechanically that helped him thrive on the mound in this outing, Ohtani said, "I felt really good from the bullpen today, and I feel like I was able to transition that to the game... I felt really good today, so I just need to continue that going forward."
5. Supporter groups return, Galaxy draw with Sporting KC
The Galaxy lost a 2-1 lead in the final minutes in a 2-2 draw against Sporting Kansas City, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Kamran Nia.
On Wednesday, the LA Galaxy supporter groups returned to the stands for the first time this year after the Galaxy parted ways with president Chris Klein. The club also celebrated Juneteenth.
Despite the game time festivities, the 20,960 announced fans in attendance left the Galaxy’s home stadium, Dignity Health Sports Park, with little to celebrate as the Galaxy drew with Sporting Kansas City (KC), 2-2, after a stoppage-time equalizing goal by Sporting KC.
12 minutes into the game, midfielder Mark Delgado turned it over, trying to pass toward the center of the field. Then, Sporting KC built their own attack as midfielder Erik Thammy crossed it to forward Alan Pulido, who scored.
Despite the early 1-0 deficit, the Galaxy rallied back.
6. LAFC holds off Sounders, 1-0
Mateusz Bogusz’s goal in the first minute proved to be the difference in LAFC’s 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders, giving LAFC sole possession of first place in the West, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Anthony Bautista.
A week ago, LAFC (9-5-3) had lost its second straight game, getting shut out by the Houston Dynamo and found itself in the midst of a four game scoreless streak.
Just two games later, LAFC found itself having one of its quickest starts in club history during a 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders Wednesday night.
All Mateusz Bogusz needed was 54 seconds to put the ball in the back of the net, which sent the BMO Stadium crowd in a frenzy and proved to be the difference maker in the end. His goal was the second quickest in LAFC history.
7. Odds and Ends presented by Circa Sports
Here are some odds at Circa Sports if you’re thinking about placing a wager today:
8. Ticket Time presented by TickPick
Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game Friday.
7:00 p.m. – Astros at Dodgers – $40
7:00 p.m. – Wings at Sparks – $4
9. On the Air presented by The D Las Vegas
Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region Friday.
5:30 p.m. – Angels at Rockies – Bally Sports West
7:00 p.m. – Astros at Dodgers – SportsNet LA
7:00 p.m. – Wings at Sparks – Ion
10. The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune
The Sporting Tribune’s Arash Markazi is joined by Ji Hae Wiley, Armani Buckets and Brandon Deutsch to talk about the upcoming NBA draft and if the Clippers are really trying to trade Paul George, as has been reported? Would it be wise to trade George if they can get a player like Scoot Henderson?
Listen to The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune on The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio in Southern California, 98.5 The Bet in Las Vegas and the Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii. You can also listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher.
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That’s it for today. Talk to you tomorrow!