A very special NBA Draft version of “Wonderwall”
June 25, 2015NBA Draft: Cavs take Tyus Jones at No. 24, trade him to Minnesota for No. 31, 36, future 2nd
June 25, 2015In a small surprise, the Los Angeles Lakers used the second pick in the 2015 NBA Draft to select Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell. Russell was selected over big man Jahlil Okafor, who went No. 3 to Philadelphia after the other top post threat, Karl-Anthony Towns, was made the top selection by Minnesota.
Russell, a 6-5 combo guard, averaged 19.3 points on 44.9 percent shooting (41.1 percent from three point range) along with 5.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.6 steals in 33.9 minutes per game in his lone college season. D’Angelo did everything at both ends for an Ohio State team that was plagued by a woeful senior supporting cast and an aloof Marc Loving. In the NCAA Tournament, Russell scored 28 in an opening round win against Virginia Commonwealth, but the team bowed out to the stacked Arizona Wildcats (who will have two first rounders of their own get selected tonight) with Russell shooting 3-for-19 with just nine points.
Russell became the highest Ohio State selection since Evan Turner also went No. 2 in the 2010 NBA Draft. He joins fellow Buckeyes Turner (Boston), Mike Conley Jr. (Memphis, fourth overall in 2007), Jared Sullinger (Boston, 21st in 2012), and Kosta Koufos (23rd, 2008) as scarlet and gray standouts at the next level.
The Buckeye now joins the legendary Kobe Bryant, power forward Julius Randle (who lost his rookie year to a broken leg), and potentially a big acquisition in the form of Lamarcus Aldridge or Demarcus Cousins. Is there anyone else that I’m missing? No, I don’t think so. I think that’s it.
D'Angelo Russell to ESPN about joining Lakers: "That franchise is not used to losing, and I'm a winning player" http://t.co/KVyXnCtm4X
— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) June 26, 2015
Also, respect to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for properly announcing D’Angelo as from “THE Ohio State University”. See the video below.
4 Comments
Amazing how that franchise reloads. Okafor would have been redundant, what with LA poised to get Cousins or Aldridge (or Love!). Once they complete their frontcourt through free agency they’ll be a tough playoff out again.
I’ve always liked the Lakers so I am happy that Russell is there.
Reloads? They have been bad for years and I don’t buy Cousins going there for a minute. Aldridge makes no sense why leave Portland for the Lakers if you want to win? Kevin Love has a connection having played at UCLA but again leave Cleveland who is the only team who can pay you the most money and you can opt out next year to play with the Lakers? Nah.
Btw I’m not sold on Russell but we’ll see how he compares to Okafor as their careers go.
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