Los Angeles Lakers: Which Big Man Will Shape The Future?

When the Los Angeles Lakers moved into the second overall pick in the NBA Draft from their initial number four spot, they were given the opportunity to select one of the two top-rated big-men that are expected to shape a franchise’s front-court for years to come.

The Minnesota Timberwolves — who hold the draft’s number one overall selection — will almost certainly take one of Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns, leaving the other to be taken by the Lakers.

Here’s a look at how each can shape the Lake Show’s future.

Jahlil Okafor out of Duke University was long considered the draft’s number-one overall prospect. Although Towns emerged as another viable number one, Okafor didn’t disappoint in his one-and-only season at Duke. Averaging 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per-game in 30.1 minutes per-game, Okafor was an imposing force in the low-post. At 6-foot-11 and 275 pounds with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and a 9’3″ standing reach, he possesses ideal NBA size and strength.

Okafor’s already-extensive array of post moves make him the most polished NBA product in the draft. Questions about his defensive potential and athletic ability are the main reasons that Towns could go ahead of him.

As far as defense goes, Okafor has the physical gifts as I stated before. His size will grant him the ability to body-up with bigger low-post threats and fight for rebounds. His wingspan will also help him protect the rim, though his footwork and athleticism prevented him from being a defensive force in college. His vertical will have to improve, but Okafor could blossom into quite the shot-blocker in the NBA should he put the work in.

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The main concern I have about his defense is his footwork. With so many finesse bigs in the NBA today, Okafor will need to find a way to remove the bricks that seem to be anchoring his feet defensively.

Okafor’s effect on the Lakers, or any team for that matter, would be more immediate and pronounced than that of Towns. He’ll provide an immediate low-post threat for the Lakers to throw the ball to. Less isolation for Kobe Bryant, in what is expected to be his final year, might help in keeping him on the floor for the duration of the season. Not to mention the offensive potential of a Julius Randle and Okafor front-court duo is staggering.

Karl-Anthony Towns from Kentucky didn’t exactly light college basketball on fire quite like Okafor did, posting averages of 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in 21.1 minutes per-game, but his 2.2 blocks per-game is a very telling stat. Not a whole lot should be looked into Towns’ stats, seeing as he was on a ridiculously stacked Kentucky team.

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His physical gifts are plentiful, at 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and 9’1″ standing reach, Towns is by far the more athletic of these two prospects. Towns’ all-around ceiling may be higher than Okafor’s, but it’s unclear whether or not his offensive game will ever be as tantalizing. Towns does possess a mid-range jump shot that will serve him well while he develops a post game, but his repertoire in the post is no match to that of Okafor.

Towns would provide an excellent compliment to the offensively-minded Randle in the Lakers’ front-court. With Jordan Hill having started at center for much of this past season, it would undoubtedly be a breath of fresh air for Laker fans to see a true defensive anchor manning the middle.

Either of these young big-men will provide the Lakers with something they don’t currently have: a definitive player to build around. The directions that these two would take the franchise are very different, but either way, the future is bright in Lakerland.