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Russell Westbrook 2.0 at 23? (Zach LaVine)

Archie Moses

Archie Moses

Well-Known Member
He probably won't fall to our later picks, but if he does, it might be nice to pick up Zach LaVine. They're coining him as Westbrook 2.0. I'm a huge fan of Westbrook's skills, just not his game.

Anyway, LaVine looks like he's finally coming into his own after growing a few inches the past year or so.
1050508.jpg

That's him just a few years ago, a wee lil lad, but now he has a man bod. Yeah, you heard the man. His body is very comparable to Jamal Crawford (6'6" shoes.) He kind of reminds of me Aaron Gordon meet Klay Thompson. This past year he started out red-hot for UCLA and then cooled off over the last part of the season and kind of went under the radar imo. He just set a vert record during a workout with the Lakers while jumping 46". The video is very impressive.

BpTynSdIcAA9bNN.jpg

**Gerald Green rubs eyes**

Highlight reel:
[url[/MEDIA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLLiDllOl5w[/url]

Prospect Vid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myt7Hg8s4uw

https://newsok.com/russell-westbrook-2.0-meet-zach-lavine/article/4883763

Is UCLA's Zach LaVine the next Russell Westbrook?

The two share more than just a former school. LaVine is a projected first-round pick who carries many of the same characteristics as Westbrook when the Thunder All-Star entered the league in 2008. More than a few NBA Draft profiles have LaVine as another coming of Westbrook.

LaVine sure can jump like Westbrook. The 6-foot-5 combo guard had a 46-inch vertical at a workout for the Los Angeles Lakers' workout on Wednesday (Check out the photo above with former Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart gawking in the background).

Photo - Zach LaVine from UCLA participates in the 2014 NBA basketball Draft Combine Thursday, May 15, 2014, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Zach LaVine from UCLA participates in the 2014 NBA basketball Draft Combine Thursday, May 15, 2014, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The biggest difference between Westbrook and LaVine coming out of college is defense. In his final season at UCLA, Westbrook was the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, while Draftexpress.com says "LaVine is simply not a good defender at this point in time."

But there's also this:

From NBADraft.net: "Plays an exciting and fairly flashy style, and is a highlight reel dunker in the transition game."

ESPN.com: "The question is really whether he's a point guard."

Draftexpress.com: "LaVine's feel for the game and decision making skills leave a lot to be desired at this point in time, as his shot-selection can be very poor and he has a difficult time making the simple play at times."

Sound familiar?
Click to expand...

Here's some insider info on him at 23 and the Jazz.

https://saltcityhoops.com/utah-jazz-mock-draft-roundup-6-0/

While Draft guru Chad Ford has not updated his Mock Draft 6.0 in the past two weeks, Jeff Goodman has. Goodman has the Jazz going with Julius Randle at #5 over Noah Vonleh, citing the assumption that Randle has the ability to “bring a toughness and physical presence from the outset” and that he “could coexist with guys such as Derrick Favorsand/or Enes Kanter up front.” At #23, UCLA’s Kyle Anderson is the pick, explaining how he would help Trey Burke facilitate the offense.

Ford did update his Big Board 11.0 (Insider) and inserted a few Utah Jazz mentions:
•He said he doesn’t see guard Dante Exum getting past Utah at #5.
•According to Ford, #5 is also forward Aaron Gordon’s ceiling.
•He feels guard Zach LaVine’s range ends with the Jazz’s #23 pick.
•Utah is a “real option’” for Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis with its second first-round pick.
Click to expand...

You can't expect much at 23, but this guy looks like he has loads of potential and could be a nice player in the league. I guess it will depend on who's left at 5 (if we land Exum or not) and if he's still on the board with the 23rd pick. What do you guys think about LaVine? Anyone watch his games this year against the Utes? How did he play? Did you remember him? How is his defense? Most importantly, would you want him on board with the Jazz?
 
I think Lavines range at this point is 8-20~. I can't see him falling to 23 but he and McDaniels are my front runners for 23.
 
LaVine at 23 is a dream scenario, but its unlikely, rumor has it he wont fall past the Raptors at 20.

I think hes got some PG/combo skills, hes very shifty and has a killer first step, just an awesome athlete he kind of glides around, his defensive aptitude is really disconnected from what you saw with Westbrook at UCLA though so i dont like that comparison. Zach can really move his feet well when he wants to on D, there was a play in the tournament vs Florida where he stonewalled Scottie Wilbekin on a drive from behind the arc.

I prefer the Jamal Crawford comparison, or a rich man's Tim Hardaway Jr.
 
Since we are talking about Jabari falling to #5, I would like to bring up the topic about LaVine at #5.

Pros?

Cons?
 
I don't like comps, because they are rarely accurate. Russell Westbrook and Lavine are both explosive pg's from UCLA, but Lavine is rawer, and has in the gym range on his silky smooth jump shot as well.

I've been advocating the Jazz moving up to get Orlando's 2nd pick (12), so they could snag Lavine for ages now. I would trade any combination of these assetts (not all, but whatever combination made a deal):

#23
#35
Trey Burke
Rights to Tomic
Any of our future 2nd's
Any scrub we have control of (Clark, E. Murphy, M. Thomas, J. Evans)
Possibly a future 1st (not 2015 or 2017).
 
I'm very intrigued by Lavine too.

I like Lavine, Warren, and Stauskas.
I would love to get any one of those 3. If we moved up to like 14 we could probably get one.
 
Cyrone Torbin said:
Lol at trading Burke for Lavine.
Click to expand...

Reason? Lavine's ceiling is that of a franchise player. Burke will be decent, but doesn't have that potential.

Qualities that Lavine has that matter to our team:

Shooting
Athleticism
Pace
Length
Above-the-rim. Demands the D w/ ability to shoot or get to the rack.

Trey's qualities that help our team:

PnR skills
Low TOV's
Comfortable w/ big shot
Good passer when he wants to be

Trey's qualities that hurt our team:

Pace. Extremly slow. Really affects the kind of wings we have. Hell, even our bigs are above average runners.
Length and height.
Athleticism
Can't get to th rim consistantly
Shot 38% on the year, and 33% from 3. Not a shooter.
Doesn't draw fouls.
Can't fight through screens
Not quick enough to defend... Yet? Ever?
Slightly delusional about his own worth to team. Despite having worst fg% in rotation, and having ball less because Hayward ran offense for most of the year, Trey still had 2nd most FGAs.



What is Trey elite at? He's a great FT shooter, but he doesn't get to the line.

He does a good job taking care of the ball, but shouldn't shooting a piss poor % with a lot of FGAs be considered turning the ball over?

Trey will be 22 next season.lavine will be 19. One has the age and body for upside and improvement, the other does not.


You might say, "well Trey has heart," but what good is heart if it tells you to chuck up bad shots that you can't make? I'd rather Trey had brains aand used his considerable talents for facilitating more.

LaVine is the kind of player Trey wants and tries to be. Lavine has the body and offensive potency to have a positive effect on games even when he's stupid. If he's too stupid and selfish to play the poiint, you can slide him to the 2.


Jazz need a star. Lavin has that potential in spades. Why should Trey be off limits?
 
Sexual Favors said:
Reason? Lavine's ceiling is that of a franchise player. Burke will be decent, but doesn't have that potential.

Qualities that Lavine has that matter to our team:

Shooting
Athleticism
Pace
Length
Above-the-rim. Demands the D w/ ability to shoot or get to the rack.

Trey's qualities that help our team:

PnR skills
Low TOV's
Comfortable w/ big shot
Good passer when he wants to be

Trey's qualities that hurt our team:

Pace. Extremly slow. Really affects the kind of wings we have. Hell, even our bigs are above average runners.
Length and height.
Athleticism
Can't get to th rim consistantly
Shot 38% on the year, and 33% from 3. Not a shooter.
Doesn't draw fouls.
Can't fight through screens
Not quick enough to defend... Yet? Ever?
Slightly delusional about his own worth to team. Despite having worst fg% in rotation, and having ball less because Hayward ran offense for most of the year, Trey still had 2nd most FGAs.



What is Trey elite at? He's a great FT shooter, but he doesn't get to the line.

He does a good job taking care of the ball, but shouldn't shooting a piss poor % with a lot of FGAs be considered turning the ball over?

Trey will be 22 next season.lavine will be 19. One has the age and body for upside and improvement, the other does not.


You might say, "well Trey has heart," but what good is heart if it tells you to chuck up bad shots that you can't make? I'd rather Trey had brains aand used his considerable talents for facilitating more.

LaVine is the kind of player Trey wants and tries to be. Lavine has the body and offensive potency to have a positive effect on games even when he's stupid. If he's too stupid and selfish to play the poiint, you can slide him to the 2.


Jazz need a star. Lavin has that potential in spades. Why should Trey be off limits?
Click to expand...

Fair (and accurate) pros and cons list.

I maintain that drafting Trey was a mistake.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Trashtalk
 
Isn't it hilarious that the best athlete at the NBA combine couldn't even get off the bench for UCLA. Their coach should be fired just for that.
 
LaVine's ceiling isn't a franchise player. Just becasue you are super athletic doesn't mean you have super star potential, just means you can jump really high.
 
Cyrone Torbin said:
LaVine's ceiling isn't a franchise player. Just becasue you are super athletic doesn't mean you have super star potential, just means you can jump really high.
Click to expand...

This post is incredibly disingenuous, and I think even you know it.

Lavine has the length, height, and shooting ability to go along w/ his freakish athleticism. Rarely do you find athletes like him who can also shoot.

He needs to get a lot heavier before he can play starter minutes in the NBA.
 
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