Elfrid Payton and Jahlil Okafor: Better Lakers Combo?

Movies such as “Back to the Future” and Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” explore the butterfly effects of time travel and provide unique perspective into what could have been.

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The ability to go back and change certain events no matter the scale, big or small, can have unforeseen ripple effects.

Imagine a world where the Los Angeles Lakers selected Elfrid Payton with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft instead of Julius Randle and followed that up by taking Jahlil Okafor, passing on D’Angelo Russell at No. 2 in 2015.

How would that have effected each of their respective careers? Would Payton and Okafor have been a better combo than Russell and Randle?

Unfortunately, the answers to these questions may never surface, but it’s still possible to examine what could have been. Payton most closely resembles former Boston Celtics All-Star Rajon Rondo and currently projects to be more of a traditional point guard with the ability to set up his teammates.

Payton has good court vision and a knack for making the right play. However, it results in him dominating the ball for a good portion of the possession which is sometimes a good thing but not always. It’s similar to Rondo’s reputation for holding the ball for three-fourths of the shot clock.

Apr 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) shoots during an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Orlando Magic beat the Chicago Bulls 105-103. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

They also share the lack of a reliable jump shot, especially from beyond the arc. Rondo is a career 26.3 percent three-point shooter, and Payton shot 26.2 percent from downtown last year.

Russell, on the other hand, fits the mold of the prototypical NBA point who has the ability to set up his teammates and creates space on the floor by knocking down mid-range jumpers in the pick and roll. That being said, Russell by no means has the athleticism of a Russell Westbook or Eric Bledsoe.

Last year, Russell shot 41.1 percent from three as a freshman at Ohio State. He averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5 assists per game. The way the NBA game is heading, Russell is, without a doubt, the better fit at guard.

Sometimes offenses are forced to work harder with ball-dominate guards like Rondo and Payton, because defenses can key in on them. Their inability to consistently hit jump shots enables defenders to play farther off the ball. Often times a defender will sag into the paint and help with the interior defense.

For Example, Bryant played at least three feet off the ball in the 2010 Finals, because he knew his friend couldn’t shoot to save his life. Bryant gave the Celtics big men very little space to work with down low.

Boston’s offense was still capable of putting up points, because they had enough shooters between Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett’s mid-range jumper. It also helped the Lakers were a big team, and small-ball hadn’t taken league-wide effect just yet. It’s much more difficult now to construct a fully functional offense around a point guard who can’t shoot.

Thirteen of the top 14 teams in three-point percentage made the playoffs last year. The three other teams were the Memphis Grizzlies (20th), the Brooklyn Nets (26th) and the Boston Celtics (27th). John Wall (30%) and Derrick Rose (28%) are the only two point guards, of teams in the top 14, that are not knock-down shooters at their position.

For argument’s sake, let’s say the Lakers did pick Payton at No. 6 and paired him with Okafor instead of Randle. It’s reasonable to believe Payton could grow as a shooter much like Mike Conley (38.6%) did and become a top-10 point guard in this league. He has the potential.

Okafor is going to be an All-Star. He has 20 and 10 written all over him, but Okafor will never be the superstar or the defender that a team is going to need to get over the hump. He most resembles Al Jefferson or maybe even Elton Brand. Okafor will be a guy that makes some All-star appearances and puts up good numbers, but not the defacto No. 1 option that can carry a team.

Per Sports Illustrated:

"Strengths: If the modern back-to-the-basket player is a myth, then Okafor is Bigfoot, armed with preternatural instincts within 10 feet of the rim. He enters the NBA with a post game more developed than the majority of big men around the league and is a sure-fire bet to command touches and defensive attention immediately. He’s unselfish, an advanced passer out of double-teams and his midrange game has started to come along. Okafor has the strength to compete inside, the size to guard his position and his 7’5” wingspan will help him as he develops defensively. It’s more a matter of when, not if, he becomes an offensive anchor.Weaknesses: Though his offensive game is rightfully heralded, Okafor’s free-throw shooting leaves a lot to be desired (51% from the line at Duke). If the NBA changes its hacking rules, the concerns die down, but continued struggles would place a cap on his productivity. Okafor’s defensive performance in college stands as a greater issue, as he was often slow on help rotations and isn’t a leaper, which limits his presence when contesting shots. His defensive rebounding could be much better considering his size and length. His offense should keep him on the floor, but he could be a liability in a pick-and-roll heavy league. Improved positioning and communication is teachable, but Okafor could struggle against NBA athletes. He’s been coachable his entire career, which should serve him well."

Okafor was easily the most polished player in the 2015 draft and arguably the only sure thing based on what he could become, a back-to-the-basket scorer with a terrific skill set. His flaws are heighten with the fact that he doesn’t project to be a rim protector, and shoots free throws poorly (51%).

Between Randle and Okafor, it’s a bit of a push with Randle claiming the slight edge. Although the two share similar skill sets, Randle shoots free throws twenty points better (70%) but could grow into a stretch four. He’s already shown the ability to hit mid-range jumpers in summer league.

Jul 11, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. The Lakers won 68-60. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

On the surface, Randle also appears to be a better rebounder. Randle averaged 13.5 rebounds per 40 minutes while Okafor averaged 11.3 rebounds per 40 their freshman years, via sports-reference.com.

In the end, Okafor fits better with the Philadelphia 76ers next to defensive stalwart Nerlens Noel, and the Orlando Magic have one of the most intriguing young rosters in the NBA with Payton at the forefront.

In terms of a better combo, Payton and Okafor would be a solid pick-and-roll paring, but Russell and Randle will be deadly.

The Russell/Randle combo is intriguing. Randle’s ability to run the floor will work wonders for the Lakers. If the organization continues to surround Russell with shooters, there’s no reason why he can’t be in the top three for assists every year.

Hopefully, the Lakers have their one-two punch for the next decade, and if the organization sticks behind these two the future will be bright.

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