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Golden State Warriors: LaMelo Ball would make no sense at No. 1

By Nathan Beighle

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 25: Lamelo Ball of the Hawks celebrates hitting a three point shot late in the final quarter during the round 8 NBL match between the Illawarra Hawks and the Cairns Taipans at WIN Entertainment Centre on November 25, 2019 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 25: Lamelo Ball of the Hawks celebrates hitting a three point shot late in the final quarter during the round 8 NBL match between the Illawarra Hawks and the Cairns Taipans at WIN Entertainment Centre on November 25, 2019 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) /
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If the Golden State Warriors are awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, it’d make no sense to draft LaMelo Ball.

The Golden State Warriors are on pace for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Sadly yet wisely, the NBA has a draft lottery that will put that pick up in the air and potentially drop the Warriors selection a bit.

However, assuming they secure the top overall spot, some are thinking that they’ll draft LaMelo Ball, and for now, that just doesn’t make much sense. Ball, along with James Wiseman and Anthony Edwards, make up the top-three recruits in the upcoming draft.

Ball is the 6-foot-7 brother of Lonzo Ball, a point guard that went No. 2 overall in his own draft class. Lonzo is not a bust, now playing for the New Orleans Pelicans, but he certainly hasn’t lived up to the hyped that he left UCLA with.

In the Australian league, Ball has seen success. He’s averaging 17 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. The issue that arises with his play in the NBL is that he’s shooting just 37.5% from the field.

Just 18, Ball should be able to develop into a star, but both the other options are better for the Golden State Warriors. They need an athletic high-ceiling wing or a rim-protecting center over a risky backup point guard.

Typically when gifted with the top overall pick, it’s more about fit then ceiling. Well, for the Warriors, it should be a mix, and Anthony Edwards gives them the size to guard bigger forwards and the ability to then potentially deal Andrew Wiggins to free up more cap space.

The youngest Ball brother has potential, just like every other projected lottery pick. But, if he’s not finding success from the field in Australia, there’s no denying it’d be tough for him to at the sport’s highest level.

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For Golden State, the move is to draft James Wiseman or Anthony Edwards, and as the Warriors draft away from non-Stephen Curry star guards like D’Angelo Russell, there’s no reason to assume LaMelo Ball is the prospect they have their eyes on.

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