Golden State Warriors will avoid LaMelo Ball in NBA Draft

No one is sure what the Golden State Warriors will do in the 2020 NBA Draft – but, it’s likely they avoid LaMelo Ball.

For most of the year, LaMelo Ball has been projected as a top three pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Therefore, when the Golden State Warriors earned the No. 2 spot in the order, Ball was immediately placed on their radar.

A lanky, versatile guard with elite court vision and a knack for creating open shots for his teammates, Ball is exactly what modern NBA teams are looking for at the point guard position. He is going to embarrass defenders routinely with his shifty handle and if he manages to improve as a shooter – Ball will be a top-notch offensive threat.

Marcus Thompson of The Athletic has even acknowledged that some members of the Warriors’ front office view Ball as a special talent in the draft. However, this won’t be enough for the Dubs to take a chance on Ball.

Aside from the potential circus that could follow the superstar teenager and his infamous father, Ball is a flawed prospect in many ways. He may never become a reliable 3-point shooter and his tendency to go for highlight plays often backfires at this stage of his young career.

Ball is also a careless defender thus far. He lacks energy and can be abused due to his lack of engagement. While he has the physical tools needed to be a great perimeter defender – he hasn’t shown any tenacity on this end of the floor yet.

Because of this, the Warriors haven’t shown much interest in Ball. The risk outweighs the reward of drafting a star point guard considering they already have the face of the franchise in Stephen Curry.

Rather, Golden State will look at either James Wiseman, Anthony Edwards, Deni Avdija or Obi Toppin with the No. 2 pick. Or, they could trade the pick altogether. We won’t know for sure until November 18, but we can feel confident Ball won’t be the pick.