Lamelo Ball: Prospect Scouting: 2020 NBA Draft

Lamelo Ball is one of the most unique prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft. When Lamelo was in high school, many doubted that he would make the league with his play style and his size. A few years later though, Lamelo was playing overseas with grown men in Lithuania and Australia. His play style has vastly changed since he was in high school, and he is a great talent. Ball already has a huge target on his back, but he has the chance to be the best Ball brother in the family.

Strengths

Lamelo is a 6-8 point guard weighing just 180 pounds. Lamelo Ball thrives in a fast paced offense with his flashy passes and play-making ability. He is not a gifted athlete, but his skills make up for that and he has great size for the point guard position, like that of Magic Johnson.

Ball can also shoot the ball very well from 3, showing us that when he was in high school. Although Ball’s numbers are not great, he uses his reputation of having a deep trigger to open up driving lanes. Lamelo has a great feel for the game and can run an offense well.

Ball has great ball-handling skills, using this to attack the rim with both hands. He has a wide variety of moves on the perimeter to shake his defenders. Lamelo uses all the attention he gets on offense to his advantage, showing off his great passing vision, giving easy baskets to his teammates.

Weaknesses

Ball is not an over the top athlete and lacks speed and explosiveness.

His lack of weight and jumping ability will make it tough for him to score in the paint. He needs to gain more weight and muscle to be successful.

Lamelo is not the fastest guy, and sometimes on defense he can get blown by. If Ball gets a bigger frame with the 6-8 body that he has, he could turn out to be pretty good on defense. Ball has shown a lack on interest in the playing defense, as shown by his cherry-picking scores in high school.

Comparisons
Bigger Jason Williams
6-8 Mike Bibby
Flashier Lonzo Ball

Where Will Ball Go?

The Warriors have the projected #1 pick based on their NBA-worst record of 15-50. The Warriors already have a PG in Stephen Curry and will likely take James Wiseman, the C from Memphis at pick 1.

The Cavs have the 2nd projected pick in the Draft. Many people have Ball going at this slot. I don’t really think that it will work out. You already have Collin Sexton and Darius Garland with Cedi Osman and Matthew Dellavadova at guards. Ball would probably have to play SG on this team, but that would hide his great passing ability on offense. He does not have the weight of muscle to play SF, so I don’t think that the Cavs needs Lamelo Ball, unless they free up some guard spaces, meaning more minutes for Ball is they select him.

Another place that Ball could go is to the Atlanta Hawks at pick 4. The Hawks have a generational PG in Trae Young who has a great play-making ability already. Ball would probably have to play more SG, the position the Hawks need the most right now. It would be tough on offense to have both Ball and Young, both of whom are great, but it might be tough to find a balance. The Hawks are a option, but I don’t think that this situation fits Ball well.

The place where I think Ball needs to go is New York, the Knicks more specifically. The Knicks have the 6th projected pick, but don’t be surprised if they make a move to go to picks 3, 4, or 5. The Knicks have a few decent guys, but they are still lacking. They have nice pieces in Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson. RJ Barrett is a nice SG for them as well. The Knicks point guard situation is a mess with Dennis Smith Jr, Frank Ntilikina, and Elfrid Payton. These guys are ok, but Lamelo would be their starting PG. Lamelo has the right style for New York, flashy and confident. His passes and deep 3’s would light up MSG, and he would be a good piece to the ever long Knicks rebuilding process.

My Prediction

Ball has all the tools to be the next great PG in the NBA. He has a good jumpshot and has a great play-making ability. Ball could go anywhere in the Top 5, depends on who is picking. Many of the teams with high draft picks this season don’t need point guards, while some like the Knicks and Pistons are searching for their floor general. Ball will likely be an immediate scorer in the NBA, using his craftiness to get baskets from all over the floor. All Lamelo has to do is ignore the spotlight of Lavar Ball and the media as much as he can, and he will be successful.

Please leave a comment on where Lamelo Ball will be going in the draft, and tell me any other college players you want to see a break down of.