LaMelo Ball comes with less fanfare than his older brother, Lonzo Ball. But he is a possible number one pick and the best chance at finding a star in this Draft.
He can pull up from 30.
Only a few players in today’s game have the head coach’s green light combined with the skill, confidence and courage to attempt such a shot in an actual live NBA game. Let alone a playoff type of game.
LaMelo Ball is one of those guys. Or he could become one of those guys.
He may not ever become a two-time MVP like Stephen Curry (one unanimously), or a back-to-back Finals MVP like Kevin Durant (against LeBron James), but this guy from Chino Hills, Calif., has the range to become a legit threat in today’s NBA. He has to go to a team that will give him the green light early and allows him to feel comfortable and play the way he needs to play in order to be successful.
Sometimes it is all about how the draft ball drops.
According to a couple of NBA Mock Drafts, they have Ball going second overall to the Golden State Warriors and third overall to the Charlotte Hornets. There is still at least some likelihood the Minnesota Timberwolves take him with the top pick — although rumor has it the Timberwolves are exploring a trade.
Ball might very well be the top prospect in this Draft.
He is an elite basketball player that would be a great addition to the Orlando Magic.
He played for the Illawarra Hawks in Australia last year. In more than 31 minutes per game, he averaged 17.0 points per game, 6.8 assist per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. Those are promising stats for a young player in his first professional run.
Ball has a rare skill that we see every now and then, a player who can get his own shot on any spot on the floor. He is like a longer version of Damian Lillard with a chip on his shoulder.
He is a very lanky kind of player with unlimited range beyond the arc kind of like Kevin Durant, only Ball is a little shorter right now and only stands 6-foot-8 inches tall at 18-years-old.
Orlando Magic
But do not let that confidence fool you. He still has a lot of work to go on his shot. He made only 25.0-percent of his 3-pointers on 6.7 attempts per game. Ball can fall in love with his shot and definitely took on the star role for his team last year.
But his 6.8 assists per game certainly suggests he can move the ball and create for others. There may be no one in this Draft class with the same diversity of skills that could help any team. He might be the Draft’s best chance at a star if they trust to put the ball in his hands.
Ball is the kind of player a team like the Orlando Magic should consider trading up to acquire — whether that is moving up to one with the Minnesota Timberwolves or two with the Golden State Warriors. This is the player that the Magic need, someone that can average more than 20 points per game and be a go-to option in the fourth quarter of tight games.
The Magic need a player who has a smidgen of the confidence that he had as a player in order for this franchise to actually open eyes around the NBA. If Ball plays well and wins Rookie of the Year honors, it may entice a superstar caliber player to join him in Orlando.
His fit in Orlando would certainly be better for him and for the team than some of the teams near the top.
The Warriors fit would be a great experience for Ball, he would instantly become a contributing role player on a championship-level team with Curry. This is the perfect player for Ball to learn under and develop, as Curry has become the constant professional.
Although Ball would be a top pick, he would have less responsibility if he landed on a team like the Warriors that features the best shooting backcourt in NBA history. But Ball would be a reserve, playing behind the elite backcourt of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry.
The Charlotte Hornets fit would be great for Ball as an individual player. He would have to go through the regular season attempting to drag his team to the playoffs like how James did during the early part of his first stint in Cleveland. This is common for players picked with the first few picks in the first round. But he would be sharing a backcourt with the promising duo of Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier.
For the Magic, this is the kind of player they can target and build their team around. Even with his difficulties shooting next to Markelle Fultz. This would be the first piece in attempting to contend for the Eastern Conference crown and a chance to earn a spot in future NBA Finals games.
This year will be different, especially for LaMelo Ball.