NBA Draft 2020: Mock Draft 4.0
86. . Guard / Illawarra. Minnesota Timberwolves. LaMelo Ball. 2. player
Wheeeeew, boy. On paper, this is a mess defensively. The Wolves already have two stars compromised on the defensive end in Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, both of whom are in it for the long haul. LaMelo Ball’s track record of “trying” on defense is not a great one.
And yet, this feels like a natural fit. Russell was a great off-ball scorer at Ohio State, and while the Golden State experiment didn’t work out, he’s still someone who can thrive next to another playmaker. Ball isn’t a traditional lead guard, and at 6-foot-7, he has plenty of size to defend two-guards. He also has the physical tools and intelligence to develop into a good defender down the road, assuming he wants to.
Ball is a whip-smart decision-maker who flings the ball over the court with unsurpassed ease. He sees every angle and is the most inventive passer to enter the league since his brother. He will help make things easier for Towns and Russell, while also providing real star-power to the Wolves’ rebuild. He’s the top prospect on my board, and even if the defense is a concern, he’s tough to pass up.