There are a number of different ways to approach an NBA Draft. For many, it’s about picking the guy they believe is the best player, regardless of whatever the roster might currently look like.
In these situations, at the very least, the young player can be traded if he turns out to be a poor fit.
With the number two pick in the upcoming draft, nobody knows what the Warriors plan to do. Will they pick the best player? Will they pick a guy who’s the right fit?
Regardless, it seems the only thing we do know for certain is that LaMelo Ball will not be joining the team this offseason, as one NBA scout confidently pointed out to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle.
“I’d be shocked if the Warriors took LaMelo,” said a Western Conference scout, who spoke under the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to talk about the draft publicly. “It just doesn’t really make sense on multiple levels. What makes LaMelo great is his court vision and passing, but he’d have a tough time maximizing those in the Bay Area.”
“Golden State won’t pass on LaMelo just because they don’t want to deal with his dad,” the Western Conference scout said. “But I’ll tell you what, it sure doesn’t help.”
In the eyes of many, LaMelo Ball is the best prospect in this class. He’s a great playmaker, great ball handler, a top-tier shooter.
Yet, even with all that considered, it just wouldn’t seem right for Golden State to pick him up. For one, they already have a pair of guards who are considered some of the best in the league. Klay Thompson and Steph Curry still have years ahead of them before their inevitable decline.
Secondly, the Ball family makes a lot of noise both behind the scenes and in front of the cameras for the media. As they prepare for another title run, is that the type of player they want around?
Needless to say, there are multiple options out there for the Warriors, and you can bet they’ll give it a lot of thought before deciding. Only time will reveal their choice.
