Ever since Minnesota Timberwolves got the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the reports have been circling about the team’s intentions to explore trade offers for the selection. However, if they end up keeping the pick, Timberwolves will select LaMelo Ball, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report.
Timberwolves are interested in a trade because this year’s draft doesn’t have a standout prospect, which makes the No. 1 pick a lot tougher task compared to previous years. Also, all the top three projected prospects seem to be a bad fit for Minnesota.
Guards LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards, the leading candidates for the top overall pick, bring much of the same skills that the Timberwolves already have. Mello is similar to ball-dominant and defense-depraved D’Angelo Russell while Edwards doesn’t seem all that better than shooting guard Malik Beasley. James Wiseman is also believed to be among the top of the class, but his skills are similar to those of Karl-Anthony Towns.
Still, Wasserman reports that Minnesota Timberwolves continues to rank Ball at the top of their boards. In case that there is no trade, Timberwolves will disregard the fit and take the former Illawarra Hawks point guard.
Ball, who is the brother of New Orleans Pelicans’ guard Lonzo Ball, opted to skip college past season and ended up playing in Australia with the Hawks. The 19-year-old player won the NL Rookie of the Year, while averaging 17 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game in his lone season there.
