The Golden State Warriors have the No. 2 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, but it is unlikely they use it to select LaMelo Ball.
While LaMelo is regarded by some as the top prospect in the draft, Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle reports executives around the league feel the Dubs will pass on the youngest Ball brother:
“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.”
Letourneau also says — if the Dubs do elect to draft a point guard — Golden State is higher on Iowa State's Tyrese Haliburton and French prospect Killian Hayes than they are on Ball.
However, it seems unlikely the Warriors will draft a guard, given the current backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are under contract for years to come.
Letourneau reported last week the Dubs have been high on Israeli product Deni Avdija for some time now, and the need for a wing player might drive Golden State to bank on Avdija's upside.
Of course, Golden State is also likely to look to trade the pick to either move down or get another star.
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