Report: LaMelo could slip due to poor pre-draft interviews

Share

While there is no consensus as to who is the best prospect available in next month's 2020 NBA Draft, there is one on the top three. Mock drafts have shifted plenty throughout the longest lead-up to the draft in league history, but the top three has almost always consisted of Georgia guard Anthony Edwards, Memphis big man James Wiseman and LaMelo Ball.

However, that might be changing. What has been a group of three might be whittling down to two.

According to the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell, Ball reportedly has been unimpressive in his pre-draft interviews and could slip in the draft as a result (h/t Bleacher Report's Jenna Ciccotelli).

"Here is what I'm hearing from the league at large: LaMelo Ball is not performing very well at job interviews," Bonnell said Thursday during an appearance on Charlotte's 102.5 FM WFNZ. "I've heard that from multiple sources. He is not improving his perception via job interview. There are people drafting later in the top 10 who were not preparing for the possibility of Ball still being around and, I'm not saying that he will be a top-three pick. I am saying that I know for a fact that there are teams later in the top 10 who are doing more research on him because they no longer think it's a given he will."

RELATED: Draymond provides Warriors' presence at Edwards' pro day

It has been widely assumed that if the Warriors want Ball, they'll have to select him at No. 2 overall, assuming he doesn't get picked first. But based on Bonnell's reporting, it sounds like Ball isn't nearly as certain to go at the top of the draft as expected, which could permit Golden State to trade down and still select him. Of course, that could also mean fewer teams are incentivized to acquire the Warriors' pick in order to be able to snag Ball, as he might fall to them anyway.

The Warriors reportedly have a pre-draft interview with Ball scheduled for next week. How he performs in that could have a drastic impact on how the draft plays out.

Download and subscribe to the Runnin' Plays Podcast

Contact Us