The Warriors have been linked to just about every prospect expected to be taken at the top of the lottery in next week's NBA draft, as the smokescreen season is in full swing.
Golden State will be on the clock with the No. 2 pick, and will have its choice of just about every player available in this year's class. One player that "most" front offices aren't expecting to be on the board when the Warriors are up is LaMelo Ball, as teams are operating under the assumption that the Minnesota Timberwolves or another team that trades up will select the youngest Ball brother with the No. 1 pick, ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported Monday morning citing sources.
Ball is the draft's most famous prospect, as LaMelo has been a celebrity since he was 13 years old, alongside his older brothers, including Lonzo, who was selected No. 2 overall back in 2017 by the Los Angeles Lakers.
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A 6-foot-7 point guard, Ball features a tantalizing skill set offensively and was known for putting up monster scoring performances during his prep years. He put together a strong season in a somewhat limited sample size for the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League, averaging 17 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7 assists in 31.7 minutes per game.
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His fit with the Warriors isn't quite as strong as some of the other prospects atop most draft boards, but Ball could be a fantastic addition to the Warriors' second unit as a secondary ball-handler and playmaker, something that Golden State sorely missed during the dismal 2019-20 season.
If Ball isn't available, the best options would be combo guard Anthony Edwards or a big man like James Wiseman or Onyeka Okongwu.
Golden State Warriors
With nine days until draft night, the speculation is just getting started.