NBA Rumors: Ball Faring Badly In Draft Interview, Will It Matter?

The 2020 NBA Draft is fast approaching and part of the process is leaving a good impression when an incoming rookie meets with teams. LaMelo Ball is seen as one of the top players for the upcoming draft but he still has to go through these meetings. So far, the 19-year-old is said to be doing poorly.

Though he has been picked to be among the first to go, Ball cannot let his guard down. If he leaves a bad impression, such could force the top three teams (Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Hornets) to look at other options. From those teams, the Hornets could be put in a spot especially if Ball is still available.

If Ball is not careful, his draft stock could slide down, NBC Sports reported. It would be surprising if he falls outside the top five but anything is possible. Attitude and long-term goals are part of the process and such will be aligned to teams looking to take on players who can properly explain it all.

Ball played only 12 games in the NBL after suffering an injury. He had a good showing, averaging 17 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists. Those are credible numbers and the word going around is that the Timberwolves are considering taking him in as the top pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.

The Warriors could use someone like Ball but murmurs point to the Dubs opting for James Wiseman. The target is reasonable considering the Warriors want to address their team needs. In terms of scoring, they seem pretty much stocked up with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins still around.

Ball may not make sense for the Hornets as well. Like the Dubs, they too are looking for a big man in the draft. With Terry Rozier and Devonte Graham still around, inserting Ball could be a waste of time. It seems pretty clear that if the T-Wolves opt to go with Edwards, Ball may find himself out of the top three selections.

Aside from Minnesota, other teams who want to get their hands on Ball are the New York Knicks. He could still be selected in the top three if the Knicks find a way to move up the draft. However, New York is likely to keep tabs on the situation. If Ball is indeed failing to make an impression with his interviews, the Knicks may not need to sacrifice much with Ball possibly still available by the time it is their turn to pick.