As the league enters the second half of the season, teams will be determining their future and what path to take moving forward. For many of the teams at the bottom of the standings, that means tanking to improve their spot in the draft lottery.
While there is not a Zion Williamson-level player to tank for this season, LaMelo Ball is certainly a worthy consolation prize. The star guard figures to be one of the top names called in June’s draft. As the top point guard in the draft, Ball will fit the needs of many teams that figure to find themselves atop the draft lottery.
Which of those teams are most likely to tank in the second half of the season for Ball? We took a look at the five most likely.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
There may not be a worse fit for Ball amongst tanking teams than the Cavaliers. Cleveland has drafted a pair of young guards in each of their last two drafts and, while they haven’t yet panned out, it’s hard to envision a non-trade scenario in which the Cavs draft a guard for a third year running.
But Ball would undoubtedly be the best guard prospect of the three but it’s an unlikely expectation for them to draft another guard.
Whether intentionally or not, the Cavs will continue to tank this season but the fit just isn’t there as the roster is currently constructed.
4. Atlanta Hawks
Offensively, a Trae Young-LaMelo Ball backcourt could be as exciting as any in the league. Defensively, it would objectively be the worst in the league.
The Hawks actively looking to tank like they may have before or like other teams around them may do. Atlanta is in the middle of a full-on rebuild and appears to be at the closing stages, actually. A prospect of Ball’s level could be the piece that puts them over the top.
But the fit would be awkward at best. Young already has his defensive deficiencies and Ball will find it a tough adjustment on that side of the court as well.
3. Golden State Warriors
On one hand, it’s hard to see the Warriors being able to tank harder than what they have been. They are currently in the No. 1 spot in the draft lottery by 2.5 games and have the second hardest remaining strength of schedule.
On the other hand, the team has put out several signs that they may not be all that interested in drafting Ball. The team is reportedly not blown away with any of the top prospects and has discussed the likelihood of trading down.
Ball’s fit is probably worst with the Warriors out of any tanking teams. With Steph Curry and Klay Thompson already on the roster, Ball would likely not even start for Golden State.
2. Detroit Pistons
One of the few teams to actively sell off or buy out pieces before and after the trade deadline, the Detroit Pistons are clearly entering a rebuild. Both Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, long-time stalwarts of the Pistons, are gone and new blood is starting to rise.
Unlike some other teams listed, the Pistons do have some young pieces. Luke Kennard and Sekou Doumbouya stand out while the likes of Svi Mykhailiuk and Bruce Brown have shown flashes as well.
Ball could be one of the final pieces of that young core. He’s a solid fit with the rest of the young core with shooting and playmaking already on the roster.
The Pistons currently sit six games back of the top spot but just 3.5 games back of the number two spot in the draft lottery.
1. New York Knicks
While the pre-draft process has not yet started, no team has more links to Ball than the New York Knicks.
The fit is an obvious one. The Knicks don’t have a point guard of the future with both Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina flaming out. In fact, the team doesn’t have the face of a franchise and could badly use a figure like Ball in that respect.
The connections aren’t in just need, though. Leon Rose, who is expected to take over the front office in New York, has connections to Ball. As a former player agent with Creative Artists Agency, the same agency that represents Ball, Rose will have connections either directly or indirectly to Ball. Few teams will be able to gather more information on Ball than the Knicks may be able to.
It’s a perfect mix that could lead to the Knicks bottoming out to land Ball.
