Heading into the 2020 NBA Draft, the name that has dominated conversations has been LaMelo Ball. While the conversation has largely been about how good he’ll ultimately be, everyone is talking about Ball.
The Athletic polled 20 anonymous agents recently with a host of questions ranging from the player or coach that they had the biggest opinion change after the bubble, the smartest GM and the team that needs to make a major move most. Relative to Ball, the agents were asked which prospect is most intriguing in the upcoming draft with Ball receiving 7.5 votes, by far the most.
The quotes about why Ball is the most intriguing, though, are very interesting.
“That could go really good or really bad.”
“I think he has such a high ceiling but the difference from his top to bottom is the biggest of anyone in the draft.”
“With everything considered, the route he took, I just think he’s a guy who people are all over the place on. He fits the bill as much as anybody ever.”
“I think in this draft, every team is totally unsure of how good these top seven or eight guys are going to be. I’ve never heard, and they’re not going to say this, less enthusiasm for teams that have high picks.”
As noted, for better or worse, Ball is being discussed. In recent days and weeks, the questions about Ball have centered around his professionalism, the risk involved in drafting him and how dangerous it would be for teams to select him.
The prospects receiving the second-most votes were Killian Hayes, Obi Toppin, Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams. Deni Avdija, Anthony Edwards, Aleksej Pokuševski and James Wiseman all received votes as well.
