LaMelo Ball’s draft stock has bounced around wildly in the weeks leading up to the 2020 NBA Draft. After seeming like a lock to be a top-three pick for a long time, a report from Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell suggested Ball was struggling during his “job interviews.”
That report set off a whirlwind of follow-up reports that indicated Ball could slip entirely out of the top eight. Whether those reports led to Ball holding workouts in front of team execs remains to be seen but last week, Ball worked out individually for the Timberwolves and in a group setting for the Warriors, Hornets and Pistons.
In DraftExpress’ new mock draft on Monday, which actually saw Ball fall to the No. 3 pick, Jonathan Givony of ESPN and DraftExpress discussed those workouts and how important they were.
“Though a serious fall in the draft has never really looked likely, Ball’s series of strong private workouts in front of NBA teams this past week seems to have helped his case to stay in the top three.”
Fellow DraftExpress founder Mike Schmitz jumped on Sportscenter to discuss the “growing sense” of Anthony Edwards being the No. 1 pick, a debate that will remain in question until the night of the draft. What appears to not be in question, though, is that if he’s available for Charlotte at No. 3, the Hornets will snatch him up.
Ultimately, the rumor that he was slipping never had much weight to substantiate it and now it appears to be a draft rumor that will fall to the wayside.
