If the Minnesota Timberwolves draft LaMelo Ball with the No. 1 pick, he’ll join a backcourt alongside the well-traveled D’Angelo Russell. In five seasons in the NBA, Russell has played for four franchises, though it appears he finally found a home in Minnesota.
While his role with the Timberwolves appears to be a secure one moving forward, the franchise has an interesting choice on its hands in the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft. The team will have the choice between selecting one of the top prospects with the No. 1 pick in LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards or James Wiseman or potentially trade the pick.
Ball will certainly be one of the most-discussed names heading into the draft for every franchise at the top of the draft. Russell and Ball would certainly be an exciting, if flawed, pairing should the team make that selection. During his appearance on JJ Redick’s Old Man and the Three podcast on Thursday, Russell was asked about playing with Ball.
Russell: “I wouldn’t mind it, honestly, if that’s what it was and that’s what they see in the future. Man, I’ve been in so many situations, I’d attack it like any other.”
Redick: “It seems like it would a very similar situation to your last year in Brooklyn with Caris (LeVert) and (Spencer Dinwiddie) and you where you’ve got multiple ballhandlers, multiple guys attacking off the dribble. It’ll be interesting seeing what you guys do with that pick.”
Despite not having played a game alongside anyone in the family, Russell will always be linked to the Balls. In Los Angeles, Russell was dealt days before the 2017 NBA Draft to pave way for Lonzo Ball as the point guard of the future. The future lasted just a couple of seasons before Ball himself was dealt.
In Minnesota, though, LaMelo and Russell could form a fascinating partnership akin to the one in Brooklyn that Russell earned an All-Star bid in during the 2018-19 season.
