With the date for the 2020 NBA Draft set, we begin our look at each team in the lottery relative to LaMelo Ball. What’s the outlook of the team, how does Ball fit into their roster and plans and what’s the likelihood of him landing with the franchise? We continue our profiles with the Atlanta Hawks.
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The Team
On paper, and probably in NBA 2K, a LaMelo Ball-Trae Young backcourt would be a lot of fun. One of the best comparisons for Ball as a passer is Young, who is one of the most gifted passers in the league currently. Pairing the two together would create a dynamic offensive duo.
On paper. And in 2K.
In reality, a Young-Ball backcourt would be one of the most flawed in the league. Young ranked as the worst defender in the league by defensive real plus-minus. Ball projects to be a below-average defender from day one in the league at best.
Pairing the two would be a defensive nightmare, even if it would lead to spectacular offensive highlights from time to time.
From a practical standpoint, the Hawks could pull off a trade to move up in the draft. The team has only one first round draft pick going out, a 2022 first to Oklahoma City. With a handful of young players on the roster as well, they could move up.
While they could move up, should they is another question and one that likely doesn’t have a positive answer. With the No. 6 pick, the only time they should seriously consider Ball is if he falls in the draft and is available with their pick. At that point, it becomes a much more serious question.
The Fit
As previously noted, Ball’s fit with Atlanta is pretty bad. The negatives are evident. He wouldn’t fit defensively in the backcourt with Young and it’d be hard to find a place for him to start. If he’s moved into the starting lineup, one of Kevin Huerter or De’Andre Hunter is likely moved out, further mucking up things.
Offensively, while Ball showed ability at times to play off the Ball next to Aaron Brooks in the NBL, it would be a much bigger test for him to play in an offense next to Young. And it’d be a large test of his shooting ability to play off the ball with Young as well. For a player with a lot of questions about his jumper, putting him in a situation where he needs to hit shots to be successful is a mistake waiting to happen.
A search for positives for Ball landing in Atlanta likely revolves around the playmaking he can bring to the offense. While he may struggle to play off the ball in a Hawks offense, he would flourish on the ball, particularly if Young could be a spot-up shooter. Last season, he was a 97th percentile spot-up shooter and shot 46% on catch-and-shoot opportunities.
However, simply taking Young off the ball isn’t an easy task. His 34.9% usage rate last season ranked fourth-highest in the league. On one hand, the Hawks could afford to have him off the ball more in an ideal situation. It’s a fine balance the Hawks would have to decide on.
The Likelihood
It’s hard to imagine the Hawks trading up for Ball. If he slips to No. 6, it’d be a far more interesting debate.
Chances of Ball landing in Atlanta – 5%