The rumor mill for LaMelo Ball in recent weeks was kicked off by a report from the Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell. The report indicated that Ball was not interviewing well and, thusly, dropping in the draft. That created a snowball effect that led to reports from others that Ball was falling out of the top five or top ten entirely.
On Monday, DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony not only pushed back on the rumor but did so with some passion. During a podcast appearance with Zach Lowe of The Lowe Post, Givony was quite adamant that the reports of Ball falling the draft were not true.
“…it really doesn’t jive with the other media outlets that I’m reading where it’s like he’s in some kind of freefall, he’s having these horrible workouts, he’s having terrible interviews. It just isn’t true because he hasn’t worked out for anybody, you know. He’s done like maybe four interviews so far…I don’t know where that’s coming from. I suspect a part of it is he’s such a lightning rod and anytime you tweet about him, you write about him, you mention him on a podcast, he gets so much attention. That to me is what it is. ‘Let’s take opposite stance. LaMelo stinks. LaMelo’s freefalling.’ That’s how you get attention in 2020 and that I think is where it’s coming from.”
Givony’s words go along with what he wrote on Monday as he reported Ball is expected by most NBA execs to be the No. 1 pick, whether it’s to the Timberwolves or another side. Givony also said in the same Lowe Post podcast that the Wolves were expected to meet with Ball once more with a workout likely as well.
There is some truth to Givony’s quotes as well. Ball’s popularity both makes him an intriguing and exciting prospect and can lead to moments like the one Givony described. His name alone draws attention.
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