The two biggest question marks for LaMelo Ball coming into the 2020 NBA Draft are his jumper and his defense. Both have been the subject of my criticism when analyzing his game and, depending on the degree to which one sees them as hindrances, have been the reason Ball is not the consensus No. 1 pick in the draft.
But draft analysts aren’t the only ones who have shown concern to both areas. In a piece for Cleveland.com, Chris Fedor reported that at least one scout considers Ball’s jumper to be broken while concerns about his defense remain.
There’s a strong case for the playmaking Ball as the best prospect in this class. He’s smart and skilled, with incredible vision and passing instincts. Even though one source described his shot as “broken” and another questioned his care level on defense, Ball has unique size that could allow him to play multiple positions. His skill set is different than Cleveland’s other guards, making the argument a bit more sturdy.
The concerns on Ball’s jumper, while valid, shouldn’t cause him to drop too much in the draft. Many of the same concerns were brought up against Lonzo when he entered the draft and were pushed to the wayside. In fact, as evidenced this season, Ball’s jumper was able to be rectified and he’s turned into a reliable three-point shooter.
Similarly regarding the defensive questions, while the concerns are valid not, it’s not a weakness that can’t be improved upon. Ball has a back for jumping passing lanes and flying to the ball, evidenced by his 1.6 steals per game with the Hawks. Honing in on his focus and defensive footwork and positioning should help as his size will make him a passable defender with those improvements.
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