New Orleans Pelicans 2020 Draft Profile: LaMelo Ball

With some luck or a trade, the New Orleans Pelicans might be in a position to unite the Ball brothers in New Orleans.

Happy quarantine time, fans of the New Orleans Pelicans. It has been three weeks since the win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 8th and it has felt like an eternity.

We at Pelican Debrief are committed to bringing you coverage of the New Orleans Pelicans throughout the hiatus. It’s a little dose of normal for us and you guys.

In our first installment of the Pelican Debrief 2020 NBA Draft Profile, we’re looking towards the upcoming draft and who the front office might want to pair with Zion Williamson and the rest of the Pelican’s talented young core.

Today we’ll examine LaMelo Ball, Lonzo Ball‘s  youngest brother and potentially the most talented of the Ball brothers.

After LiAngelo Ball’s China incident and subsequent withdrawal from UCLA by one LaVar Ball, the father Ball was able to find them overseas playing time in Lithuania before returning to the States to found the Junior Basketball Association (JBA).

After the lone season of JBA play, LaMelo played at the SPIRE Institute in Ohio before making his way to the Land Down Under and joining the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL.

Touted as a lottery pick off of pure raw talent and ability, the youngest Ball made a real name for himself in Australia.

Despite being sidelined by injuries and then opting out of the season to prepare for the 2020 NBA Draft, he was named NBL Rookie of the Year by a slim margin (49-44) in the voting.

A spree of triple-doubles and a killer instinct helped his cause in the NBL before returning to the States.

He will be one of the top draft picks in the 2020 NBA draft and is a unique player at the point guard position, one that the New Orleans Pelicans should consider if they buck the odds and get a top pick or decide to move up in a trade.

Ball has an intriguing set of skills but also a few glaring flaws.