NBA Mock Draft 3.0: The New Orleans Pelicans Land the Best Shooter
3. 64. Pick Analysis. Point Guard / Illawarra Hawks. LaMelo Ball. Scouting Report. Detroit Pistons. player
With the Detroit Pistons Ed Stefanski announcing that LaVar Ball would not be a deterrent to drafting his son, the writing might be on the wall if the Pistons get a top pick.
LaMelo Ball is the perfect symbol of this draft, as he has been mocked anywhere from number one, all the way to out of the top ten, a testament to his polarizing talent.
His father recently predicted he’d go number one, and who knows, he could be right.
Detroit lacks talent everywhere, but could use a star point guard to pair with shooting guard Luke Kennard as they try to rebuild in the Motor City. Detroit would be ecstatic if they were able to jump into the top-two of this draft.
LaMelo is the type of “swing for the fences” pick that Detroit needs, as they not only lack talent but identity as a team. With the recent buyout of Reggie Jackson, the Pistons will go into next season with only veteran Derrick Rose under contract at point guard.
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LaMelo certainly has bust potential, is only 18 and has not played against the top competition, but he has the physical traits to be a star in the NBA.
Like his brother Lonzo Ball, LaMelo is 6-foot-7, a gifted passer and a natural leader, but also like his brother, he doesn’t shoot the ball well.
LaMelo has a funky shot that may make some teams decide he is not worth it.
As Lonzo starts to evolve into the next Jason Kidd for the New Orleans Pelicans, Detroit may decide that the family DNA is enough to roll the dice on the younger Ball.
LaMelo has plenty of doubters, just like his brother did when he entered the league under a cloud of controversy before heading to the New Orleans Pelicans and leaving the drama behind in LA.
LaMelo is shooting 37.5 percent from the field and just 25 percent from 3-point range, hardly eye-popping stats for a guy going this high in the draft.
But what he does possess is unbelievable court vision just like Lonzo, and can be streaky-good offensively when he gets rolling.
He also gives Detroit something that most of the other rookies won’t: a personality to build around.
The Ball family has not been a distraction for Lonzo and the New Orleans Pelicans, so Detroit shouldn’t have to worry too much about the off the court stuff.
Detroit is currently one of the least talented and most boring teams in the NBA. They need an injection of talent and personality to build around and may decide that Ball is their guy.