Even though the 2020 NBA draft is less than a week away, a consensus about the top prospects in the draft still has not been formed. There’s a wide range of opinions on players projected in the top 10, but three prospects — LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman — are considered the top three in some order.
There has been disruption on that front lately. Some reports project Ball to slide out of the top three if he doesn’t go first. Others have pointed to Ball as the presumptive No. 1 pick, either with the Minnesota Timberwolves selecting him or trading the selection — and the Chicago Bulls have been rumored as a potential suitor.
In the lead-up to the draft Wednesday, we’re examining the case for the Bulls to select a few prospects , assuming the top three are off the board in some order. If Ball starts to slide, the Bulls should be elated to grab him at No. 4. However, depending on the price (more on that later), it might be in the Bulls’ best interest to explore the chance to move up and grab him.
Let’s take a look at the case for the Bulls to find a way to get Ball on draft night:
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What he does well
Ball is an advanced playmaker and facilitator on offense, already possessing one of the most important skill sets for successful NBA offenses. The Bulls had the second-worst offense in the league last season, and although injuries played a role, they lack a central, reliable ballhandler to make their offense go.
It’s exactly what Ball does well. While spending the last few seasons in Lithuania and Australia during what was supposed to be his last years of high school and first college season, he played with an almost natural feel for the game. He can dish out assists from anywhere on the floor and he can be trusted to make sure his team gets the best shot each time. Listed at 6-foot-7, Ball is tall for a guard and turns his positional size advantage into rebounds.
The most optimistic evaluations for Ball describe him as the player in the draft with the best chance at being a transcendent talent, which is why he stands a good chance to go first.
What he needs to improve
Like the rest of the prospects in this draft class, Ball comes with some red flags.
He’s not a polished scorer, and his shot selection has come into question. Ball seems capable of making shots at the rim and finishing in acrobatic ways, but his consistency is not always there. That could improve as he develops and puts on more muscle. And although he’s capable of making shots from anywhere on the floor, his shooting percentages for the Hawks were dreadful. There is an argument that this was mostly a product of bad shot selection, but there is still concern, and it could be a major hurdle.
Ball also seems likely to struggle on the defensive end initially. Because of his size, he eventually could be a capable defender. But this is where he is expected to have the biggest uphill battle adjusting to the NBA.
What he offers the Bulls
Ball would add a true playmaker and point guard to run the Bulls offense and help create shots for the rest of the players on the floor. Yes, the Bulls just took a point guard last year in Coby White, and while I’m not ready to give up on White’s passing abilities, scoring certainly comes more naturally to him. Same with Zach LaVine, who still will need the ball in his hands but struggled with turnovers when asked to do too much last season. Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. could benefit from having a better shot creator on the floor and to play off of during pick-and-rolls.
If the Bulls believe this roster has not reached its full potential, Ball could certainly help unlock it offensively — a backcourt featuring Ball, LaVine and White is going to let up a lot of points.
A more pressing question for the Bulls would be: What it would take to get Ball?
It seems almost certain the Bulls would have to trade into the top three to grab Ball, and the Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors both seem willing to entertain trade offers for their respective picks. They both might seek a young player in return, such as Carter or Markkanen.
Ball appears to have the most star potential of the top prospects, but this might be the end of the discussion. He might not be enough of a home run to trade away Carter or Markkanen just yet, especially with the potential for one of the top three players sliding to No. 4.
If the Bulls believe Ball is a future All-Star and believe there is a large gap between him and the rest of the class, they should go for it. But it would be a gamble for this front office to make before getting a chance to evaluate the roster with a new coach and new system.