3
LaMelo Ball Guard, Australia
17 Points, 7.6 Rebounds, 6.8 Assists, 1.6 Steals, 38% FG, 25% FG, 31 MPG
Getting Anthony Edwards with their first round selection is the ideal situation for New Orleans, but these are simply not the cards David Griffin has been dealt in this mock. This draft is chock-full of lead guards, but off-ball guard are a bit of a scarcity.
The organization is probably not ready to give up on Lonzo Ball yet, so taking the best combo guard they can get will probably be their best bet.
Thus, the Pelicans will go with Lonzo’s younger brother, LaMelo. The youngest Ball brother is an offensive-minded combo guard, which actually may serve well for New Orleans. If Lonzo Ball is the point guard of the future there, then LaMelo’s offensive-minded attitude will be a nice compliment to his brother’s defensive skillset.
If the Lonzo experiment does not work out in the Big Easy, however, the team can easily convert Ball into a lead guard. LaMelo’s inefficiencies and lack of effort on the defensive end are a bit troubling for my liking, but the talent is certainly there.
Draft Stock Trend: +2
4
Cole Anthony Guard, North Carolina
20.9 Points, 6.3 Rebounds, 3.4 Assists, 1.9 Steals, 37% FG, 36% 3PT, 33 MPG
Cole Anthony is generally thought of as the top point guard in this class that is unbelievably deep at this position. This may be true, but the knee injury that he suffered will not do him any favors. The point guard race in this class is air-tight, meaning that injuries and time off will only allow other floor generals to showcase their talents and increase their stock.
Nonetheless, Anthony will be one of the first point guards, if not the first to go in this draft. His scoring sense, perimeter defense, and rebounding ability from the one spot are very enticing for NBA scouts. His jump shooting and passing skills will need to improve, but he is a near lock for the lottery.
The Knicks are a very good landing spot for Anthony as they attempt to piece together a painfully slow rebuild. A backcourt of R.J. Barrett and Cole Anthony could become one of the best in the NBA someday, and if they play their cards right, they could accumulate even more assets this season to expedite the rebuilding process in the Big Apple.