2020 NBA Draft Prospect: Chicago Bulls Should Go All-In on LaMelo Ball

LaMelo Ball, brother of New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, announced on April 28 he was entering the draft. The 6-foot-7 point guard out of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) is projected as a top-five pick in this class. Should Arturas Karnisiovas and the Chicago Bulls go all in for LaMelo?

LaMelo Ball is one of the most interesting prospects in this class and we’ve been talking about him since his brother Lonzo was drafted by the Lakers coming out of UCLA. LaMelo has grown into a 6-foot-7 7/8 181-pound sure-fire lottery pick, that’s taken his offensive talents to the next level for the NBA. The Chicago Bulls await their lottery fate, which we may see pushed back from the May 19 date.

Ball played for Illawarra of Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL). In the NBL, Ball did it all, leading the Hawks in scoring (17), rebounding (7.5), and assists (7.0) per game in 12 contests. He missed 16 games due to a season-ending foot injury but performed well-enough in those dozen games that he won the 2020 NBL Rookie of the Year Award.

Ball was often targeted as a problem for a lack of chemistry with teammates, but after he went down with injury they went 2-14 without him, opposed to 3-9 with him. Ball is reportedly attempting to purchase his former team, so if there were any chemistry issues, his now ex-teammates better be searching for new jobs.

The Bulls were hiring last month if you haven’t heard, but they were quickly and efficiently filled by Arturas Karnisovas who takes over as executive vice president of basketball operations and Marc Eversley, the new general manager. They will select their first draft class together amid the coronavirus and as if there wasn’t enough pressure; scouting his first draft class becomes a little more difficult with limited resources.

We can only assume the Bulls will select No. 7 overall for the fourth consecutive year, but if the luck of the lottery brings a top-three selection — could LaMelo Ball be a Chicago Bull? Is management willing to commit to what could be the best player in this draft even with his busy background?