Time to Ball in Buzz City

The NBA Draft happened yesterday, about 5 months after the original draft date due to COVID. There were several high-profile players, including international players, stand-out one-and-done's, and the Wooden Award Winner from this past season. But no player had more anticipation and hype than LaMelo Ball.

LaMelo has been on the radar for quite some time now; he once scored 92 points as a freshman for Chino Hills, he played professionally overseas in Lithuania and Australia starting his junior year of high school, he had an endorsement and shoe deal with his exuberant father's company "Big Baller Brand," and he comes from a big time basketball family with Lonzo Ball paving the way.

Touching back on his father, Lavar Ball has created a lot of the hype for LaMelo and the Ball family. He is outspoken, unapologetic, and a bit ridiculous. There are only a handful of people who never played professional basketball who would go onto First Take and argue with Stephen A. Smith that they would beat Michael Jordan in a one-on-one.

Now, that game is closer than ever to having the possibility of happening with LaMelo Ball headed to Michael Jordan's Charlotte Hornets.

The Charlotte Hornets drafted LaMelo Ball with the 3rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. Anthony Edwards went 1st overall to the Timberwolves and James Wiseman preceded Ball with Warriors taking him 2nd.

There was a lot of room for debate and discrepancy between the 3 of those players in who was going to be taken #1 overall. Each player is incredibly unique and different from the others; Edwards is a 6'3" shooting guard with a strong ability to drive the basketball, Wiseman is a 7'1" center with a strength in dominating down low and even has the ability to extend his range, and Ball is a 6'7" point guard who showcases incredible ballhandling and passing. All phenomenal players, but it essentially came down to what each team needed. 

The Hornets do not need a point guard.

This past season, the starting point guard position rotated between Terry Rozier and Devonte Graham. Rozier averaged 18 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.1 APG, while Graham averaged 18.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 7.5 APG. These are two pretty strong performances from relatively younger players in the league. The point guard position was not really what was needed with such a high pick.

In the second round, the Hornets fulfilled a much-needed position of a big man by drafting center Vernon Carey Jr. with the 32nd pick of the draft, so this rebounded from the first round pick. I just don't think another point guard was what the focus needed to be on. If Wiseman didn't go in the first two picks, he would've gone to Charlotte. But even though he did, the Hornets should've taken a better look at the options.

The Hornets lack an individual who can consistently shoot. Ball doesn't answer that question either. I think Obi Toppin would've been a great fit for the Hornets. He would create space for his team, and pairing him alongside Miles Bridges and PJ Washington would create a trifecta of individuals who can drive and finish strong, but Toppin is separated by his ability to shoot. He finished this past season leading the nation in dunks, while also shooting 63.3% from the field and 39% from three-point range.

LaMelo is a big time baller without question, and he will play as well as he has up to this point. I just don't think the Hornets took a good enough look at what gaps they really needed to fulfill.