New York Knicks: Debating the offseason point guard landscape
LaMelo Ball
One of the most intriguing, if not the most intriguing, prospects in the upcoming draft is Lonzo Ball’s younger brother LaMelo Ball. Instead of going on to play at UCLA like both of his older brothers, he signed on to play professional ball in Australia, as apart of the NBL.
And ever since, he’s been considered a top prospect in the upcoming draft. A lot of the off-court factors regarding Ball make for a more concrete connection with the Knicks: his last name, his family’s low-end fame outside of the NBA, and he seems just the prospect New York would bet on.
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With the Illawara Hawks in Australia, the 18-year old point guard shined, averaging 17 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.6 steals in 12 games. A foot injury derailed the rest of his season, but his agent and the league’s top executives had seen enough: on to the NBA.
But how serious should New York take his 12 game span overseas in a league that could be conquered by the Ron Bakers of the NBA? The draft’s other prospect out of the NBL, RJ Hampton, has slid down the rankings over the last few weeks, and it’s likely in part to his experience.
The weight this draft selection holds on the future of the Knicks may outweigh the intrigue and risk associated with selecting Ball. And aside from VanVleet, there are other options available outside of the draft that are far more trustworthy to shoulder New York’s youth core and rebuild.