The Wizards have a 4.5% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick, as our Reverse Standings indicate. The franchise is preparing for that scenario and others as it internally gets ready for the offseason.
Washington sent scouts to Australia to watch LaMelo Ball this past season, as Chase Hughes of NBC Sports writes. Ball has a chance to go No. 1 overall and appears to be a safe bet to go in the top five of the upcoming draft.
Doing due diligence on every prospect is common practice in the NBA, so the Wizards exploring all possibilities shouldn’t be taken as any sort of indication of their stance on John Wall. Still, the fit between Ball and Wall would take some doctoring to make work, despite Ball having the size (6’7″ height, 6’10” wingspan) to play the wing if needed.
R.J. Hampton, who some expect to be a lottery selection, also played in Australia with Ball, so Washington was able to fulfill multiple objectives by sending scouts abroad.
OVERRATED
He has bust written all over him. I’m shocked that people view him as a top pick. I can just see the Knicks (I’m a fan) taking him.
LaMelo is the second best player in the draft, only Wiseman is better. He had a pretty good season playin’ in the NBL, that is with men, not kids like the NCAA, so he is way ahead of the pack. He will be a great player, I mean Zo is very good & will be a star, but LaMelo has the potential of a superstar. Great #2 pick in the draft!
A pretty good season? He jacked up 17 shots per game in 31 minutes and shot 37% from the field (17 ppg). 7 three-point attempts per game with an atrocious 25% shooting percentage. His season was OK, and it was only 13 games.
For comparison purposes, 35 year old Aaron Brooks was on the same team and scored more (17.9 ppg) in fewer minutes (28 per game), shooting 46% overall and 35% from three.
LaMelo may end up a good player in the league but to say he “has the potential of a superstar”, citing his NBL numbers, is premature to say the least.
Further, are you Lavar Ball? “Zo is very good & will be a star”? He’s been a bust so far, both in traditional stats and advanced. He’s still young, but him becoming a “star” is a huge maybe.
LaMello doesn’t play D. Now Lonzo is a very gd defender. Maybe one day LaMello gets better. He’s not quick enough to handle PG. he gets his shot going. It will help him with his handle. Needs to learn to use picks. IMO he’s a 2 guard in NBA. He’s yrs away from making real impact. NBA plays D. Knicks better not take him. His dad would love to be in NY. Halliburton is the best pick for us. After Wiseman, I’m sure he’ll be gone.