Ball Don't Lie: The LaMelo Ball Thread

GiggitySmalls · Post #21 » by **GiggitySmalls** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 6:57 am

Braggins wrote:
MugzZo wrote:I take back my 1st as lamelo. I want Wiseman or Toppin. Toppin might not be popular with some of us here but I have seen more of him then anyone in this class and think he's getting underrated. Toppin can play atleast 16 mins at the 5 and 16 at the 4 right of the bat. When his official wingspan and standing reach come out he will be a good look for a 3rd pick in this draft. He's got plenty of length to play the 5 in todays game.

I'm curious about Toppin's measurements, but from what I heard he was bad on defense pretty much anywhere on the court. I think he is a fine pick and pretty safe too because his offensive production seems pretty guaranteed. I see some similarity with Jason Collins, or Amare Stoudemire with a decent 3pt shot.

If you go back a few years I believe I was the first person to make the draft player thread about John Collins.

Braggins · Post #22 » by **Braggins** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:06 am

MugzZo wrote:
Spoiler:
Braggins wrote:
MugzZo wrote:I take back my 1st as lamelo. I want Wiseman or Toppin. Toppin might not be popular with some of us here but I have seen more of him then anyone in this class and think he's getting underrated. Toppin can play atleast 16 mins at the 5 and 16 at the 4 right of the bat. When his official wingspan and standing reach come out he will be a good look for a 3rd pick in this draft. He's got plenty of length to play the 5 in todays game.

I'm curious about Toppin's measurements, but from what I heard he was bad on defense pretty much anywhere on the court. I think he is a fine pick and pretty safe too because his offensive production seems pretty guaranteed. I see some similarity with Jason Collins, or Amare Stoudemire with a decent 3pt shot.
Thats what I see. John Collins/Amare...for a week draft at number 3 thats seems pretty damn good considering we have been stuck at 11 or 12 for 5 years. Its not a stong draft so the pick is justified in terms of upside and talent. He will make highlights regardless of where he is picked. Not bad ones.

MugzZo wrote:If you go back a few years I believe I was the first person to make the draft player thread about John Collins.

Yeah, John Collins, not Jason. Derp.

GiggitySmalls · Post #23 » by **GiggitySmalls** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:20 am

Braggins wrote:
MugzZo wrote:
Spoiler:
Braggins wrote:I'm curious about Toppin's measurements, but from what I heard he was bad on defense pretty much anywhere on the court. I think he is a fine pick and pretty safe too because his offensive production seems pretty guaranteed. I see some similarity with Jason Collins, or Amare Stoudemire with a decent 3pt shot.
Thats what I see. John Collins/Amare...for a week draft at number 3 thats seems pretty damn good considering we have been stuck at 11 or 12 for 5 years. Its not a stong draft so the pick is justified in terms of upside and talent. He will make highlights regardless of where he is picked. Not bad ones.

MugzZo wrote:If you go back a few years I believe I was the first person to make the draft player thread about John Collins.

Yeah, John Collins, not Jason. Derp.

My fault fault. I was scrolling through a bunch of draft info. Tonight has been more than expected.

Braggins · Post #24 » by **Braggins** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:13 am

MugzZo wrote:
Braggins wrote:
MugzZo wrote:
Spoiler:
Thats what I see. John Collins/Amare...for a week draft at number 3 thats seems pretty damn good considering we have been stuck at 11 or 12 for 5 years. Its not a stong draft so the pick is justified in terms of upside and talent. He will make highlights regardless of where he is picked. Not bad ones.

MugzZo wrote:If you go back a few years I believe I was the first person to make the draft player thread about John Collins.

Yeah, John Collins, not Jason. Derp.
My fault fault. I was scrolling through a bunch of draft info. Tonight has been more than expected.

You got it right! I said Jason for some reason.

driveandkick · Post #25 » by **driveandkick** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:03 am

Read on Twitter

DY_nasty · Post #26 » by **DY_nasty** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:04 am

how is he a basketball genius lmao

Post #27 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:36 am

I could be completely wrong, but I just can’t see MJ approving drafting this kid. I can’t imagine him signing off on that at all.

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wilson115 · Post #28 » by **wilson115** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:48 am

I don't know, didn't Mitch scout him in person? As a business proposition, I think he takes him and his fanbase if he's there at #3.

Post #29 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 12:07 pm

wilson115 wrote:I don't know, didn't Mitch scout him in person? As a business proposition, I think he takes him and his fanbase if he's there at #3.

Business proposition Vs MJ’s ego.

I’m just not convinced a good business proposition wins out in that contest.

And I don’t think MJ’s ego would be open letting a douche like Lamar Ball and his b.s into his world.

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wilson115 · Post #30 » by **wilson115** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 12:22 pm

BigSlam wrote:Business proposition Vs MJ’s ego.

I hear you. Be interesting to find out, too bad we won't get the chance. No way he drops to #3.

LofJ · Post #31 » by **LofJ** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 12:26 pm

wilson115 wrote:I don't know, didn't Mitch scout him in person? As a business proposition, I think he takes him and his fanbase if he's there at #3.

LaMelo's fan draw is a big reason why I believe the Wolves will take him at 1. Their owner is trying to cash out, adding Ball to Towns and Russell will help accomplish that goal.

Post #32 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 12:32 pm

I wonder if a duo of Tae and Ball at the PG and SG positions would be a hot mess defensively.

And without a mobile/rim protecting/high BBIQ centre behind them covering up some of their flaws I’m worried it would be a million times worse.

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geraldwallace · Post #33 » by **geraldwallace** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 1:13 pm

The kid is 18 with insane size, along with great handles and playmaking ability. He's not number one but I wouldn't be mad if we took him

Hornet Mania · Post #34 » by **Hornet Mania** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 1:18 pm

I'm not super concerned about Ball's defense, it's his shooting that should have us all seriously worried.

18yr old PGs will almost always struggle defensively against grown men, even in Australia, and that can be improved with experience and perhaps a bit of effort (although from what I've seen of Ball in the two games I watched he didn't look lazy just unaware). I don't know of any good excuses for shooting so miserably and that has me seriously worried. He could very easily end up a chucker with amazing passing highlights.

Add in the entire BBB-related drama and he would probably not be very high on my board if I were making the choice.

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #35 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 3:39 pm

The drama factor is negative, but it wouldn't stop me from drafting him if I were making the pick. 6' 6" / 6' 7" passing guards don't exactly grow on trees and ... just like Kemba ... Devante' would do really well paired with a guy who can let him work some off ball.

My feeling is that the T-Wolves pick him first though. He would fit really well there too.

countryboi · Post #36 » by **countryboi** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 3:40 pm

Ball has the skills to be a great defender, he has elite court vision and amazing measurables but his shot is a problem for me i dont want another shot project.

Liver_Pooty · Post #37 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 3:44 pm

I dont get the issue with him having a bad shot. Edwards has shown his shot is more than iffy. Deni can't shoot, Wiseman obviously isn't going to stretch defenses anytime soon. Unless we reach for a player like Haliburton we are going to draft a player who needs a lot of work on their shot. May as well be a 6"8 PG who may not even be done growing yet with insane handles and passing ability.

Post #38 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 3:56 pm

Liver_Pooty wrote:I dont get the issue with him having a bad shot.

How different is an elite playmaker with a busted jump shot to an elite defender with a busted jump shot?

Once bitten?

Liver_Pooty · Post #39 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 3:58 pm

BigSlam wrote:
Liver_Pooty wrote:I dont get the issue with him having a bad shot.

How different is an elite playmaker with a busted jump shot to an elite defender with a busted jump shot?

Once bitten?

I dont think Balls jumper is busted at all though. Through my draft analysis watching YouTube videos (sarcasm) he seems to at least be able to hit open shots.

Post #40 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 4:01 pm

Liver_Pooty wrote:
BigSlam wrote:
Liver_Pooty wrote:I dont get the issue with him having a bad shot.

How different is an elite playmaker with a busted jump shot to an elite defender with a busted jump shot?

Once bitten?

I dont think Balls jumper is busted at all though. Through my draft analysis watching YouTube videos (sarcasm) he seems to at least be able to hit open shots.

His percentages, Vs much lesser than NBA competition, has not been good though. And never has been good.

And he has that awful motion.

It's not like someone like Walker, who was a bad shooter but at least had good form which might have helped his improvement.

Ball's J is all sorts of gross - like Shawn Marion and Kidd-Gilchrist had a love child.