The New York Knicks are once again able to choose a lottery in the next draft of the NBA. While hype has Cole Anthony being a potential choice, LaMelo Ball remains a viable option for the Knicks as well.
The wait for Anthony has been exceptional since high school. The product of the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program has been consistently linked to the Knicks. His natural scoring ability and aggression in the backcourt is a boost the Knicks desperately need.
While the talk about Anthony headed for the Knicks has been rampant, New York has also been linked to the possibility of selecting Ball in the project if he had the opportunity.
Ball’s journey has been widely followed due to the popularity of his family. Older brother Lonzo was the second overall champion in the 2017 draft and is seen as one of the young guards in the booming league. The LAkers sold Ball to the pelicans of New Orleans and flourished under the new system.
The short period since LaMelo in the National Basketball League has highlighted the strengths of the younger brother’s Ball as a player. LaMelo averaged 17 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists in the league.
With this, the Knicks could use the services of a well-rounded guard like LaMelo. According to the Bleacher report, Marc Berman of the New York Post shared that there are plans to direct LaMelo in New York.
“Some league sources believe the ball camp will try to lead the Knicks’ 18-year-old guard, although such a move will seem difficult if Leon Rose’s club does not rise to the top four of the lottery,” said Berman.
It will be interesting to see what the Knicks will do in the next draft, given their options for high-quality guards like Ball and Cole.