The Warriors should avoid drafting LaMelo Ball in the 2020 NBA Draft

Several mock drafts have the Golden State Warriors selecting guard LaMelo Ball with the first overall pick in this upcoming draft, but they should avoid doing so.

The Golden State Warriors‘ injury-plagued 2019-20 campaign could potentially land them the first overall draft selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. Many experts have speculated that the team will take NBL star LaMelo Ball with the pick, but frankly, the move does not make much sense.

The team already has the most dominant backcourt in the league today, arguably of all time, and adding a third guard into the mix could be disastrous.

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That is not a knock to Ball by any means as he is an up-and-coming prospect, but he does not fit the mold of what Golden State needs right now with their depleted frontcourt.

In 12 games with the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL in Australia, Ball averaged 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game.  The 18-year-old’s playstyle would undoubtedly fit in with the group as his tough shot selection, and playmaking abilities make him an intriguing prospect.

However, the team needs help in the frontcourt, not at the guard position with another dominant ball-handler.

If the team were to bring in LaMelo Ball with their first overall selection, it would be very reminiscent of the D’Angelo Russell experiment the team tried at the beginning of last season.

Everyone knew that when the Warriors acquired Russell that it was not going to be a permanent fit because he was indeed a guard, and eventually was ultimately shipped out around the trade deadline.

Taking Ball would put the team in the exact same position with a jam-packed backcourt, making him a bad fit overall. Still, a panel of analysts for CBS sports placed Ball as the first overall pick to the Warriors.

"“Unlike last season with Zion Williamson, who to pick No. 1 was not as clear. The Warriors have a more immediate need for help from a big man. But Ball will be able to develop under perennial All-Stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and highly regarded coach Steve Kerr as the Warriors seek to compete immediately for another title.”"

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The keyword in the exert is “develop,” and how Ball would need to do so behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The issue with that idea is that the team is ready to make another championship run as soon as next season starts.

Drafting Ball might be a wise move if Curry and Thompson were nearing the end of their careers, but right now, they are placed directly in their primes, having come off three championships in five seasons.

This team is ready to win now and should draft an immediate need in the form of a frontcourt player, rather than a guard who would be a long-term process.

While the team has not solidified a spot in the draft yet, wherever they land, prospects such as James Wiseman or Obi Toppin should be atop their list.

This way, the team can get a position they find themselves lacking in and boost their chances to achieve their championship aspirations for next season.

Even trading their pick for other notable assets seems like the better option as the team does not need another D’Angelo Russell situation on their hands.