Lottery Teams Believe Lamelo Ball Prefers to Be Drafted by Knicks

Per Ian Begley of SNY, lottery teams are under the impression that Lamelo Ball desires to end up in New York. This news could have real-life implications, as some teams may be hesitant to pull the trigger on Ball if they believe he could end up leaving for the Knicks.

This headline may sound familiar, and for good reason. Back in 2017, Lavar was quoted on multiple occasions saying Lonzo wanted to play for the Lakers. Ironically enough, he did speak this into existence (albeit Lonzo was traded after two seasons).

Could Lavar manifest his words into existence once again?

It highly depends on how the draft lottery goes.

Set to take place on August 25, the NBA draft lottery will have huge effects on Lamelo’s future.

Current Draft Lottery Odds

Heading into the lottery, the Knicks will have the 6th best shot at the top pick. That’s roughly a 1 in 10 shot. Not great odds, but not horrible either. Take this into account: Last year, the New Orleans Pelicans won the #1 pick, which they used on franchise player Zion Williamson. The odds of them receiving the top pick?

6.0%.

Another component to take into account is whether New York would actually use their pick on Ball, if they got it. The short answer is yes, they probably would.

Lamelo Ball is made for playing in the Garden, under the bright lights and attention of the world. His flashy playstyle and ability to get a crowd on their feet would be exactly what Knicks fans need.

Ball has been a celebrity since he was a freshman in high school, so its no question whether he could handle the major market.

if any team other than the Knicks wins the lottery, it is much more likely they choose a safer option in Anthony Edwards or James Wiseman.

So what does all this mean?

There is about a 9.0% chance that Lamelo Ball will be the first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.