SIAP - Ball Meeting

[Coolbreeze44]

Just saw the Wolves met with Ball today. No big deal, I'm sure they will meet with a few guys. But it's interesting it was the first team meeting for Ball.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I think I saw that he's meeting with Golden State this week or next. He didn't perform any basketball related activities either. I imagine that Minnesota's front office just wanted to get a feel for his personality and see if he would mesh with their beloved "system" and whatnot. Maybe they asked him if he enjoys the Bahamas?

[Lipoli390]

Have the Wolves met with any of the other top three prospects? Gupta said they know who they'll pick. If Ball is the only guy they meet with, then we know who that pick will be - barring a trade. That would be pretty depressing and it would confirm say a lot about Rosas -- nothing good about him.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

His older brother Lonzo was a former No. 2 pick and is now with the Pelicans. LaMelo said his brother has given him some tips on life in the NBA. "He gives me a lot of little hinters, it's hard to break it down to just one," he said. Asked why he feels he should be the No. 1 overall pick ahead of players like Georgia's Anthony Edwards and Memphis' James Wiseman, Ball said, "Talent, work ethic, all of the stuff like that..."

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2020/09/28/lamelo-ball-says-its-always-been-his-goal-to-be-the-no-1-pick-in-the-nba-draft/

Talent, work ethic, all of the stuff like that... Look, I'm not asking for NBA players to be great with the media or intellectual wizards. I'm especially not asking a 19-year old kid who's been rather spoiled most of his life to come up with juicy retorts and one-liners. But come on... Come on, man. Come on. You're in the mix for the top overall pick. Make a better case for yourself than "all of the stuff like that."

This was Isaac Okoro's answer to the same question: "Yes, I feel I should be the No. 1 pick because I go out every game and I compete and I give 100 percent effort," Okoro said Saturday in an exclusive interview from Auburn, where he has been training. "I'm just willing to do whatever any coaches want me to do, so I feel like me bringing a winning culture I should be the No. 1 pick."

This was Tyrese Haliburton's answer: "I feel like I should be the No. 1 pick, but I'm not the guy who makes those decisions," Haliburton said. "We can revisit this in a couple of years and see if there was any regrets by anybody who picked anybody ahead of me."

This was James Wiseman's answer: "Yeah, for sure. I truly expect that because I just trust in myself in terms of my game and my skill level so I feel that I'm ready. I just have to keep working and keep grinding every day. Everything will pay off."

I'm nitpicking a bit, and I'm aware of that, but Ball's answer just seemed so lazy and uninspired for a guy that could be part of a small fraternity of players to go first overall. There's only been 72 first overall picks in the NBA. There's been over 4,000 players to play in an NBA game. It's no small thing to be drafted with the top pick in the draft in any sport regardless of the strength of the class. Show some excitement and make a case for yourself.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

According to the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell, Ball reportedly has been unimpressive in his pre-draft interviews and could slip in the draft as a result (h/t Bleacher Report's Jenna Ciccotelli).

"Here is what I'm hearing from the league at large: LaMelo Ball is not performing very well at job interviews," Bonnell said Thursday during an appearance on Charlotte's 102.5 FM WFNZ. "I've heard that from multiple sources. He is not improving his perception via job interview. There are people drafting later in the top 10 who were not preparing for the possibility of Ball still being around and, I'm not saying that he will be a top-three pick. I am saying that I know for a fact that there are teams later in the top 10 who are doing more research on him because they no longer think it's a given he will."

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/nba-draft-rumors-lamelo-ball-could-slip-due-unimpressive-team-interviews

There's also this, which kind of fits with my comment in this thread above this one. Maybe the Wolves came away from their meeting with LaMelo Ball as unimpressed with him as I am overall and confirmed in their heads that he's not the right choice for the Timberwolves.

[AbeVigodaLive]

According to the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell, Ball reportedly has been unimpressive in his pre-draft interviews and could slip in the draft as a result (h/t Bleacher Report's Jenna Ciccotelli).

"Here is what I'm hearing from the league at large: LaMelo Ball is not performing very well at job interviews," Bonnell said Thursday during an appearance on Charlotte's 102.5 FM WFNZ. "I've heard that from multiple sources. He is not improving his perception via job interview. There are people drafting later in the top 10 who were not preparing for the possibility of Ball still being around and, I'm not saying that he will be a top-three pick. I am saying that I know for a fact that there are teams later in the top 10 who are doing more research on him because they no longer think it's a given he will."

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/nba-draft-rumors-lamelo-ball-could-slip-due-unimpressive-team-interviews

There's also this, which kind of fits with my comment in this thread above this one. Maybe the Wolves came away from their meeting with LaMelo Ball as unimpressed with him as I am overall and confirmed in their heads that he's not the right choice for the Timberwolves.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/260068/LaMelo-Ball-Reportedly-Not-Performing-Very-Well-During-Interviews

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Well, I certainly hope an interview isn't what drives the decision.

I think this is all much ado about nothing. I have almost no question that Wiseman goes #1. It's just a matter of whether he gets traded or not.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

Well, I certainly hope an interview isn't what drives the decision.

I think this is all much ado about nothing. I have almost no question that Wiseman goes #1. It's just a matter of whether he gets traded or not.

Agreed. I actually think this is the Wolves front office just doing their job. They certainly want to get in the heads of all these top prospects. I would say that the Wolves decision, if already made per previous statements, is between Wiseman and Edwards. I honestly don't believe Ball was ever really in the discussion for #1.

That said, if they end up as part of a trade down scenario, Ball could be in play. I wouldn't take him at any point, but he does hold value.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

I'm pretty sure Ball shows a little more enthusiasm when talking with the Warriors. Like others i don't want him so i guess this helps a bit.

[TAFKASP]

Well, I certainly hope an interview isn't what drives the decision.

I agree, we need Glenn to give a long hard look in the eyes!