Minnesota Timberwolves: Rosas, Saunders met with LaMelo Ball
The Minnesota Timberwolves have lots of options open with the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
The Minnesota Timberwolves met with potential first overall pick LaMelo Ball on Tuesday, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN. Both head coach Ryan Saunders and general manager Gersson Rosas were at the meeting, which did not feature any basketball activity, per Givony.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are slated to pick first overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, which is taking place on November 18th – less than a month away. Rumors have been back and forth about who the Timberwolves are leaning towards, whether it be Ball or Georgia guard Anthony Edwards.
LaMelo Ball averaged 17 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and two steals over 12 games for the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL – which was enough to secure the league’s rookie of the year honors.
Despite having somewhat discouraging shooting splits, Ball was thrust into an incredibly poor situation, being on the worst team in the NBL, which I have compared in the past to the seven-win-Bobcats of 2011-12.
The Wolves have not met with Anthony Edwards yet – or at least such a meeting has not been reported. Ball has been gaining steam as the projected first overall pick over the course of the past month, following a Jonathan Wasserman report stating Minnesota might lean towards taking him, should they keep the first overall pick.
The Timberwolves also might have interest in Obi Toppin, although it seems more likely that they would only take him in a scenario which they traded down in the draft.
Next. Wolves will likely move the top pick. dark
Regardless of what happens, this is the first NBA Draft since 2013 where the general public does not know who the first overall pick is going to be. That sentiment might help the Wolves in trade talks, but it also hurts given this draft is significantly weaker than most.