[noaht23Participant]

 Does LiAngelo Ball have a chance to be drafted this year? The odds seem like he won’t. LaVar Ball said he was the best shooter out of the prospects this year. I disagree. Gary Trent Jr., Trae Young, and Luka Doncic are all better shooters than Gelo. And the reason is they at least have somewhat of an ability to create their own shot. Something Gelo can’t. To be clear I’m not saying Gelo is a bad player. He was good enough to get a D1 Scholarship. However I don’t think he’s an NBA prospect. His only chance at playing in the NBA was to play 2-4 years at UCLA. He doesn’t handle the ball well. He doesn’t have good shot selection. He also doesn’t play good defense. Most likely he will play in Asia with LaMelo so LaVar can expand the Big Baller Brand market. And while NBA players can dominant over in Asia. (Jr Smith, Jimmer Freddete, Stephon Marbury to name a few) it doesn’t mean an increase in your draft stock. Look Asian players put up better stats than European players. However we see more European players being drafted. This is because of the talent level they play and the system. Europe basketball is very fundamnetal. Almost all of the teams play like the Spurs. And that’s why we see a lot more young Euro prospects make the jump. LiAngelo should play in Europe if he wants a chance to make it to the NBA. He needs to learn fundamentals. He needs to learn how to play basketball the right way. Can LaMelo make it to the NBA? He has more of a chance to make it to the league. He is ranked 7th in the ESPN 60 (although he could drop). He needs the European disiclpine more than Gelo. LaMelo needs to drop his ego. His ego is through the roof compared to his more humble brothers. He’s a shot chucker. But he has good handles. If he can drop his ego. And take better shots. I think he has a chance to make it to the NBA.

What are your thought?

 

[ropeParticipant]

 It would seems the signs are that they will head to Asia.  Probably not China at this point, but there are other Asian leagues.  It probably isn’t a horrible business decision at this point, even if it is not th ebest basketball decision.

Their style of play and ingrained habits that would need to be unlearned would keep them buried deep on the bench in Europe, and probably at a lower division.  Espeically at LaMelo’s age, this might not be the worst basketball decision, but it would be a horrible business decision.  Any brand equity they have right now would sink as low as Lonzo’s shooting percentage.

I don’t know what happens to the two of them.  There are very few examples of prospects that took a route other than college or Europe, and their success has been a mixed bag.  I think the chances either ever play in the NBA are lower than they were six months ago, though.  How about that.

 

 

 

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 I think you put too much thought into Gelo as an NBA prospect. The answer is no, he’s not an NBA prospect.  In fact, he’d probably get cut in the GLeague.  TBH, I don’t see pro basketball in his future.  I think it’s more likely he’ll become a BBB manager/reality star of some sort. 

The Ball’s going back to China after what just transpired would be awkward to say the least.  I heard that they’re eyeing Japan. The competition is trash but supposedly teams there are attracted to the marketing aspect, at least in the short term.  I don’t think the Ball’s are looking at Europe.  Coaches have too much control there and that would’nt fly with Lavar.  Plus the only divisions they’d play at would be the lowet of the low, where there would be no money, visibility and very little marketing opportunity.

Melo is just a kid and while I do think he’s overrated, I’m not closing the book on him as a legit NBA prospect. He’s an overrated shooter, but he’s irrationally confident (which has some positives), has some ball skill and he’s reportedly 6’5 now and growing.  It wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up being the tallest Ball brother at around 6’7-6’8 or so.  If he maintains his PG ball skill while growing then that’s something at least.  He’s going to have to travel the tougher, less traveled road to the NBA though thanks to his dad. He’s not even going to have the hype of blue chip HS seniors, which as we’ve seen can carry kids into the 1st round despite not being impressive in college.

 

[SubZeroParticipant]

Conspiracy theory: the other 2 guys on UCLA were the ones that got caught but Lavar threw Liangelo into the mix. He knew Gelo would never make it to the NBA, so he saw it as an excuse to take Gelo out of UCLA. He’s now going to use him and Melo to play ball in other countries to make BBB a worldwide brand

I don’t really think it’s true, but can you actually say you know for sure that he wouldn’t do something like this? I can’t wait to read the stories they’ll write in 10 years about them

[SubZeroParticipant]

Just a disclaimer: this is a joke people

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

If the Balls want to make money, they should come over here in the Philippines. No one name is talked about more amongst basketball fans here than Ball. Yes, even above James and Curry. Even if its just Gelo, there will be no doubt in my mind he will fill up the whole stadium if he plays for any professional team here.

Also, whatever fanfare Lavar receives in the States, I guranteed it will be matched or even be doubled here in the Philippines. Heck, even I would line up hours to have a pic with the legend himself.

 

 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

Hindi pinoy ako.   

Metro Manila.

Gusto ako pulang kabayo!

 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Fingers crosses that Ice Cube recruits  them for the Big3 next summer. The only problem is I don’t know if any players who would want to play with LiAngelo and LaMelo, or play for LaVar.

Think of the ratings. Think about K-mart putting LaMelo on the deck. Think about Rick Mahorn shutting up LaVar. Think of the possibilities!

 

 

[thedeathtouchParticipant]

LiAngelo is more than likely gonna play in Europe (because he did some stupid shit in China if you didn’t already know) and most likely will not be drafted into the NBA. Although he is strong and is a decent shooter, he has slow feet and he has very average atleticism. He would easily be guarded in the NBA as he is not very fast, and due to the fact that he is a sole shooter, he would not score much if at all.

There is a chance he could be a good role player on a good defensive team. Although the odds are not in his favor, I could see him becoming a decent wing player, along the lines of Kyle Korver, if he were to come to the NBA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

 European teams generally are not especially patient with young immature American players. In many countries, they only get so many slot for Americans, so they don’t mess around with ones who don’t get it.

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

In my opinion, LiAngelo and Lamelo are not NBA players. It’s not their fault and Lavar can talk about taking them out of school, homeschooling them taking them to the courts and playing pick-up all day to toughen them up, but they just don’t have NBA talent. I know it might sound stupid saying this, but they would be best off going to UCLA and using their free education to get their degree if they don’t want to be stuck playing in Europe or the D-League the rest of their lives. I just don’t see either one of them in the league. As BothTeamsPlayedHard said, European teams have little tolerance for immature American players coming in. Maybe they should just stick to trying to be reality TV stars.

[Kwame33Participant]

 LaMelo could very well make it the NBA. As far as how successful he would be I’m not sure, but I could definitely see him being considered. I think he would have stood a better chance had he gone to UCLA. He is actually pretty skilled but just lacks IQ at the moment, he’s a year younger than everyone in his class to add and seems to still be growing. LiAngelo on the other hand, you’re right, not a serious prospect. I mean you can never say never, but for him, probably not.

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

Now that we know they are playing Lithuania …

 The factors that work for and against the Ball boys.

Against:

Injuries-If either get a significant injury that will either drop them right out of the draft(Gelo) or to a lower spot(Mello)

The get embarrased by lack of skill set and depending on their IQ will tell how quickly they actually turn it around and make it work if the get no minutes or forced to sit.

Things that could work for them:

Gelo somehow plays himself at least into the draft(my guess at least 2nd round). But to be honest the Stealing thing and possibly snitching on team mates(in the interview) could really work against him..As teams may not want that in the locker room…

Lamello Matures both in life and in B-ball and figures out how to be more of a passer than he currently is… The only issue is you then have to find another league for him to play in if Gelo does somehow make it into the NBA…

That they develop better b-ball habits.

But to be honest though I wouldn’t be surprised if some team does take a flier on Gelo-See Blakes brother,Klays brother,J.R smiths brother all of who have somehow at least made the NBA even though they were pretty average.(I left seth off as he has at least been able to stick even though he bounced around early on).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

 Against: Who wants to deal with the LaVar circus? I haven’t seen LiAngelo play, and only saw the online lowlight clip that made the rounds online of LaMelo’s team getting run. It is possible they can be draftable players in terms of talent. By no accounts do they seem special talents that cannot be missed, so why deal with LaVar? He hasn’t made it easy on the Lakers with transitioning Lonzo to the NBA. LaVar loves offering up empty calorie filler for media outlets, but the Lakers don’t starve for attention or sponsors. If anything, he takes away attention from what is actually happening with the Lakers. Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram are turning into good players. Jordan Clarkson has taken to a 6th man role. Julius Randle is showing himself to be capable of feeding on teams that play small inside. Lonzo is still important long-term for them, but the fact that he isn’t good now really isn’t much of an issue considering the fact that other young players are doing well.

[Author]

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