Most teams are entering the NBA draft with the assumption that well-traveled point guard and basketball celebrity LaMelo Ball will be selected with the No. 1 overall pick, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
That pick currently belongs to the Minnesota Timberwolves — but that doesn’t mean they will keep it.
Per Givony, multiple teams are contemplating a move up, with the list including the Chicago Bulls (fourth overall) and Detroit Pistons (seventh).
Givony also cited the Oklahoma City Thunder as a team looking to land at No. 1. They currently own the No. 25 pick, but have a multitude of future first-rounders that could be used to entice the Timberwolves.
The Thunder might also end up needing a point guard, if you believe all the Chris Paul trade rumors. Previous reports indicated Ball has indeed drawn strong interest from both the Bulls and Pistons. And Timberwolves executive VP Sachin Gupta recently admitted the organization is open to talking trade and moving the pick.
Along with Ball, Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards and Memphis center James Wiseman are candidates to be selected first overall. Givony suggested that while the order hasn’t been determined, Ball, Edwards and Wiseman will be the top three picks.
The NBA draft is scheduled for Nov. 18.
