Sources: Multiple teams aware that LaMelo Ball wants to land with Knicks in 2020 NBA Draft

We’re still more than six weeks away from the NBA Draft Lottery. Plenty can change between now and when the ping pong balls start to bounce.

But all 30 teams are engaged in draft prep in one form or another. Teams not in Orlando – like the Knicks – are probably spending more time and resources on draft prep than teams participating in the NBA restart.

As teams do their homework on players in the draft, there’s been a consistent theme about LaMelo Ball: multiple teams believe Ball and those in his circle prefer that he lands in New York. (Those teams have picks projected later in the first round than the Knicks, for what it’s worth.)

The intel from the teams align with what LaVar Ball, LaMelo’s father, has said about his son and the Knicks and from previous reporting.

The New York Post reported last month that some in the NBA believe LaVar Ball will try to ‘steer’ LaMelo to the Knicks. But the report didn’t suggest how Ball would actually do that. 

If the Knicks ended up with a pick outside the top three, they’d probably have to trade up to draft Ball. Would Leon Rose & Co. have interest in trading assets to move up and take him? That’s unclear. But, as of last month, the club had Ball ranked as the top point guard on its board.

How else could he end up on the Knicks? Ball and his camp could withhold medical information from teams and refuse to interview with them in an effort to get him to drop to New York.

In an interview last month on the ‘Say Less with Kaz’ podcast, LaVar Ball expanded on why he’d like to see LaMelo in New York. He made it clear that he wants the team that selects LaMelo to sign his middle son, LiAngelo Ball.

When asked if he thought New York was the ideal landing spot, LaVar Ball said, ‘Oh yes.’

Here was Ball’s explanation: “They don’t have anything. The last time they won a championship was back in the 1970s. The bright lights, you need a whole new turnaround over there. The person I want to see (LaMelo) play with – he can play with anybody. I want to see him play (with), they got to know this – if you getting Melo, you getting Gelo (LiAngelo Ball). That boy shoot the heck out of that ball. Play with chemistry with (LaMelo) better than everybody ever. And after that you have a chance to get ‘Zo (Lonzo Ball). You don’t need one person to change no franchise. You need a whole culture change, and that takes all three of my boys. All three of my boys on the same team? Who ain’t going to watch that show? That would be the biggest show in the NBA ever.”

Whether the Knicks would be open to signing LiAngelo Ball or acquiring Lonzo Ball via trade or restricted free agency is unknown. But it’s logical to think that those prerequisites may give teams interested in drafting LaMelo Ball second thoughts.

From a roster building perspective, LaVar Ball said his sons would be willing to accept less money in future contracts to help fill out the rest of a team’s roster.

“The sacrifices that my boys are going to make is they’re not going to hold the franchise hostage,” Ball said. “…. (They’d say) give us $30 (million) each, take the other $60 (million) and get us some rebounders and shot blockers.

“They’re going to make so much money off the court, they won’t worry about money on the court,” Ball added.

To underline the importance of his sons accepting less money on future contracts, Ball pointed to the Portland Trailblazers.

“You’ve got $300 million tied up in two guards (Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum) – you ain’t going to never win a title,” Ball said. “…. When you tie up all the money in two players, it ain't going to happen like that.”

There is an assumption that some teams may be wary of drafting LaMelo Ball because of LaVar Ball’s outspoken nature. The Lakers asked him to tone down his criticism of then Lakers coach Luke Walton to create a more positive atmosphere around Lonzo Ball. We’ll find out in October if there are any teams wary of drafting LaMelo Ball because of the presence of his father.

In the podcast interview last month, LaVar Ball said that he didn’t see LaMelo Ball as an ideal fit for Golden State, which finished with the worst record in the NBA in 2019-20.

“That’s the part I don’t like about Golden State, they’ve got Klay (Thompson) and the other guys and now you want to put Melo in that mix to say, ‘You’ve got to follow these guys.’ Melo ain’t no follower. He don’t need to do what they do. Let them do they thing. Don’t be like, ‘Melo got to wait his turn.’ And wait two or three years to go by and say he’s got to learn from the veterans? It ain’t about that. Can he play or not?’”

Lastly, Ball discussed Lonzo, LaMelo and LiAngelo recently signing with Raymond Brothers of Roc Nation Sports, the company founded by Jay Z. Lonzo Ball had been represented by two different agents prior signing with Roc Nation.

“Everybody knows my bottom line, which is: I want all three of my boys on the same team at some point – and hopefully sooner than later.

“That’s the main goal (for) all these (agents) that we choose from day one, to build up to. Let’s say you get (to represent) Lonzo, and if my other (agent) would have got Gelo a summer league try or something like that, he still would have been an agent. So now, it would have been Melo’s time, he still would have been the agent.

"Same thing with CAA (Ball’s last agency). If you would have did things the way – not the way you wanted things done - the way I want things done. You’re working for us – get it done our way. But if you're going to have your own little lane, the way you want to do it, guess what? Next. Until we find somebody who fits what we’re trying to do.

“And like I said, we’re trying to do something special. ...What I set out to do is put all three of my boys in the NBA. That might be a crazy goal for someone else. But to me, I know what I put in as far as training my boys and the time that I put in with them.”