LaMelo Ball hasn’t spoken to Phoenix Suns

Monday, during a Zoom call at the re-engineered NBA Draft Combine, top prospect LaMelo Ball was asked if he had heard from the Phoenix Suns ahead of next month’s draft. The Suns hold the tenth overall pick.

He has not.

The same can be said for the Chicago Bulls who will pick fourth, and the Detroit Pistons who will draft seventh.

When asked if he had heard from the Minnesota Timberwolves who possess the top pick or the Charlotte Hornets, who will select third, LaMelo responded, “I don’t know.” He was also uncertain if he had spoken to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The only team that Ball could confirm that he had correspondence with was the Knicks. New York will pick eighth.

So there’s a healthy dose of non-answers. Ball was also asked about his father’s comments regarding the possibility of being drafted second overall by the Golden State. Dad doesn’t think LaMelo would be a good fit with the Warriors.

“That’s the part I don’t like about Golden State,” LaVar said on the Say Less with Kaz podcast. “They got Klay and the other guys, and now you want to put Melo in that mix to say you got to follow these guys. Melo ain’t no follower. He don’t need to do what they do, let them do they thing.

“There’s a reason you are looking at my son. He’s talented and can play the game. It ain’t that hard. Guy is open, and you pass it to them. You open and you been working on your shot? Shoot the ball. It’s fast-paced, it’s good. But don’t be like Melo got to his turn and wait for two or three years to go by and learn from the veterans. Ain’t about that. Can you play or not?”

LaMelo’s response fit the theme of the interview.

“I’m my own man. He’s his own man. He has his opinions. I have mine,” LaMelo said. “I feel I can play on any team and do good anywhere I go. Anything that happens, I’m positive.

“Anywhere is a great fit. It’s the NBA. You put me with good players I feel it’s going to be even better.”

That’s not a bad answer. You almost get the feeling that Dad’s commentary can sometimes be a hinderance.

Any scenario that involves LaMelo landing in Phoenix will almost certainly involve a trade. I don’t know if you’ve heard this before, but from time to time some people have talked about the possibility of a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves involving Devin Booker. That chatter ramped back up after Minnesota was awarded the top pick.

More recently there are rumors afloat that the Suns might be interested in a trade with the Warriors that involves swapping #10 and Kelly Oubre for #2.

We’re under three weeks until the draft. Time to craft your awful trade scenario and see how many people you can get to buy in on social media.