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Mad Bets: Will LaMelo Ball be the No. 1 Pick?

Krysten Peek joins Minty Bets to discuss whether LaMelo Ball will be the No. 1 Pick in the 2020 NBA Draft on Wed. November 18.

Video Transcript

MINTY BETS: The NBA draft is expected to take place November 18, and there are some top prospects we want to keep our eye on. I'm here with Yahoo Sports very own Krysten Peek to give us her thoughts on who she thinks will be drafted first. Now, Anthony Edwards is the favorite to go first, followed by LaMelo Ball. Who do you think is going to go first, Krysten?

KRYSTEN PEEK: I mean, right now, it's going back and forth. It's too-- it's too close to call. Everyone I talk to within the NBA-- you know, at first it was LaMelo. The Timberwolves really liked LaMelo.

And then reports surfaced that he's not interviewing well with teams. And then his dad, LaVar, came out and said that he wants him in Detroit or New York. And so we're starting to hear talks said maybe Minnesota trades it. They have three picks in this draft, and they don't necessarily need LaMelo or Anthony. So they could very well trade it.

If we're looking at just talent, and prospect, and upside, I still think LaMelo Ball edges out Anthony Edwards just from, you know, what we could see from him at an NBA level. I went over to Australia. I saw two triple-double games where he was the first player since, I think, 2005 to record back to back triple-doubles. And he was on the worst team there and still getting everything done.

I mean, he averaged nearly seven assists per game. He's a phenomenal passer looking up the court and off the pick and roll. But if his teammates were actually finishing shots, I think those numbers could have been a lot higher in the 10, 11, or 12 range for assists.

And with Anthony Edwards-- he had a great college season-- his one year at Georgia. He averaged 19 points per game and had the single best half of college basketball I think any of us have ever seen against Michigan State, where he had 33 points in one half, including seven 3's. And then we saw as pro day went on ESPN when Klutch Sports pro day with him and Tyrese Maxie. And he was able to showcase his athleticism.

I think he is the most athletic guard in this draft class. And then you saw him kind of creep up into the number 1 range. And honestly right now, it's too close to tell who-- what Minnesota's going to do. I still think they take LaMelo, or they trade down to a team like the Knicks or like Detroit, who potentially wants LaMelo on their team.

MINTY BETS: Wow. All right, well, either way, excited to see them both play. Thank you so much for your time, Krysten.

KRYSTEN PEEK: Thank you for having me.

MINTY BETS: If you want in on the action, head over to betmgm.com/yahoo, where new users get a 100% match up to $1,000. Available in New Jersey, Colorado, Indiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

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