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Report: NBA permits teams to scout Hampton, LaMelo practices

Kelly Defina / Getty Images Sport / Getty

NBA teams are allowed to scout potential 2020 lottery pick RJ Hampton at New Zealand Breakers practices this week during the team's preseason tour in the United States, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The NBA league office had previously told teams they would not be allowed to attend the Breakers' five U.S. practices as Hampton is currently considered draft-ineligible because he has not yet officially declared for 2020, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. However, after teams were shut out of a Breakers training session Sunday in Memphis, the league opted to revisit the issue Monday.

NBA teams can only have contact with draft-ineligible players in limited situations, such as official games, certain college practices, and international practices involving only international players, Givony notes.

The Breakers are holding five practices combined in Memphis and Oklahoma City in preparation for preseason games against the Grizzlies and Thunder, respectively.

The league's decision also clears the way for teams to scout touted Illawarra Hawks guard LaMelo Ball, Charania adds.

Ball and Hampton are both former five-star high school recruits who elected to bypass the NCAA and play professionally overseas. The two will play in the Australia-based National Basketball League this season and are projected to be selected within the top 10 in the NBA draft next June.

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