The Minnesota Timberwolves traded for Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball, pairing him up with Anthony Edwards, which will create an entertaining duo destined for disappointment. The Timberwolves gave up Naz Reid, three first-round pick swaps, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, and three second-round picks. In addition to Ball, Minnesota receives Josh Green in the trade.
Coming off a 49-win season, the Timberwolves are trying to make the jump from lower-level playoffs to legit contenders with their new point guard. The Hornets are hoping to reset and rebuild their roster, likely feeling the return for an often-injured Ball was worth it.
Why Will Lamelo Ball And Edwards Be Entertaining?
Combining Ball’s streetball-like playstyle with Edwards’ flashy dunks will undoubtedly be must-watch TV. The two guards are among the league’s most captivating and fun athletes. The newly acquired star brings a skillset that fits well with his new dynamic teammate.
Ball’s finest skill is his long-range shooting. Ever since he was playing alongside his brothers in high school, the California native never turned away a long three. In five of the past six years, Ball has shot over 35% from deep, also averaging at least 20 points per game, excluding his rookie campaign.
In addition to his elite shooting, Ball is a great playmaker. He ranked in the top ten across the league with 7.1 assists per game. His career average is 7.3, including a plethora of impressive alley-oop lobs.
Pair those skills with Edwards’ insane, highlight-reel dunking ability, and the duo is bound to get fans on their feet. The Georgia product averaged 28.8 points per game, ranking third in the NBA last season. He also set a career high by making three-pointers at a 39.9% clip. The two should be unstoppable on the fast break, while terrorizing perimeter defenders.
Why Will Ball And Edwards Fail?
Pairing two incredible talents like Edwards and Ball together immediately creates Finals aspirations. The problem Minnesota faces is that it’s in the Western Conference. The San Antonio Spurs won the West this past season, narrowly beating the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Other strong teams also stand in the way. The Los Angeles Lakers bring back LeBron James and Luka Dončić. The Denver Nuggets will continue finding success as long as they have Nikola Jokić. The Houston Rockets have a loaded two-way roster. The Dallas Mavericks are bound to improve around Cooper Flagg and the return of Kyrie Irving. All of these teams are brutal opponents for the Timberwolves.
Does Ball put Minnesota above these teams? The depth struggles will continue, especially without Reid. The former Hornet does provide a strong point guard presence, but if he’s on the bench or injured, Mike Conley cannot continue getting significant minutes at his age.
The Timberwolves also traded Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets, in what appears to have been a salary dump. After Ball and Edwards, who else can find consistent success scoring the basketball? Green averaged just 4.3 points on 15.7 minutes per game, but will be tasked to play a much larger role in the rotation. He’ll be alongside Terrence Shannon Jr. and Joan Beringer, two extremely unproven youngsters. Isaiah Evans, the No. 33 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, may be forced to develop early.
The league’s newest superstar duo also struggles defensively. Minnesota will be relying heavily on Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert to save the weaker perimeter defenders. Both are elite on that side of the ball, but making up for poor boundary guards has become a common theme for the two of them.
Overall, the upside Ball and Edwards will bring to an offense is incredibly potent. Both former All-Stars are elite scorers at every level and fan favorites across the country. The duo will be featured on SportsCenter often, but in terms of winning, the Timberwolves won’t find Ball to be the solution.
