Minnesota Timberwolves: Killian Hayes fits Wolves better than LaMelo Ball
By Ben Beecken
Minnesota Timberwolves: Killian Hayes fits better than LaMelo Ball
Ball and Hayes as playmakers
LaMelo Ball and Killian Hayes are arguably the two best playmakers in this year’s draft.
Ball has what some believe to be a next-level, All-Star-caliber skill when it comes to his court vision and passing. Timberwolves fans may recall the hyperbole used when Ricky Rubio was selected back in 2009. Virtually all of those phrases still apply: Ball has eyes in the back of his head, he sees things before they happen, and so on and so forth.
While Hayes anticipation and playmaking skills aren’t talked about quite as breathlessly as Ball’s, both guards can make all the passes.
The film of Hayes playing at Ulm this year is almost identical to watching D’Angelo Russell at Ohio State: a 6-foot-5 point guard slinging impossible bounce passes and throwing teammates open like Aaron Rodgers in the open court.
It’s hard to see why having two elite-level playmakers in the backcourt would be a bad thing. Consider the other guards and wings on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ current roster.
Josh Okogie is a cutter, a terror in transition, and a good defender. He isn’t a playmaker. Jarrett Culver should be a playmaker, and the Wolves probably still think he can develop the ability he flashed at Texas Tech in leading the Red Raiders to the NCAA Championship Game. But he wasn’t reliable with the ball in his hands as a rookie.
Malik Beasley‘s offensive game doesn’t create; he’s a catch-and-shoot wing with the ability to score in transition and as a cutter. But he doesn’t put the ball on the floor much and isn’t an outstanding passer.
Kelan Martin? Jake Layman? More guys who move without the ball in their hands.
Backup point guard Jordan McLaughlin had an encouraging 30-game stint as the primary backup point guard, but the Wolves have to have someone that isn’t a pure point guard that is an above-average passer.
Enter the 2020 NBA Draft.