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Rumor: Minnesota Timberwolves may favor Ball over Edwards

By Dylan Jackson

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 30: LaMelo Ball of the Hawks sizes up on RJ Hampton of the Breakers during the round 9 NBL match between the New Zealand Breakers and the Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena on November 30, 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 30: LaMelo Ball of the Hawks sizes up on RJ Hampton of the Breakers during the round 9 NBL match between the New Zealand Breakers and the Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena on November 30, 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are on the clock with the first selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. Originally following the draft lottery, Georgia wing Anthony Edwards was presumed to be the favorite to be the top pick.

However, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report is reporting that the Timberwolves favor point guard LaMelo Ball over Edwards, should they decide to keep the pick.

"“According to a Western Conference executive, word around the league is Minnesota isn’t leaning one way at No. 1, sounds “confused” and feels pressure after “messing up last year by trading for Jarrett Culver.”The belief is that Minnesota’s priority is to trade, realistically down the board assuming an established star won’t become available. If the Wolves stick at No. 1, multiple sources say they’d bet on LaMelo Ball having the edge over Anthony Edwards.”"

Perhaps the most notable comment made here is that the Timberwolves actually prefer to trade the pick rather than make a selection. If they cannot find a team willing to trade a star (say, as an example, the Wizards with Bradley Beal), moving down the board would be an interesting move, especially given Minnesota already owns the 17th pick.

The price for trading up to the first overall pick cannot be as much as most years with the fact that there is no established best player in the draft. Finding a good, consistent role player that can help the Timberwolves make a push for the playoffs in addition to a lottery pick might be a smart move by Gersson Rosas.

Moving towards Ball, a backcourt fit between he and Russell might be an ideal fit, actually. Giving Russell more of a scoring (rather than playmaking) load could maximize both players. And yes, while Ball is not solid defensively at the moment, he has shown some flashes, and there are some pro’s to having two 6-foot-6-plus guards in your backcourt – especially with the offense that each brings.

Ball is the most pro-ready player in this draft class simply given his exceptional playmaking skills. Bringing in a player that not only can become a starter right away but has the ceiling to become an All-Star caliber player absolutely would not hurt the Timberwolves.

Next. Jerami Grant could be Wolves trade target. dark

Again, though, take this information with a grain of salt as it was “according to a Western Conference executive”.

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