It's been well discussed how LaMelo Ball will make life easier for Anthony Edwards, who was previously overtaxed without a high-end second option or playmaker alongside him. But what areas of the game will now be easier for Edwards, and how specifically can the Minnesota Timberwolves' star level up?
While there are many specific areas of growth, I can expect Ball to help Edwards with these three are the most notable ones.
More catch-and-shoot 3-pointers
Okay, this one is fairly obvious, but it's also super relevant. Edwards is an elite shooter by both the eye test and every metric. Regardless, because of the Wolves' lack of playmaking, his catch-and-shoot skill set hasn't been utilized. Notably, Ant shot 47.8 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s last season, but he did so on just 2.3 attempts. For a shooter of his skill level, this low a catch-and-shoot volume is frankly alarming.
Thankfully, Ball's playmaking and ability to take the pressure off Edwards as a ball-handler will ensure that this catch-and-shoot volume will skyrocket. We also saw how Ball helped unlock Kon Knueppel's elite shooting. As a result, Ant-Man will become a more well-rounded and less predictable scorer.
This will make Edwards even tougher to defend and elevate the entire Wolves' offense.
Ball can give Edwards easier shots across the board
On a similar note, LaMelo's playmaking will create easier shots for Ant across the floor. Part of this will be catch-and-shoot triples. Ball can also feed Edwards in transition, give him more opportunities to attack closeouts, and move off the ball as a cutter.
While Ant shot remarkably efficiently last season, his diet relied on difficult shots. Per Basketball Index, Edwards ranked in the 20th percentile for shot quality, a number that will surely come around thanks to Ball's playmaking. Getting easier shots from 3-point range and elsewhere should help Edwards further level up as a scorer, which is a possibility that should have opposing teams on edge.
Ball can help Edwards unlock his defensive upside
I know what you're thinking: Isn't Ball a bad defender? And won't he put more responsibilities on Edwards' shoulders defensively? Sure, this is true. But the bigger picture is that LaMelo will take away responsibilities from Edwards on offense, which, in turn, will give him more energy to utilize on the defensive end of the floor.
Last year was arguably the worst defensive season of Ant's career. He was constantly back-cut, struggled to navigate screens, and didn't rotate well. Consequently, the Wolves' defense was 5.7 points per 100 possessions worse with Edwards on the court.
You can criticize Ant for his lack of effort, but the reality is that he was asked to do too much on offense to be a true two-way force. Ball can help change this and help Edwards move closer to his two-way ceiling.
Given his athletic gifts, length, and strength, there's no reason that Edwards can't be a high-level defender. He's showcased this potential in big moments, especially as an on-ball defender. If Ant-Man can just remain more engaged on defense, that would be a game-changer. He doesn't have to guard stars or lead the league in steals. Rather, Edwards just needs to buy into consistently making an impact, and the offensive relief LaMelo provides will help him do just that.
All in all, Ball can help unlock the actualized version of Edwards on both ends of the floor.
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