One of the many advantages of the Minnesota Timberwolves trading for LaMelo Ball is the shooting upside of him and Anthony Edwards. Last season, Ball ranked third in made 3-pointers per game, and Edwards ranked sixth. Moreover, both players ranked in the 99th percentile for 3-point shooting talent per Basketball Index.
Frankly, we haven't seen this level of 3-point shooting since the iconic Splash Brothers: Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Look, I'm not saying that the Wolves' new backcourt will replicate the heights we saw from this all-time great duo from both an individual and team perspective. After all, Curry and Thompson might be the two best shooters of all-time and the Golden State Warriors won 73 games in 2015-16. Curry is easily No. 1. However, the duo of Ant and LaMelo shares some similarities to what made the Warriors so dangerous.
And ultimately, this could give the Timberwolves a championship-level blueprint.
The 3-point shooting upside between Edwards and Ball is off the charts
As we've established, both Ant and LaMelo are elite outside shooters. But what truly makes them so dangerous is how versatile they are. Both players can spot-up and create for themselves at an elite rate. Having to account for this combination will be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Plus, the gravity they carry on and off the ball will create easy opportunities for their teammates, and LaMelo's playmaking can ensure that these advantages are maximized.
Last season, over 70 percent of Edwards' 3-point shots were pull-ups. While he excelled in this role, it's a disservice that his catch-and-shoot abilities weren't utilized. That will change playing alongside Ball's playmaking, and Edwards' already high 3-point volume may only increase.
The Warriors showed us how dangerous it is to have shooters moving off screens and spotting up. Beyond the raw talent, that's the secret to why they were truly so dangerous.
By using both Ant and LaMelo in this off-ball action, the Wolves can replicate this to some extent. In the preseason, Chris Finch has shown off some of these wrinkles, using Edwards specifically in off-ball actions to create open 3-point looks. Additionally, Ball and Edwards have showcased some flashes of a productive two-man game.
Without a doubt, this duo will create headaches for opposing defenses.
The Timberwolves' 3-point shooting can help them win a championship
Toppling the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder seems like an impossible task in some ways. It starts with shooting, though, and the Wolves have that with this dynamic backcourt. By making it rain from beyond the arc, you can neutralize the rim-protection advantages that Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren provide.
Furthermore, both the Spurs and Thunder are average shooting teams. As such, it becomes a math problem, to some extent, when you have the dynamic level of shooting that the Wolves' backcourt provides.
To win a championship, you need to have a superpower with no easy counter. And that's exactly what this duo provides. Seriously: How do you stop a backcourt that features two of the league's best shooters?
The Spurs and Thunder have their own clear superpowers and are proven commodities. As such, I'm not saying the Wolves should be title favorites. Regardless, the Timberwolves clearly have a chance against any team thanks to this backcourt, and they present a unique challenge to defenses that we haven't seen since the Splash Brothers.
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