Perhaps the main advantage of the Minnesota Timberwolves trading for LaMelo Ball is how much easier Anthony Edwards' life will become.
After being overtaxed as a ball-handler and playmaker last season, Edwards has a high-end point guard who can take the pressure off him when needed. LaMelo's arrival will also lead to a stylistic change from Ant, as he will play off the ball more, which in turn could help him reach another level.
We all know how brilliant Edwards is on the ball. Regardless, he's been just as good off the ball since becoming an elite shooter two years ago. However, partly due to team context, this element of his game hasn't been used much. Notably, Edwards shot a blistering 49.6 percent from beyond the arc, but shot just a measly 2.3 attempts last season.
Thankfully, this part of his game will be utilized now that LaMelo is in the fold. By becoming a more diverse scorer, Ant can evolve into being a more complete player and even more of a matchup nightmare -- that's a tantalizing thought.
Edwards' off-ball shooting being used more is a game-changer for the Timberwolves
Edwards is entering his age-25 season, and in part thanks to LaMelo, he could reach another level. It wouldn't shock me if he led the league in scoring and became a legitimate MVP candidate.
Even if he doesn't make some major statistical leap, this should be the best season for Ant's career to date, and in high-leverage situations especially, being able to utilize his all-around scoring arsenal should help the Timberwolves immensely.
Last year, Edwards improved as a mid-range scorer. This helped pave the way for him to average a career-best 28.8 points and made him far more effective in clutch games.
However, there was still a blueprint to limiting Ant: load up on Edwards and force him to playmake. Yes, oftentimes he could overcome the pressure, but this was a strategy we saw teams deploy both in the regular season and playoffs. At times, it put a real wrench into the Wolves' offense and limited Ant's effectiveness.
Due to the lack of creation and playmaking alongside him, the Wolves lacked consistent counters.
With LaMelo, though, everything changes. This strategy of doubling Ant won't be effective. And the Wolves will certainly look to use Edwards' off-ball scoring more.
Unquestionably, this adjustment will be a game-changer for Edwards and the Timberwolves as a whole. Opposing teams will have to account for two elite creators. Regarding Ant specifically, they won't have to just focus on limiting him on the ball; they'll have to limit him off the ball.
This extra unpredictability should help Ant and the Wolves reach new heights.
While this will be a different role for Edwards, I don't think it's going to take much time for him to adjust to it. His shooting excellence is undeniable. By all accounts, Ant is one of the best shooters in the league, and taking advantage of this will benefit the Timberwolves.
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