There’s now no way around it: the Minnesota Timberwolves lost the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. Sure, there’s still a chance that Joan Beringer’s play makes it look better for the Timberwolves, but Towns just won a championship with the highest single-season plus/minus in NBA postseason history.
While most fans are happy for Towns, it had to sting a bit seeing him dominate throughout the playoffs after nine seasons in Minnesota.
Nearly two full years after trading him away, they made another blockbuster deal for LaMelo Ball. Julius Randle didn’t truly work out as Anthony Edwards’ co-star and is now on the Brooklyn Nets, but if Ball can, it will certainly help fans and the organization alike move on from dealing away Towns.
LaMelo Ball can be the co-star that Anthony Edwards needs
Spending four years as teammates, Edwards and Towns have a strong bond. The two are still friends even though they are on separate teams, and their connection was often seen on the court together. That just never happened with Randle, someone whose mercurial ways showed themselves often.
Ball has been described as having an “infectious quality” by Chris Finch, and it nearly always looks like he enjoys being out on the floor playing basketball. President of basketball operations Tim Connelly believes that Ball will "elevate" the team.
Fans should easily be able to envision the backcourt of Ant-Man and Ball having synergy almost instantly and allowing the offense to click on all cylinders.
The trade for the 24-year-old point guard isn't without risks. While he mostly stayed healthy last season (72 games), he has only combined to play in 105 contests in the previous three years. Losing Ball for any amount of time would likely mean that the Timberwolves would again be without a true point guard in the starting lineup.
Still, this is a player who showcased how valuable he is by how much more the Charlotte Hornets scored when he was on the floor compared to when he was off. Edwards is such an elite catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter, but the volume isn’t there because he often plays without someone who can break down defenses and get him open looks. With Ball, that should change, and substantially so.
As great as Towns was for the franchise, they never reached their ultimate goal. If Ball can the floor and help them be a contender, this will ease fans' minds knowing that they once again have a co-star they can believe in.
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