The Minnesota Timberwolves received brutal news on Monday evening as it was announced that Anthony Edwards will miss up to two months with a knee injury. A few hours later, Jon Krawczynski reported that the early belief is that he'll be out for more than two months. Needless to say, that's a devastating blow for the Wolves, and we are all wishing him a speedy recovery.
In the meantime, though, LaMelo Ball will be asked to fill in as a first option and keep the Timberwolves afloat. LaMelo is used to the first-option role from his time with the Charlotte Hornets. He is more than talented enough to score 20-25 points a night and lead an elite offense. And thus far, he's been a perfect fit with the Wolves. His playmaking has especially uplifted the Wolves' offense and made life easier for everyone.
However, Ball's scoring and general aggression haven't been up to par. So far, Ball is averaging 14.8 points and taking a career-low 12.3 shots per game. A lot of this has been because he's deferring to the talent around him.
With Edwards sidelined, LaMelo will need to be more aggressive and effective as a scorer. How well Ball handles this role will be a massive factor in the Timberwolves' success during this stretch.
LaMelo Ball as a first option has some pros and cons
The good news is that Ball has impacted offense at an elite level throughout his career. Last season, the Hornets' offense was 11.6 points per 100 possessions with Ball on the court, according to Cleaning the Glass, and he ranked in the 99th percentile for estimated plus-minus per Dunks & Threes. Given his blend of playmaking and 3-point shooting, Ball is a super-talented offensive player.
Minnesota also still has a solid supporting cast, including Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Ayo Dosunmu, and Terrence Shannon Jr. As such, there's a real path for LaMelo and the Wolves to stay afloat without Edwards.
Nevertheless, there are some real flaws with Ball as a No. 1 option. Shot selection might be talked about the most, but the bigger problem is that he struggles with physicality and isn't a good finisher. LaMelo's lack of rim finishing has been on full display this season, and it makes him a schemable player.
Opposing defenses will game-plan against LaMelo each night, and they'll test his ability to deal with physicality and ball pressure. This strategy could be very effective, which would put the Wolves at a disadvantage in the shot-creation department.
It's also worth noting that Ball has played just 24.5 minutes per game this season. In fairness, the Wolves having three blowout wins and Ball getting into foul trouble on Sunday are factors in play. Regardless, his minutes will have to increase as the Wolves navigate life without Ant for the time being.
The stakes have never been higher for Ball. He's playing on a team with title hopes, and now he needs to keep the ship afloat as the true offensive engine for the next two months or so. It will be a tall task, and there are certainly some valid concerns about this proposition despite Ball's immense offensive talent.
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