The Minnesota Timberwolves took a massive risk this summer. They shipped out a ton of draft capital and Naz Reid in a blockbuster trade with the Charlotte Hornets, landing LaMelo Ball. With the deal, they abandoned the five-man defensive front they’ve almost always had. The defense-first team that’s helped the Wolves get to where they are.
For years, the Wolves have been a defensive-minded basketball team. One of the best defenses in the NBA. That’s what’s spearheaded the success they’ve had over the last few years of Anthony Edwards-led basketball. But their trade for Ball puts that at risk. It puts the whole team at risk of losing the defensive identity that’s led the way for them.
Minnesota is going to have to make up for Ball’s lack of a defensive presence. And the more they struggle to do so, the more they risk losing the defensive identity that has helped them so much over the years.
LaMelo Ball trade puts Timberwolves' defense at risk
Defense has been at the forefront of everything the Timberwolves’ have wanted to accomplish for the last few years. They’ve anchored themselves on the defensive end.
It’s part of the reason the Wolves made a giant trade for Rudy Gobert all those years ago. And since then, Gobert has been an integral part of the Wolves’ defensive success.
Gobert has anchored the Timberwolves’ defense ever since then, earning himself a Defensive Player of the Year award and multiple spots on NBA All-Defensive Teams.
But Gobert isn’t the only elite defender on the Wolves’ roster. Jaden McDaniels is one of the best defenders in the NBA. Anthony Edwards can be a plus defender.
Ayo Dosunmu defends well. Donte DiVincenzo can defend on that end. Mike Conley was a solid defender for the Wolves. Julius Randle could hold his own.
But now, the Wolves have a point guard who struggles on the defensive side of the ball. Throughout the course of his career, Ball has always been a negative on defense.
It’s more than that for Ball, though. He hasn’t just struggled. There have been times when Ball has looked like he hasn’t even been trying on defense. And that’s not going to cut it in Minnesota.
Adding Ball is a risk for the Wolves. They’re going to have to try very hard to hide Ball’s defensive issues. And that’s a dangerous pathway to go down.
As soon as the Timberwolves made the deal for Ball, they took on that risk.
Add us as a preferred source on Google