It is still not clear how much LaMelo Ball will play this season. The excitement of the Minnesota Timberwolves finally adding a star-level point guard is well-warranted. A backcourt of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball will be an absolute joy to watch whenever the two share the floor.
The Charlotte Hornets realized last season that they needed to play him less. The plan mostly worked, as Ball played in 72 games after appearing in just 105 combined over the previous three years. If the Timberwolves do something similar, it could let them go with a deeper rotation this season, which could prove beneficial once the playoffs roll around.
More minutes for the bench could be a good thing
With the Timberwolves giving up an ultimate fan favorite in Naz Reid and draft capital to acquire Ball, they certainly want him on the floor. His injury history, though, is an obvious concern, and it wouldn’t be wise to overplay him. Playing him around 30 minutes in a game is better than him sitting out for extended periods.
Last year with Charlotte, Ball played a career-low 28.0 minutes per game. The now-25-year-old played at least 32 minutes per contest every season from 2021-22 to 2024-25. Less playing time was a main reason why Ball missed just 10 games in 2025-26.
Giving Ball, say, 30 minutes instead of 35 will allow the bench to play five more minutes. The Timberwolves have a few players on their roster who may have regular roles in the rotation, or they may not. They include Jaylen Clark, Trey Lyles, and Bones Hyland.
More minutes for the bench also gives at least one of those players a chance to see more time during the regular season. It could let Hyland play backup point guard minutes rather than giving them all to Ayo Dosunmu. They could find time to use Terrence Shannon Jr. as the lead ball-handler, which is something Finch has said he wants to see. Every minute of playing time gives Finch more information on whether he can trust these players when the stakes are heightened.
Look at the New York Knicks. Their playoff rotation was deeper with Mike Brown as head coach in a championship season than it was with his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau. New York often went 10 deep, playing Mitchell Robinson, Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson off the bench during their title run.
This isn’t to say the Timberwolves need a 10-man rotation in the playoffs, but in recent years, Finch hasn’t always had even eight guys that he trusted. It’s paramount that Ball stays in the lineup and doesn’t go on the injury report. It could also help to play him less to give the bench more time and keep fresh players on the court who can be counted on.
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