Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is never afraid to take risks. He's built a title-contending team around Ant, largely through major trades.
Simply making blockbuster trades isn't the only way Connelly has proven he's willing to take risks. I'm far from the first person to point this out, but several players Connelly has traded for or signed have polarizing playstyles.
There are three players who fit this bill on the current roster: Rudy Gobert, LaMelo Ball, and Jonathan Kuminga. While Gobert has shed some of the elements that made him so polarizing, adding Ball and Kuminga carries both risk and reward. This in part helps explain why their offseason was so controversial.
Julius Randle is another example of a player with polarizing traits. Unfortunately, Randle didn't work out in Minnesota, and his skeptics were proven right about his shot selection, general inconsistencies, and defensive effort.
This underscores that trading for a polarizing player doesn't always work out, as it did with Gobert. With two new polarizing players in the mix, the team's wide range of outcomes must be considered.
LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga give the Timberwolves some real volatility
When the Wolves traded a haul of picks for Gobert in 2022, many people mocked this decision due to his offensive limitations. Thankfully, Gobert transformed the Wolves' defense, established a winning culture, and ultimately helped lead Minnesota to two straight conference finals.
LaMelo's shot selection, perceived immaturity, injury history, and subpar defense all make him polarizing. Still, his talent is undeniable, and his fit alongside Edwards is seamless. Connelly is banking on Ball being able to solve these issues on a winning team. He showed signs of growth last season with the Charlotte Hornets.
Whether he can stay healthy and contribute to a championship-level team remains a question. I tend to be optimistic, but there's no doubt it's a risk. And while the Wolves had to pay up for Gobert (who was more proven), the risk associated with Ball made him available at a discount.
Simply put, most players of Ball's talent level aren't available for Naz Reid, one protected pick, and multiple pick swaps. Given Ball's talent level and that he fits a clear need, it's a worthy gamble. But there's some clear risk and potential for things to backfire.
While Kuminga had bigger offers on the table, his polarizing playstyle made him available at a discount. Say what you will about Kuminga, but he's worth more than a two-year, $12.4 million contract.
Regardless, like Ball, there are concerns about Kuminga's ability to contribute to winning. For Kuminga, these concerns center around his shot selection and ability to buy into a complementary role.
If everything goes right, the Timberwolves could have an ultra-talented starting five and a complete team that can win a title. However, there's a chance that there's some merit to the flaws of Ball and Kuminga. As such, the Wolves could go up in flames early in the playoffs.
Again, trading for Ball and signing Kuminga are worthy gambles for the Timberwolves, but the downside of these moves needs to be discussed. In any event, these two players will be vital in determining Minnesota's title chances.
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