While I think that the vast majority of Minnesota Timberwolves fans are ecstatic at acquiring LaMelo Ball, there's no question that there will be an adjustment period to go along with it. Ball brings a type of player that this Wolves roster hasn't really played with before: an elite floor general point guard who can also score in bunches.
There's no doubt that the ball will be in Ball's hands a lot, but they will have to do that while also making sure that Anthony Edwards gets his possessions where he initiates the offense, either for himself or for others.
Along with balancing two superstars who will demand the ball, getting Rudy Gobert involved in the offense will be important to do, especially with how he isn't the type of player to create his own offense.
Lastly, Jaden McDaniels has shown that he thrives in situations where he gets more shot attempts, so how will the new-look Wolves make sure that everybody eats on offense and nobody feels cast off on that side of the ball?
LaMelo Ball will be key in commanding a balanced offense
While it won't be easy to get so many good players involved in an offense, having one of the game's elite floor generals does make it a lot easier. Despite the flashiness of his game and his personality, Ball is one of the more selfless players in the sport, and he's one of the best at creating good looks for his teammates
Rudy Gobert will be the biggest beneficiary of this. Look at how good guys like Moussa Diabate, Mark Williams, and even Mason Plumlee looked when playing next to Ball. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Gobert sets a career high in points this upcoming season, as he'll likely get spoonfed more open looks than ever before.
I also look at Jaden McDaniels as a similar player to what Miles Bridges was in Charlotte with Ball. Both are extremely athletic wings who are somewhat inconsistent outside shooters, but they're great cutters, and they excel in transition.
Ball had Bridges looking like an All-Star-caliber guy in Charlotte from time to time, and I think McDaniels is the better player given what he can do defensively and in the mid-range. With Ball setting him up with open looks, I'd expect McDaniels' efficiency to skyrocket.
The last real puzzle piece is balancing Edwards' high usage with Ball's, and to me, the answer is pretty simple. In previous seasons, Edwards has been statistically one of the best catch-and-shoot 3-point shooters in the league, but without an elite playmaker on the team, he hasn't gotten a ton of volume.
Ball can create so many open threes for Edwards to knock down, and vice versa with each other's gravity. There will be some inevitable growing pains, but before you can blink, this offense should be humming.
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