The Minnesota Timberwolves are betting big on LaMelo Ball this summer. The former All-Star point guard was officially acquired by the Timberwolves from the Charlotte Hornets this week, and his elite playmaking ability makes him a player who can help bridge the gap between Minnesota and the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference.
But for all of the hype on what Ball can do this season, there’s an even bigger upside if it works long term.
Ball marks the fourth player from the 2020 NBA Draft on the Timberwolves’ roster, joining Anthony Edwards (1st overall), Josh Green (18th overall) and Jaden McDaniels (28th overall). Ball, who was the second overall pick in that draft, will turn 25 next month, inserting him into a core that fits Minnesota’s timeline and could give them multiple shots at winning a championship.
LaMelo Ball fits perfectly into the Timberwolves’ timeline
The Timberwolves’ roster construction traces back to comments made by president of basketball operations Tim Connelly after last season ended. While he expressed disappointment in the early end to Minnesota’s playoff run, he was also optimistic about the core he established with several players 26 or younger, including Edwards, McDaniels, Terrence Shannon Jr., Ayo Dosunmu, Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky.
While Naz Reid was also part of that core before he was traded in the deal that brought Ball to Minnesota, Connelly was bullish on his young players and how they could help the Wolves make the next step forward.
“Sometimes your internal growth surprises you,” Connelly said via SI’s Joe Nelson. “I think we have a couple guys in here whose roles will be much bigger next year.”
Nelson also theorized that Beringer and Zikarsky could have been the players Connelly was talking about, although he didn’t mention them by name. The Wolves could have also dangled some of those players in a summer trade, as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyrie Irving were floated out as potential targets. Of those names, Ball was the target that actually materialized, and he may be the best considering his age and potential.
Had the Dallas Mavericks made Irving available, there’s a chance he could have served a similar role. But Ball is a better fit in that he’s not just a short-term solution if it works out. He’s playing with a group of young players that not only fit the Wolves timeline but have plenty of experience, including back-to-back runs to the Western Conference Finals in 2024 and 2025.
"These guys are young vets and they’ve seen a lot,” Connelly said on during Tuesday’s press conference. “…These guys have just got a lot of innings under their belt and they know what it looks like. They’re veteran basketball players, but still very young, relative to their age. I think it’s kind of a sweet spot to see [that] we have all these guys together and they grow together.”
Ball has generated plenty of highlights, but like the rest of his new teammates, he still has room to grow. Turning 25, it could be something that generates an exciting future and could have the Timberwolves coming out as even bigger winners after bringing him to Minnesota, which, in the end. could make this trade age like fine wine.
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