Something that probably hasn’t been talked about enough with LaMelo Ball is the number of minutes that Chris Finch will play him on average. The Minnesota Timberwolves need him to mostly remain healthy, and that's probably more likely to happen if his minutes are somewhat limited.
During the press conference introducing Ball (and Josh Green) earlier this month, Britt Robson of MinnPost did ask Chris Finch that very question, although he didn't get much of an answer back.
Robson: “Last year, LaMelo played 28 minutes per game. So, he was able to get a lot of time in, played over 70 games. Have you consulted with a medical staff or figured out whether that’s a prudent course of action, or do you think he can play more?
Finch: "We haven’t dug into it just yet so those conversations will be had as we go through the summer."
Along with who will be Minnesota’s starting power forward, Ball’s minutes are one of the biggest unanswered questions for the team this summer.
The Timberwolves need Ball to remain on the floor
The fans are still thrilled that the team was able to add Ball—although it did sting at the same time that they had to send fan favorite Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets. It has been years since the team has had an All-Star-level point guard on the roster. Teaming him up with Anthony Edwards, the sky is the limit for the Timberwolves on the offensive end.
Last season, Ball appeared in 72 games. That was the second-most of his six-year career, only less than the 75 he played in his All-Star year of 2021-22. In the three seasons from 2022-23 until 2024-25, the 2020 third overall pick only combined to play in 105 outings.
It was nice to see him mostly stay healthy for a Hornets team that had grown accustomed to Ball being out of the lineup. It was also the fewest minutes that Ball has played on average at 28.0.Â
To ensure that he stays healthy, it might be wise to give Ball somewhere in that range, perhaps no more than 30. The trade was seen as a risk by many due to Ball’s injury history, particularly with his ankles.
Keep him healthy for the playoffs, and then his minutes can increase some. The Timberwolves can utilize either Bones Hyland or Ayo Dosunmu (not yet clear if he will start or come off the bench) as reserves that can come in and run the show while Ball is resting. Of course, the offense will dip a bit, but both are capable scorers.Â
Nobody wants to see Ball miss a lot of time due to injury. Sure, you’d like to see him on the floor more, but the team knows the goal is to have him roaring to go come playoff time.Â
Finch mentioned how the Wolves have one of the best medical staffs in the league later in the press conference. I believe they will come to a decision on his minutes that best allows Ball to remain healthy. Nevertheless, this will be a crucial decision for the Timberwolves.
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