The Minnesota Timberwolves are in their honeymoon phase after agreeing to a trade to acquire LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets last week. A player that Tim Connelly and the rest of Minnesota’s front office had identified a few years ago, Ball can be the dynamic backcourt partner for Anthony Edwards that could unlock the full potential of the Timberwolves’ offense.
While envisioning lobs, no-look passes, and big shots is an exciting vision for Timberwolves fans, his injury history is something that could wake them from their dream. Bill Simmons was someone who was quick to remind Minnesota fans of that when discussing the trade, and it led him to say he “hated it” on the latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast.
“I get it on paper; LaMelo Ball would solve a lot of problems that you had with Anthony Edwards last year. There’s one problem. He doesn’t f****** play,” Simmons said. “He’s played two seasons of the last six. Last year he played big minutes early, got hurt, came back. I watched a ton of Charlotte last year. They were using him like a race car on Sunday, just driving him slowly around the block. He averaged 27.5 [minutes per game] from mid-November on. They were really, really careful about not getting him hurt again, almost like they knew they were gonna trade him this summer.”
LaMelo Ball’s injury risk is still worth the reward for Timberwolves
Ball’s injury history is one thing that could throw a wrench into the Timberwolves’ plans.
While his fractured right wrist during the 2020-21 season was more of a freak accident, the rest has been a long list of lower-body injuries, including an ankle sprain that was aggravated on two different occasions and a fractured right ankle that ended his 2022-23 season. The 2023-24 season saw him sprain his right ankle, and the 2024-25 season saw Ball deal with calf and ankle injuries.
Ball played in 72 games last season, which was his highest total since playing in 75 games during his lone All-Star campaign during the 2021-22 season. But it also didn’t come without ailments, including a right knee contusion during the preseason and an ankle impingement that led him to a career-low 28.0 minutes per game.
This could be a reason why the Hornets agreed to acquire Naz Reid, a 2033 first-round pick, second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033 and three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) instead of a more stable deal. But it also could be a steal if Ball can stay on the court.
Betting on Ball’s health is a big risk but the upside was enough for the Timberwolves to make the deal. While Ball had just 20.1 points and 7.1 assists per game, he was efficient during his minutes with 25.8 points, 9.2 assists and 6.2 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Ball’s playmaking ability is also something the Timberwolves haven’t had in a while, which still provides value even if there is some workload management involved.
It’s also notable that Simmons praised Ball’s play last March and called him one of the biggest winners of this past season.
“I think LaMelo is a real winner this season,” Simmons said. “...So his stats if you look at them, he’s actually has seasons with better stats, [but] this is a classic eye test [where] you have to watch it. I love the way he’s playing.”
It’s also something to consider that there was less risk involved with acquiring Ball than with any of the other options. Giannis Antetokounmpo would have been a blockbuster addition, but it would have sapped any depth on the roster.
The Dallas Mavericks decided to hang onto Kyrie Irving, but acquiring a 34-year-old who didn’t play last season as he rehabbed a torn ACL and has defensive issues is another risk. Then there’s Ja Morant, whose concerns both on and off the court are so bad that teams want the Memphis Grizzlies to add draft compensation to any potential trade.
Considering what Ball could bring, an injury risk isn’t the worst thing the Timberwolves could be dealing with and it leads a respectable swing with big-time upside.
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