Even with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ starting backcourt of Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo averaging more than 16 attempts from beyond the arc per game between them last season, the team could have attempted even more long-range shots.
They made 37.0 percent of their 3-point attempts, the sixth-best in the NBA. Minnesota’s 37.2 attempts per game ranked in the lower half of the league, though, coming in at 17th.
This offseason’s changes, including the addition of LaMelo Ball, should allow Minnesota to become more of a 3-point shooting team, which gives them a chance to upset the top teams in the Western Conference.
Timberwolves should be shooting more 3-pointers this season
The Timberwolves traded size for speed this offseason. They also got younger overall and have only two players on the roster in their 30s (Rudy Gobert and Trey Lyles). That should lead to more transition opportunities and more open 3-point looks.
Yes, the team lost Naz Reid, who was more than willing to put up shots from long distance. DiVincenzo will miss most—if not all—of the season after tearing his Achilles in the playoffs.
Despite this, the Timberwolves are primed to put up more 3-point shots than they did last season.
That’s what happens when you add LaMelo Ball to the roster.
While the Charlotte Hornets somewhat limited his minutes to keep him healthy, he still attempted 10.3 3-pointers per game. His 740 3-point attempts led the league. Last season, Charlotte led the league in 3-pointers made and was third in 3-point accuracy.
Ball’s presence on the floor will give other players more open looks. An excellent passer, Ball will help Edwards get more catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts, an area in which Ant-Man truly excels but hasn’t attempted at a high volume without a lead guard capable of giving him those shots.
Jaden McDaniels is coming off a career-best season in 3-point accuracy, and Ball will help him get more open looks. With this type of shooting, the Wolves can beat anyone on any given night.
Is the threat of the Timberwolves becoming a more 3-point-centric team enough to cause the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder to truly fear them? Probably not.
I don’t believe those two teams fear anyone, although they absolutely should respect the Timberwolves' ability to go off on any night.
All it takes, though, is for the Timberwolves to get hot from deep over a playoff series to give them a chance against those two Western Conference powerhouses. It wouldn’t guarantee that they would advance, but it would give them a puncher’s chance.
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