Tim Connelly speaks on how LaMelo Ball's playmaking will help the Timberwolves originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 offseason has been quite eventful for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They traded away Timberwolves mainstay Naz Reid in the package sent to the Charlotte Hornets for LaMelo Ball, the type of point guard that Anthony Edwards needs alongside him in the same backcourt.
Timberwolves team president Tim Connelly is known for making big moves, and he thinks that this would be yet another addition to a growing team. It is a massive change, but Connelly and the rest of the team believe in having Ball as the starting point guard.
LaMelo Ball already has a big supporter in Tim Connelly
Since his high school days at Chino Hills, LaMelo has always been known as one of the most talented point guards in basketball. He has had an unorthodox play style since then, but he has evolved into one of the league's best playmakers since getting drafted third overall in 2020.
During that same NBA Draft, the Timberwolves selected Edwards two picks earlier. After years of going back and forth, the two guards are now playing together. That is a big deal because they fit well alongside each other because of their complementary styles.
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Ball is the most talented guard Edwards has played with. Mike Conley Jr. was a phenomenal point guard, but he was past his prime in Minnesota. Now, the Timberwolves are ecstatic that they have a high-level playmaker who is leading the charge for the offense.
"Some guys can pass; he can actually playmake. He can pass you into an open shot; you see the impact he had last year… I don’t think he gets enough credit for his ability to make others better," Connelly said about Ball's playmaking ability.
Connelly has the right idea in bringing in a point guard because the Timberwolves are quite talented in other areas. If they can keep building around Edwards this way, the athletic superstar is right to challenge the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs for the Western Conference crown.
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