Chris Finch Addresses Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball On-Court Pairing

The Minnesota Timberwolves are going to have an improved offense thanks to the addition of LaMelo Ball.

Ball proved during his time with the Charlotte Hornets that he can be an offensive engine, leading the Hornets to one of the best offenses in the league during the second half of last season.

Anthony Edwards has carried the Timberwolves offense the last two seasons as they’ve lacked a true point guard and were playing off of Julius Randle.

Having two star players who can create for themselves and others will make the Timberwolves offense more potent. It could also keep one creator on the floor at all times as Ball and Edwards could be staggered.

Staggering Ball And Edwards

While the Timberwolves could stagger their two stars, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch isn’t quite sold on the idea.

"My gut tells me I want them to be out there together. We've got guys off the bench that can bring punch, that can be handling, that could bring different things, those guys are really good together. You see the TJ (Shannon)/Ayo combos are really, really good. So, you know, we might just double down, play those guys together, but we'll be ready to read it as we go along,” he said.

The Timberwolves re-signed Ayo Dosunmu to help lead the offense off the bench, a role he looked very comfortable in after he was acquired at the trade deadline. They also hope to get back Donte DiVincenzo at some point this season, and he was effectively the point guard in the starting lineup last season.

Should They Be Staggered?

Throughout history, teams have operated better when one of their two best players are on the court at all times.

It should come as no surprise that teams are better when they have better players on the court. While the Timberwolves retained Ayo to be their lead creator off the bench, they can now take the pressure off of him by having Edwards or Ball on the court next to him.

Edwards and Ayo had a +8.1 net rating on the court together last season, so Minnesota knows that combination works if they would like to keep them together, while having Ball play next to Jaden McDaniels in the minutes that Edwards is off the floor.

Whatever Finch decides, for the first time in his Minnesota tenure, he’s going to have two legit creation options who can handle the ball and get shots for themselves and their teammates.