What stands out on the Minnesota Timberwolves roster?
The Minnesota Timberwolves will look much different this season after making big changes in the offseason.
Fans have gotten used to seeing forwards like Karl-Anthony Towns, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle be staples on offense alongside Anthony Edwards with guard play limited as the team searched for a true point guard.
They have found a true point guard after acquiring LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets.
The move did not come without a price. Two years after trading Towns for Randle, the team dumped Randle to the Brooklyn Nets, attaching a first-round pick to get off his deal. To acquire Ball, they had to trade Reid.
While their forward depth has taken a hit, their guard play will be a strength.
Playing Faster And Generating More Assists
Minnesota was already in the top half of the league when it comes to playing with pace, though they were in the bottom half of the league in generating assists.
Anthony Edwards plays fast, but sometimes too fast for his own good, leading to a number of turnovers. He averaged 3.7 assists last season, but undid his passing with 2.9 turnovers. With LaMelo in the lineup, Edwards can slow down his offensive process, as there is a true secondary creator beside him to take the ball out of his hands.
Randle sped up his game in Minnesota, but still slowed things down compared to how quickly the team is likely to play with LaMelo at the helm. He averaged five assists, but 2.7 turnovers, not always adjusting when things were sped up.
Minnesota was in the middle of the league in terms of offensive efficiency, while Charlotte was in the top five.
LaMelo brings new quickness to the team with the ball in his hands, averaging 7.1 assists to 2.8 turnovers and showing he can play faster.
Beyond LaMelo
The idea of LaMelo and Edwards in transition should keep defenses awake at night, and then Minnesota can throw Ayo Dosunmu, Bones Hyland, and Jaden McDaniels at them as well.
The Minnesota bench looked like a completely different unit when Ayo was acquired at the trade deadline, as he thrived in space and transition. Having a full season with him running alongside Edwards and Ball will keep teams on their toes after missed shots.
Though the team will be undersized, the overall rebounding of Gobert should end a number of possessions, and it’s on him to get the ball quickly to his playmakers so they can set the offense or catch teams napping.
