Every new season comes with new unknowns. But for this year's Minnesota Timberwolves, there may be more of those than in the last few campaigns combined.

The franchise's direction took a turn in the offseason. The Wolves moved away from investing in a big-bodied frontcourt and instead found Anthony Edwards a worthy backcourt running mate in LaMelo Ball.

They also added athleticism and upside by acquiring Jonathan Kuminga, so off the rip, there are plenty of moving pieces to watch.

Here are three storylines to monitor in the preseason opener in Milwaukee:

One is certainly more highly anticipated than the other. However, both are expected to contribute significantly to Minnesota's hoop success in the coming years.

Ball is a 6-foot-7 point guard who will, if nothing else, ease Edwards' offensive load.

Ball boasts career averages of 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. He is a do-it-all guard in every sense of the term. However, his biggest gifts are ball-handling and playmaking—both things Edwards can do well, but not necessarily what he wants to do every game. 

Minnesota traded away Naz Reid and Julius Randle to get Ball out of Charlotte. Therefore, he will need to pull his weight if this experiment, if you will, is to succeed. The Timberwolves believe it will.

Kuminga signed a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the team in free agency. He comes in on a prove-it contract, motivated to impress the Timberwolves brass and secure his long-term future.

The Golden State Warriors selected Kuminga No. 7 overall in 2021. His first few years in the league have been underwhelming compared to the hype around him and his true potential. However, still just 23 years old, the sky is the limit for what Kuminga could become.

The Timberwolves hope they can get the best out of him, and he is expected to immediately become head coach Chris Finch's starting power forward.

Ball's arrival in Minnesota unites the No. 1 pick (Edwards) and the No. 3 pick from the 2020 NBA Draft.

Their chemistry off the court is undeniable. They have eerily similar personalities and get on like a house on fire. But will their light-hearted ways translate to the hardwood? Are they serious enough about winning? Those are the hard questions that will need answering.

On paper, the duo is a perfect backcourt match. A pass-first creator combining with a score-first superstar. That's must-see TV.

In theory, the two also should work because of Edwards' insatiable appetite for winning and Ball's historic lack of it.

For a while, it has felt like Edwards is missing that one particular guy beside him who would pick him up when he was down. You typically know what to expect from Ball, scoring-wise, but he can heat up if you give him the volume.

Conversely, Ball has never been in a position to win consistently, which playing with Ant offers.

Before we've seen them play together, they could prove to be everything the other has been missing.

How does Ball fit in defensively? He has been called a liability on that side of the ball before as a Hornet. What does Kuminga bring on that end? How does the puzzle fit around Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels, who are the anchors?

Potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate Ayo Dosunmu recently spoke about how much he has learned playing alongside Gobert in less than half a season. He also expressed confidence that newer faces — including Ball — will pick up the system.

It's going to take work, that's for sure. But the first preseason game against a Bucks offense with plenty of talent, despite losing Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, should be a solid first test for the Timberwolves' new-look unit.