Tim Connelly isn’t shy about swinging big, and the Timberwolves’ latest move fits that mold. Minnesota sent longtime mainstay Naz Reid to Charlotte in the package that brought LaMelo Ball to the Twin Cities, giving Anthony Edwards the kind of point guard the front office believes can unlock the backcourt.
For Timberwolves team president Tim Connelly, the deal is another bold step in what he sees as a team still on the rise. He’s on board with Ball taking over as the starting point guard, and the organization is clearly betting that the fit with Edwards can pay off quickly.
Ball has been viewed as a special talent since his high school days at Chino Hills, when his game already stood out for its creativity and flair. Since being drafted third overall in 2020, he’s grown into one of the league’s better playmakers, and that ability is exactly what Minnesota is counting on.
There’s a built-in connection here, too. In that same 2020 NBA Draft, the Timberwolves took Edwards two picks earlier. After years of being linked in parallel, the two guards are finally on the same team, and their styles give Minnesota a pairing that makes sense on paper.
Ball also gives Edwards a different kind of backcourt partner than Mike Conley Jr. did. Conley was a strong point guard for the Timberwolves, but he was already past his prime during his time in Minnesota. Ball, by contrast, arrives as a high-end creator who can drive the offense from the jump.
Connelly made his view on Ball’s game clear: "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.
The logic behind the move is simple enough. Minnesota already has talent in plenty of other spots, and adding a true playmaker gives the roster a better chance to maximize Edwards. If the Timberwolves keep building this way, Edwards has the kind of setup that could put them in the mix with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference race.
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Timberwolves Title Push Now Hinges On One Risky Offseason Gamble
Minnesota spent the offseason trying to open the floor around Anthony Edwards, and the front office certainly acted like a team that thinks it can climb into the championship tier. Tim Connelly talked up the Timberwolves title chances after a bold reshaping of the roster, one built around adding more offense and playmaking to a group that already believed it had a real window.
The question now is whether the bet holds up once the games get tight. The Wolves have traded some size and a chunk of their old defensive identity to make the fit work, and the move gives the roster a very different look than it had a year ago. LaMelo Ball brings dynamic creativity, but his style and his lack of postseason miles leave Minnesota with a real degree of uncertainty as it tries to turn an aggressive offseason into a legitimate playoff leap. [Read more 🡒]
Georges Niang Feels Like A Timberwolves Fit For One Big Reason
Tim Connellys comments about the Timberwolves exploring the free-agent market for help at power forward add a little more clarity to a spot that still feels open. Minnesota does not need a splashy name as much as it needs a player who can slide into a defined role, and Georges Niang has long fit that description. He has built his value as a low-usage forward who can space the floor, keep the offense moving and hold up enough defensively to stay on the court.
Niangs appeal is tied to the kind of basketball Minnesota wants around its core. He has shown he can contribute as a role player without needing touches, which makes him easy to picture in a supporting lane rather than as a featured piece. The one concern is freshness after a lost year, but if the Timberwolves are looking for a stable veteran fit instead of a higher-risk swing, Niang checks a lot of the right boxes. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Face A Jonathan Kuminga Reality They May Not Like
Jonathan Kumingas next stop still has a few possible destinations, but the market around him has clearly tightened. After his team option was declined and he moved into unrestricted free agency, the forward has been in contract talks while interest from several teams has cooled, leaving a smaller group of contenders still in the mix. He is reportedly aiming for a deal worth at least $20 million per year, along with a meaningful role wherever he lands.
For Minnesota, that keeps the door open on a player who would fit the age and upside profile this front office has tended to chase. The Timberwolves are still part of the conversation, but any serious run at Kuminga would likely require some roster maneuvering to make the money work, which adds another layer to an already complicated pursuit. With the asking price high and the competition narrowed, the Wolves are watching a market that may force them to decide how aggressive they really want to be. [Read more 🡒]