Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has never been shy about swinging big. Minnesota’s rise into a title-contending team around Ant has come largely through major trades, and Connelly’s willingness to chase talent with a high degree of difficulty has become part of the team’s identity.
That approach comes with a built-in edge - and a built-in risk. The current roster includes three players who fit the label of polarizing: Rudy Gobert, LaMelo Ball, and Jonathan Kuminga.
Gobert has moved past some of the traits that once made him such a lightning rod, but Ball and Kuminga still bring the kind of volatility that can tilt a season in either direction. It’s part of why the offseason drew so much debate.
Julius Randle is another reminder that this type of bet can miss. In Minnesota, it didn’t work. The doubts about his shot selection, uneven consistency, and defensive effort ended up being justified.
That history matters because not every polarizing player turns into a Gobert-level success story. Minnesota’s gamble on Ball and Kuminga adds two more variables to a roster already carrying a wide range of possible outcomes.
The Gobert trade in 2022 was widely mocked at the time because of his offensive limitations, especially given the haul of picks Minnesota sent out. But Gobert changed the tone of the franchise anyway, anchored the defense, helped establish a winning standard, and played a major role in getting the Wolves to two straight conference finals.
Ball brings a different kind of intrigue. His shot selection, perceived immaturity, injury history, and shaky defense make him a complicated player to trust, even as his talent stands out.
The fit next to Edwards is described as seamless, and Connelly is betting that Ball can sort through the rough edges in a winning environment. Ball also showed signs of growth last season with the Charlotte Hornets.
The big question is whether he can stay healthy and deliver for a championship-level team. The optimism is there, but so is the risk. And because of those concerns, Ball was available at a discount.
That’s what makes the price Minnesota paid so notable. A player with Ball’s talent level usually doesn’t cost Naz Reid, one protected pick, and multiple pick swaps. For a player who fills a clear need, it’s a swing worth taking - even if the downside is obvious.
Kuminga followed a similar path to Minnesota at a discount, even though bigger offers were on the table. However anyone feels about him, he is worth more than a two-year, $12.4 million contract.
Still, the questions are the same. Like Ball, Kuminga has to answer whether his game truly fits winning basketball. The concerns center on his shot selection and whether he can embrace a complementary role.
If everything clicks, the Timberwolves could roll out an ultra-talented starting five and a roster built to win a title. If the flaws in Ball and Kuminga show up in the wrong moments, though, the whole thing could unravel early in the playoffs.
That’s the gamble Minnesota is taking. Trading for Ball and signing Kuminga are reasonable bets, but the downside has to be part of the conversation. In the end, those two players may go a long way toward deciding just how real the Timberwolves’ title chances are.
In Other News...
Rudy Gobert Just Became A Bigger Timberwolves Question Than Expected
Rudy Gobert is back around the Timberwolves after arriving from France and joining team workouts, which at least gives Minnesota a chance to get its defense anchored by the player who has been central to that identity. He remains eligible for a contract extension, and after signing a three-year extension in 2024, he has one year left on his current deal with a player option for the following season.
What makes this more delicate is the timing for a team still trying to protect its future flexibility while it develops a young core. Gobert is still a key piece, but there is no immediate push toward getting something done, leaving Minnesota to balance the value of keeping its veteran defensive force in place against the kind of cap planning that can shape the next several seasons. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Face A Fascinating New Challenge With LaMelo Ball And Kuminga
Minnesotas offseason has already given Chris Finch a different kind of puzzle, and it starts with the way LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga can fit into the offense. Finch said in an interview that integrating new pieces should be less complicated than it has been in past seasons, thanks in part to Balls ability to organize the floor and the teams move toward a cleaner offensive structure. For a group trying to reset its identity, that kind of simplicity can matter as much as star power.
The other layer is internal growth, where Finch wants more steadiness from the younger and bench-heavy parts of the roster as camp approaches. Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert were among the players he singled out for being part of that consistency push, which gives Minnesota a familiar sort of late-summer question: can the Wolves not only add talent, but also turn the whole rotation into something more reliable from night to night? [Read more 🡒]
Rudy Gobert Could Force The Wolves Into A Brutal Decision
The Timberwolves spent the offseason reshaping the roster around Rudy Gobert, making moves aimed at better fitting his game and their bigger-picture timeline. LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga arrived, while Julius Randle and Naz Reid were dealt away, all part of an effort to build a cleaner mix around the veteran center and keep Minnesota positioned to contend in the West.
Still, Goberts future does not feel fully settled. He has a player option on the final year of his contract, and what happens this season could leave the Wolves staring at a tough choice between bringing him back on another deal, preserving cap flexibility and continuing to balance his place with the growth of the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]