Overview
- The Timberwolves completed an offseason blockbuster to acquire All‑Star guard LaMelo Ball, sending Julius Randle to Brooklyn and Naz Reid to Charlotte as part of the deal.
- Coach Chris Finch said Ball has been more deferential in Minnesota, focusing on playmaking and taking fewer out‑of‑context shots during practice and preseason work.
- Finch plans for Ball and Anthony Edwards to share most of their minutes together, creating a high‑usage playmaker‑shooter backcourt that will drive the offense.
- Finch credited Ball’s upbeat presence with improving the locker‑room vibe, saying the team has 'traded moodiness for giddiness' after internal concerns about team chemistry.
- Ball arrives with roughly 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds per game from his last Hornets season but a mixed reputation for shot choice, and Minnesota’s on‑court fit will be evaluated once the regular season begins.