...
By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have officially entered a new era, trading with the Charlotte Hornets to add LaMelo Ball to their starting five alongside superstar Anthony Edwards.
Shams Charania first reported during the second night of the NBA Draft that the Hornets were listening to teams' offers for Ball, and on Thursday morning, he broke the news of the deal involving the two teams. It immediately makes for a strong backcourt featuring one of the league's top scorers in Edwards and flashy playmakers in LaMelo Ball.
ESPN's NBA insider Brian Windhorst said the move was to help Edwards after seeing former teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, traded to New York, where he won a championship. ESPN's insider then sent out a strong warning to opposing teams about this new combination of Edwards and Ball, suggesting it's going to become even harder to gamble on double teams at Ant-Man.
Read More on NBA
"He’s tired of being double-teamed. They get him a dynamic scorer in the backcourt. You throw a double at Ant Edwards with Lamelo Ball on the court, you are playing with fire. Lamelo will drop 10 3s on you in a blink of an eye," Windhorst stated on ESPN's "Get Up" about the move.
More news: Timberwolves Land LaMelo Ball to Pair With Anthony Edwards in Trade: Report
...
Ball has knocked down 3s at 36.5% for his career. He shot an average of 10.3 3s a game last season for the Hornets, and connected on an average of 3.8 per game.
Making things scarier is that if he starts to go off from long range, teams might be scrambling to contain him rather than focusing on Edwards, who is also dangerous from many spots on the court.
Edwards averaged 28.8 points per game last season, which included him attempting 8.4 3s a game and connecting on 36.9% of them.
The Ball trade arrived just days after Minnesota traded away Julius Randle, whom they previously traded Towns to the New York Knicks for. Randle will now look to star with the struggling Brooklyn Nets.
It's clear the Timberwolves are now headed in a new direction, and this backcourt could provide the boost they need. Along with their star guards, they still boast big man Rudy Gobert in the frontcourt.
Minnesota seemed capable of defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the recent NBA Playoffs. Having two dynamic scorers and playmakers in Ball and Edwards could be the move that further helps their cause.
More news: WNBA Faces Backlash Over Caitlin Clark 30th Anniversary Poster Snub
For more about the NBA, head over to Newsweek Sports.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines