Timberwolves’ vital request to LaMelo Ball amid ‘unserious’ allegations

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a big gamble this offseason when they traded Naz Reid and future draft compensation to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for point guard LaMelo Ball. While the move is sure to give Anthony Edwards the most dynamic playmaker he’s ever played alongside, the trade didn’t come without its skeptics.

Many have pointed to Ball’s alleged lack of maturity as a reason to be wary of the trade, and recently, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch spoke on what the team would like to see differently out of the point guard this year.

“We see what people see in those critiques. There’s no doubt we’re going to ask him to clean up the shot selection a little bit. There’s no doubt that in the West where we are, every minute of basketball is going to be meaningful, and I think he’s looking forward to that,” said Finch, per Chris Hine of The Minnesota Star Tribune.

Hine also noted that “The word ‘unserious’ gets thrown around a lot with Ball because of his flashy passes and deep three-point attempts. The Wolves, meanwhile, see a great teammate whose joy for the game is going to help their franchise and invigorate Edwards.”

Indeed, many have taken issue with Ball’s seeming recklessness on the court sometimes, which can lead to viral highlights but also backbreaking turnovers. While there’s no doubting the former lottery pick’s ability, it will be interesting to see how his game translates to a system where he will be entering a season expected to win at a high level for the first time in his career.

In any case, the Timberwolves’ schedule for the 2026-27 season is expected to be released at some point next month.