Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch believes the crew put an excessive amount of on Anthony Edwards’ shoulders final season, and he says that realization straight influenced the franchise’s decision to acquire LaMelo Ball.
Showing on the Street Trippin’ podcast, Finch defined that asking Edwards to perform as the first ball-handler restricted one of many NBA’s most explosive scorers and made Minnesota’s offense simpler to defend in the course of the playoffs.
“Within the playoffs it was simply double crew after double crew,” Finch stated. “We bought to get him again to his pure place off the ball. We didn’t create sufficient catch-and-shoot threes for him.”
Finch pointed to Ball’s affect on teammates as proof that the Timberwolves’ new backcourt pairing may unlock Edwards offensively.
“Once you have a look at the numbers with LaMelo on the ground together with his teammates and the effectivity and the manufacturing, I imply Kon Knueppel shot 7% greater from the three-point line with LaMelo on the ground than he did with out. I imply that’s a large stat for a terrific shooter and that’s an enormous bump for a terrific shooter,” he stated.
The feedback present the clearest rationalization but for Minnesota’s aggressive offseason reshaping. The Timberwolves acquired Ball to take over major playmaking duties, permitting Edwards to spend extra possessions attacking defenses as an off-ball scorer somewhat than initiating each possession.
Edwards nonetheless delivered one other excellent particular person marketing campaign in 2025-26 regardless of the heavier workload. The All-Star capturing guard averaged 28.8 factors, 5.0 rebounds and three.7 assists whereas capturing 48.9% from the sector and 39.9% from three throughout 61 regular-season video games. Nevertheless, Minnesota completed 49-33, sixth within the Western Convention, earlier than being eradicated by the San Antonio Spurs in six video games in the course of the convention semifinals.
In response to Finch, the postseason uncovered the constraints of relying so closely on Edwards as the first creator. Opposing defenses constantly trapped him, forcing the ball out of his arms and limiting clear scoring alternatives.
The group responded by restructuring its roster round a Ball-Edwards backcourt. Minnesota also moved on from Julius Randle as a part of its offseason overhaul, signaling a dedication to constructing an offense with higher spacing, ball motion and secondary playmaking.
Finch additionally addressed one other matter from the Spurs collection that drew consideration: Edwards strolling towards San Antonio’s bench earlier than the ultimate buzzer of the elimination game.
The sequence sparked criticism from some observers, who believed Edwards was leaving the courtroom early. Finch stated that interpretation was inaccurate.
“I feel it’s in all probability one of many extra misunderstood issues that really has occurred,” Finch stated. “I noticed him stroll down there after which when he got here again, I stated, ‘You’re not going to the locker room, are you?’ As a result of that might have been a nasty look.”
In response to Finch, Edwards instantly reassured him.
“He goes, ‘Hell no, coach. I’m staying out right here for my guys.’ He needed to simply when the buzzer sounded he needed to go as a result of he’s upset and what he went by means of to get again and playin’ that collection was admirable. I imply all of us was in awe of what he was in a position to do.”
