In the Western Conference, all eyes are on the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, but there’s another team that could challenge their place at the top this season: the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With two Conference Finals appearances over the last three years, Minnesota was already in a good spot to begin the summer. Now, after the acquisition of LaMelo Ball, they see an opportunity for progress, but the work has only just begun. That’s why, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, both Anthony Edwards and LaMelo have made arrangements to work out with their teammates this summer. Specifically, they are planning to link up with star big man Rudy Gobert in France.
“I know that they are already discussing getting the team together and going to Paris to work out with Rudy Gobert,” said Krawczynski. “These are the kinds of things that are starting to formulate with this group, and Anthony is taking on a lot of that initiative. This has been brought on by those two guys, by Ant and LaMelo. They’ve decided to do this; they are leading the way with this; they are organizing things with their teammates to try and figure out something along those lines. So, I think that especially will resonate with Rudy Gobert.”
Edwards and Ball are both young and relatively unproven NBA stars, and there are many doubts about their fit together. Nevertheless, with a roster that can rival the best teams in the league, the star guards are determined to make it work by setting the tone early and building chemistry before playing a single game together.
“They are organizing things with their teammates to try and figure out something. Heading across the water and coming to his town to work with him will go a long way… They are not going to The Bahamas; they are going right into Rudy’s backyard. So that is a very meaningful gesture and a calculated decision to do it that way. So, it’s really important, and that goes to what I’ve heard early on about LaMelo’s presence. He’s a vibes guy.”
Last season, the Timberwolves finished sixth in the West at 49-33, only to lose in the West Semi-Finals. If they want to do better this season, it starts with establishing the right culture in the locker room. Fortunately, despite a history of questionable decisions from LaMelo, the vibes couldn’t be better in Minnesota as their young stars take initiative.
For Gobert, it’s a promising sign that things are headed in the right direction. As a defense specialist with career averages of 12.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game on 68.2% shooting, his performance will play a major role in the Timberwolves’ success. As his teammate for the past four seasons now, Anthony Edwards knows of Rudy’s importance and how essential it is for him to be properly integrated with this new-look roster.
Ultimately, only time will tell how this saga plays out in Minnesota, but they will be a team to watch for the foreseeable future. With so much time between now and training camp, they can get a major head start on maximizing their potential as a team, and it could make the difference between success and failure this season.
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