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By Anne Erickson
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The Minnesota Timberwolves made one thing super clear this offseason.
It's easy to see what that is, too. They aren't going to sit around and hope Anthony Edwards figures everything out by himself.
They know what they have. Edwards is a super talented player, and teams don't get many chances to build around someone with that kind of talent. So, instead of taking the safe route, Minnesota pushed its chips in and made a move that could completely change the way this team looks when the games matter most.
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The biggest addition is LaMelo Ball, a player who brings a type of offensive creativity the Timberwolves haven't really had next to Edwards. Ball can create shots, find teammates in ways most players can't and give Minnesota another guy defenses have to worry about every possession.
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The price was steep. The Timberwolves gave up Naz Reid, an unprotected first-round pick, and three swaps to make the deal happen. That's the kind of move that gets remembered one way or another. Either everyone looks back and says Minnesota found the perfect running mate for Edwards, or they wonder if the gamble was too much.
There are obvious questions. Ball's injury history is real, and his ability to consistently impact winning has been debated throughout his career. This isn't the kind of move that works in the background. It feels like one of those changes that either turns out extra well or creates a mess.
Still, the Timberwolves weren't going for comfort. They were shooting for a higher ceiling.
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Losing Reid, Julius Randle and Mike Conley changes the personality of the roster, but Minnesota clearly believes the next version of this team needed a different look. Josh Green and Isaiah Evans add more youth, while Ball gives the offense another gear.
The Western Conference doesn't leave much room for hesitation. The Timberwolves had a star, a window and a reason to believe they were close. Now, they're betting that Edwards finally has the kind of help that can turn close into something much bigger.
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