When looking at the LaMelo Ball trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves' perspective, some people wondered how Chris Finch would connect with him. I get it to some extent. The most obvious example of a "Chris Finch guy" is Mike Conely -- a high-IQ veteran point guard. Ball has a clear erratic side to his game, and it's fair to wonder how this could mesh with Finch.
However, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic made it clear that Finch wasn't just okay with the trade --he was all in on it.
"The Charlotte Hornets had finally expressed a willingness to engage in discussions for former All-Star LaMelo Ball, a player Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and head coach Chris Finch had long believed was the ideal backcourt running mate for Anthony Edwards," Krawczynski said.
Again, Ball might not be a classic Finch guy, and I'm sure there will be some moments of tough love and/or frustration. Still, Finch understands that this team needs a point guard next to Anthony Edwards, and that Ball was the best realistic option to fill the void.
Chris Finch is all in on the LaMelo Ball trade, and it's easy to see why
Another factor is that Finch's personality has allowed him to connect with a variety of different players. While Finch is hard on young players, he is, by all accounts, a player's coach. With all due respect, few coaches would mesh with Julius Randle to the degree that Finch did.
Ball can help solve the Timberwolves' fatal flaws, and Finch is clearly sold on this idea.
Finch's ability to build relationships with players while simultaneously being able to provide discipline and structure makes him well-suited to help LaMelo level up. In the second half of last season, in particular, Ball showed immense growth in the decision-making department while proving that he is comfortable playing more of a facilitator role.
What we saw from LaMelo at the end of last season is perhaps the single biggest reason I'm confident that he can contribute to winning basketball in Minnesota. Finch and the Wolves' established culture can further improve some of Ball's subpar shot selection.
At 24, Ball can prove that he is a winning player, and Finch can help maximize this.
The Timberwolves have long needed a point guard alongside Ant-Man, and this problem hit a breaking point in the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs. Minnesota's lack of ball-handling and creation alongside Ant made it easy for opposing teams to double-team him. Likewise, having another player who can initiate offense as a playmaker and creator will unlock another layer of versatility in the Wolves' offense.
When looking at a player who can take the pressure off Edwards on the ball, while having the skill set to complement him off the ball, LaMelo checks these boxes in a major way.
Of course, Tim Connelly and Edwards understand the importance of this, but perhaps nobody understands this need more than Finch. As hinted at earlier, LaMelo will unlock some more versatility in the Wolves' offense, which Finch is surely delighted about.
Ultimately, Finch's belief in the LaMelo-Ant duo should help ensure that things go smoothly for the Timberwolves.
