Charlie Walton

“Quarterback” is a buzzword in Minnesota right now. The Minnesota Vikings are pivoting from quarterback Kyler Murray, who has a Grade 2 calf strain and has looked uncomfortable in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, to 33-year-old backup Carson Wentz ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the Buffalo Bills Monday night. The Vikings need a single caller who can consistently set up a quality offense in the biggest moments. They need a quarterback comfortable operating their offense. Last year, the Minnesota Timberwolves were in similar need for a quarterback-like presence in their lineup. And 11 games into this season, that is exactly the type of player LaMelo Ball has turned into for them. "He’s just a magical player,” Chris Finch said after the Timberwolves’ 115-109 win over the New Orleans Pelicans Friday. “He’s so much fun to play with, and he creates so much great offense for his teammates. But I really am proud of the way he’s competing at the other end of the floor." In August, Chris Finch saw similarities between the Vikings’ ongoing quarterback situation and the Wolves’ point guard situation. The head coach believed both teams experienced volatility at those positions, especially around young players. The Vikings tried to make it work with J.J. McCarthy. The Wolves tried to make it work with Rob Dillingham. But both of those young play callers are now elsewhere, and teams pivoted to more experienced options. The Vikings signed Murray this summer, and the Wolves traded for Ball. “These are moves that make Justin [Jefferson] a better player, give him a chance to be a better player … Same with Anthony,” Finch said on KFAN in August. “Anthony is a phenomenal player, but it’s too much to ask for him to be double-teamed every single night and try to be his best self.” Double teams and blitzing defenses forced the Wolves to look for a point guard who could take the pressure off Edwards. In four games together, Ball and Edwards operated well — Ant scored at an MVP level in an off-ball role, and Ball set up his offense. But then, on Oct. 29, Edwards underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee that will sideline him for multiple months. As any good quarterback would with their No. 1 receiver, Ball put in ample time working with Edwards in the off-season. But within an instant, Ball lost his trusty No. 1 option. Edwards’ injury thrust Ball into an even bigger role for the Wolves. He led the offense as the lone All-Star in the backcourt and played more aggressively. Ball had been that player for seven years with the Charlotte Hornets. Now, he's that player for his new team at a time when they need him most. “I feel like he’s played the same way his whole life,” Jaylen Clark said regarding Ball at Sunday’s practice. “I feel like he’s always had that natural balance of being able to be the engine of the team and also, if he needs to, go get some points.” The Timberwolves are on a four-game winning streak. They last won Sunday night against the Utah Jazz at Target Center. The Wolves beat Utah 115-100 in a sloppy game for both sides. But for the fourth straight game, Ball was Minnesota's quarterback, driving a quality offense. Ball is averaging 25 points per game over the last four. He’s shooting 52.2% from the floor and 44.7% from deep. Ball is also averaging 5.5 assists, but also 4.5 turnovers. Even with the giveaways, though, Chris Finch already has confidence in Ball leading his team’s offense. “You just feel like, when you put the ball in his hands time and time again, you’re going to get the right play,” Finch said ahead of Sunday’s game. “He’s really been outstanding, and a lot of guys are getting easy looks.” Ball is second in the NBA in total turnovers committed (44). In a picture-perfect world, he would set up quality offense for his teammates with minimal giveaways — like Mike Conley once did for the Wolves. But Ball is a much different type of floor general than Connelly. Ball makes passes without being risk-averse. He will toss a lob from beyond the halfcourt line or a no-look check-down to Rudy Gobert at the rim. Sometimes, those risky passes lead to turnovers. But the high number of giveaways is justifiable because, more often than not, those risky passes spark sustainable offense for the Wolves. In Finch’s eyes, some turnovers are good. “We've been a high turnover team historically,” Finch said during the preseason. “But if we're trying to do the right thing, sometimes I think it's overblown. I'll say, turnovers are overrated sometimes." Over the last four games, Ball has balanced long-range three-point attempts with attacks to the rim. His threes — even the side-step, one-legged ones — help replace Edwards’ shooting and are an essential spark of magic in Minnesota’s starting lineup. But when Ball bursts past an opposing team’s perimeter defense, he collapses the defense and becomes the reliable quarterback the Wolves need to run their offense. On the road Friday, the Wolves faced rugged point-of-attack pressure from the New Orleans Pelicans. The type of pressure that probably led to a Wolves loss last season. But Ball dismantled New Orleans’ pressure, finishing with 22 points and eight assists. The Wolves beat the Pelicans 115-109 and outscored New Orleans by 23 with Ball on the court. In the 35 minutes with Ball on the court, the Wolves shot 54% from the floor, 65.7% from 2-point range, and 39.3% from deep. In the 12 minutes with him on the bench, the Wolves shot 16% from the floor, 21.4% from 2-point range, 9.1% from deep, and were outscored by 17 points. The Vikings are still looking for their quarterback of the future. They are still looking for a leader who can consistently spark a winning offense. Meanwhile, the Wolves have found theirs. Ball has settled in as a single-caller who promotes a winning offense. He’s not doing it with check-downs and safe plays, but with a captivating, risk-willing vigor that he balances with the leadership every team needs from its QB1.