What happened: LaMelo Ball enters his seventh season set to wear No. 1 with Minnesota. The offseason work pairs him with Timberwolves teammates before the 2026-27 debut.

Why it matters: Minnesota opens 2026-27 with a new lead-guard combination to integrate. Early reps define backcourt roles and rotation order before camp.

What to watch: Training camp will show the starting backcourt alignment for opening night.