Anthony Edwards is betting big on Minnesota’s defense holding steady after the Timberwolves’ summer shakeup, but the challenge waiting in front of them is obvious.
At a recent practice, Edwards said the Wolves still have the kind of personnel to be elite on that end of the floor. “I think defensively we can really be a super team on that end,” he said via TalkBasket.
That confidence comes as Minnesota pivots after making a major trade for LaMelo Ball and trying to build around a more powerful offense. The problem is that Ball changes the equation in a way that’s hard to ignore. Edwards may believe the Timberwolves can remain one of the league’s best defensive teams, but the idea of calling this group a defensive super team with Ball in the mix feels like a stretch.
There’s no shortage of defenders around him. Rudy Gobert remains one of the best defenders in NBA history.
Jaden McDaniels is among the league’s top forward defenders. Ayo Dosunmu can hold his own on that side of the ball.
Edwards can defend at the point of attack. Jaylen Clark can guard.
Even Jonathan Kuminga should be able to survive with his athleticism.
Still, the issue is the same possession after possession: Ball is going to be the target. Opponents are going to attack him relentlessly, and Minnesota won’t be able to hide it forever.
The Timberwolves have covered for weaker defenders before, but this looks different. Ball is expected to log 30-35 minutes a night, which means the Wolves will spend a lot of time managing that matchup. Gobert and McDaniels will be the ones asked to absorb the damage and clean up the breakdowns.
That’s a heavy burden, even with a four-time Defensive Player of the Year behind you. Teams will keep coming at Ball, and Gobert will have to be the safety net when they get by him.
In Other News...
Anthony Edwards Knows What This New Timberwolves Team Is Chasing
Minnesotas offseason has already given the Timberwolves a noticeably different look, and Anthony Edwards sounds as eager as anyone to see what it becomes. After a run to the Western Conference semifinals, the front office went out and added LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga, a pair of talented newcomers who raise the ceiling of a team that was already squarely in the playoff conversation.
Edwards, the face of the franchise, has made clear he likes where this is headed and sees the group chasing something bigger than another strong regular season. The Western Conference is still loaded, of course, which is why the next step matters so much for Minnesota, and why Edwards health and the fit of the new roster will loom as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
LaMelo Ball Could Change Everything About The Wolves Offense
LaMelo Ball has already started settling in with the Timberwolves after arriving in late June, and the early signs around the group suggest Minnesota believes it added more than just another talented guard. Ball is expected to function as a primary offensive option and facilitator, giving the Wolves a different kind of pressure point alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert while the team continues to sort out how its offense can look with another high-end creator in the mix.
What stands out so far is how naturally Ball has begun fitting into the room, with teammates sounding encouraged by the way he has blended into the group in the opening stages. Chris Finch has also pointed to the positive effect Ball has had on the team, a promising development for a club that needs its new pieces to click quickly if it wants this move to change the shape of its offense. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Edwards Finally Sounds Past A Wolves Concern Fans Felt All Summer
Anthony Edwards spent the summer answering the same concern Wolves fans kept circling back to after last season: how his body would bounce back after the knee issues that slowed him down. Edwards said he needed about two months to fully recover from the runners knee and the playoff hyperextension with the bone bruise, and he acknowledged that the layoff led to some weight gain before he worked his way back into shape.
That update matters because Minnesota is finally moving from recovery talk to basketball again, with the preseason opener now on deck and the team still sorting out its early camp tone. Chris Finch also noted rookie Isaiah Evans progress, while former coach Tom Thibodeau made a visit to training camp, a reminder that there is plenty of attention around the Wolves even before the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]