The Minnesota Timberwolves have spent the offseason trying to build a better runway for Anthony Edwards, but that hasn’t stopped the noise around his long-term future.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report is already floating a troubling possibility: that Edwards could be one of the next stars to ask out if Minnesota keeps coming up short. Buckley pointed to the chatter that has already started around the league, writing, "Maybe that's why "NBA vultures are swirling around Ant in anticipation of him potentially becoming the next superstar who's available in the trade market," as ESPN's Tim MacMahon relayed on Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective in June. Granted, the Ball blockbuster hadn't happened then, but that trade is hardly guaranteed to get things realigned for Minnesota.
"The Timberwolves are, to their credit, at least willing to take risks in hopes of making this work, but risks can obviously go wrong. And if Minnesota, which hasn't cracked 50 wins since, wobbles out of the gate next season, those vultures will only feel better about their chances of swiping a superstar."
That’s the backdrop for a franchise that has tried, and failed, to keep Edwards on a clear path toward contention. The Timberwolves took him No. 1 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, and the Georgia native has become the face of the team. But the results have not caught up to the talent.
Minnesota has not gotten Edwards over the hump, and the blame doesn’t sit on his shoulders alone. The roster around him has been a moving target, and even after the team’s aggressive offseason, there’s still a real question about whether the Wolves are any closer to title contention.
The addition of All-Star guard LaMelo Ball gives Minnesota a new piece to work with, but the overall picture is still shaky. Moving off Julius Randle and Naz Reid leaves the frontcourt thinner than before, and what used to be a strength now looks like a soft spot. Right now, Rudy Gobert is the only reliable frontcourt presence on the roster.
Edwards is entering his seventh season, and the pressure only grows from here. If the Timberwolves stumble again, the idea of the 24-year-old eventually wanting out will only get louder.
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Summer League will offer the first clear checkpoint, and it should reveal whether Beringer is moving beyond raw tools and into dependable production. The biggest questions are familiar for a young big: staying disciplined on defense without getting into foul trouble, and adding more to his game offensively than just finishing plays around the rim. If he can show progress in those areas, Minnesotas frontcourt picture gets a lot more interesting. [Read more 🡒]