Wolves flip to Edwards in wake of Cities commerce

MINNEAPOLIS — When Karl-Anthony Towns was shipped to the New York Knicks late Friday for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round decide, Anthony Edwards was on a airplane.

When he landed, a stunned Edwards traded textual content messages along with his former teammate, who despatched an image of himself standing within the crew’s follow facility, maybe for the final time, at 3 a.m.

“I believe everyone is aware of [Towns] is my brother,” Edwards mentioned Monday throughout the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ media day. “In order that undoubtedly hurts, however you realize, it is a enterprise, so I simply must roll with it.”

Over the previous 72 hours, the Timberwolves have undergone large adjustments simply earlier than coaching camp. And people adjustments are creating uncertainty about new lineups and the best way the additions will bond with the present roster.

However the Timberwolves, whose high leaders declined to touch upon Cities as a result of the commerce has not been formally introduced, additionally had a special message: If it wasn’t already clear, that is indisputably Edwards’ crew.

“We proceed to problem [Edwards] as a result of we expect he could be probably the greatest gamers ever and we do not say that flippantly,” crew president Tim Connelly mentioned. “And with that expectation comes large duty.”

Edwards, by no means one to shrink from the second, agreed with Connelly’s projection.

“I believe he is proper,” he mentioned.

Edwards mentioned a summer season on the Olympics crew with Steph Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant helped him perceive the sacrifices essential to realize his targets. However Edwards mentioned he is aware of he should keep dedicated to get there.

“Simply working. I really feel like that is the one approach, man. All people talks about it,” he mentioned about Connelly’s feedback. “I imply, the one approach is to only work and exit on the courtroom and simply consider it. I believe a number of guys received an opportunity to be actually nice at this recreation, however I believe they simply do not consider it. I believe some guys put the work in, however do not consider it. Some guys consider it and do not put the work in. So I consider it and I put the work in. So if it do not occur, it do not. If it do, it do. In all probability will.”

Connelly mentioned that due to the brand new collective bargaining settlement he has studied groups throughout leagues, together with the NFL, to see how they’ve constructed round stars. The NBA’s CBA consists of the second apron provision that considerably impacts a squad’s potential to construct a roster as a result of monetary constraints.

The purpose is to boost a title contender in Minneapolis by focusing, Connelly mentioned, on a younger participant who completed seventh within the MVP race final yr as its nucleus.

The primary years of Cities’ four-year, $224 million deal and Edwards’ five-year, $244 million contract begin this season.

“I imply the brand new guidelines are … among the penalties are unintended, fairly frankly,” Connelly mentioned. “I do not know if anybody supposed to make it this difficult to make strikes, to make trades if you’re above sure aprons. However you gotta be sensible, you gotta be fortunate, you gotta hit on a few of your draft picks after which I believe you need to, as a lot as potential, construct groups that may keep collectively for a number of years.

“As a result of I believe there will likely be a number of turnover simply due to the funds changing into quickly so huge for a few of these groups. I do not know if it’s going to be precisely just like the NFL, however we have studied completely different leagues, we have studied the NFL extensively, how they’ve type of accomplished these issues.”

Cities added a singular dynamic to the crew as a 7-footer who has made 40% of his 3-point makes an attempt throughout his profession. He’ll get replaced by Randle, a former All-Star and a profession 33% shooter from past the arc.

Rudy Gobert mentioned he’ll miss Cities on each the skilled and private ranges. He mentioned “time reveals” the winner of the commerce, however the adjustments are certain to change the Timberwolves on the courtroom.

“It’ll be a course of even for us as a crew, adjusting to not having [Towns],” Gobert mentioned. “It’ll in all probability make us play a special model of basketball.”

But Edwards stays the focus, as he was final season when he led the franchise to the Western Convention finals for the primary time in 20 years. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch mentioned Edwards can nonetheless enhance in a number of areas.

“We’re nonetheless a crew primarily based on motion, chopping, fluidity,” he mentioned. “We have to reestablish that. A few of that burden additionally falls on Anthony to maneuver and accommodate his teammates on the market, too. We additionally noticed final yr within the playoffs that groups are dedicated to giving two defenders for certain and oftentimes three [to guard him].”

Edwards mentioned the Olympics run helped him as a result of he performed the “finest basketball of my life” in 5-on-5 matchups towards future Corridor of Famers. He additionally mentioned he spent extra time within the weight room this summer season to organize for the upcoming season.

Whereas he mentioned it was “too quickly” to elaborate on the lack of Cities, he mentioned he has little question about his potential to succeed in the legendary standing these round him consider he can obtain.

“[I want to be] the man that the crew wants me to be,” he mentioned, “whether or not it is scoring, passing, defending, getting rebounds or simply displaying everyone that I am coachable. As a result of [Finch], he coaches exhausting, man. So simply being a pacesetter by instance, simply letting him coach me and never saying something again. You recognize, being a superb participant.”