Ceiling, floor for Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards-powered team primed for playoff run?
After back-to-back playoff appearances, the Minnesota Timberwolves look to assert themselves as a true contender in the West.
Ceiling: 47-35 and a playoff run for Anthony Edwards and Co.
Minnesota rightfully gave Anthony Edwards a five-year extension this summer that could pay him up to $260 million. The former No. 1 overall pick has seen his points, field-goal percentage, three-point percentage, rebounds, assists and steals all increase in each of his NBA seasons. Last season, Edwards averaged 24.6 points and earned his first All-Star nod.
Edwards will share the backcourt with veteran Mike Conley, who the team acquired at last year's deadline. At 36, Conley is on the back end of his prime but is a far more fluid and consistent fit in Minnesota's starting five than D'Angelo Russell was. Conley shot 42% from three in 24 games for the team last season.
On the wing, Jaden McDaniels may be on the verge of a breakout in his fourth season. The former first-round pick was one of the biggest snubs for last season's All-Defensive teams, finishing as the lone player in the league with at least 75 blocks and 70 steals. He also shot 39.8% from beyond the arc and has grown two inches over the summer, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
Minnesota has a ton of money tied up in their frontcourt — $443 million among Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid — but the talent is undeniable. If the Timberwolves can find the right rotation for their slew of bigs and Edwards takes another step toward stardom, a five-win bump and deep playoff run is in the cards.
Floor: 42-40 with another play-in visit and questions in the frontcourt
With Towns playing just 29 games in 2022-23, the jury is still out on how the three-time All-Star will mesh with Gobert for an entire season. The initial returns were average at best, as Minnesota went 16-16 (including play-in tournament and playoffs) with the duo in their lineup.
If Towns were to miss an extended period of time this season, Minnesota is not equipped with a viable secondary scoring option behind Edwards. No player on the current roster beyond Edwards and Towns averaged more than 14 points last season.
At the very least, the Timberwolves should again find themselves in play-in contention with an opportunity to punch a ticket to the playoffs for a third consecutive season. However, if Minnesota's trio of bigs proves to be a shoddy fit, trade talks surrounding Towns and Gobert will heat up around the deadline.
More must-reads: