Anthony Edwards Trade Speculation Slammed by Bill Simmons

A recent hot take from former player and now ESPN analyst, Kendrick Perkins, suggested that Edwards could be among those players demanding a trade, should his team fail to succeed.

“If Anthony Edwards don’t reach the NBA Finals, he’s gonna request a trade from Minnesota,” Perkins told his co-stars on Road Trippin.

During Road Trippin, Perkins’ co-stars Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye suggested that probably won't happen. Allie Clifton informed them that in 2025-26, Edwards will earn a base salary of $45 million.

Perkins' hot take became immediate headline material and went viral among fans, which prompted well-known sportswriter and podcaster Bill Simmons to weigh in.

“Why do we have to do this with the NBA? I never understand it," he recently said on his The Bill Simmons Podcast.

"Can't we just have good things? He likes Minnesota, the team's good. They made the conference finals two years in a row. What are we doing?" Simmons asked during the podcast.

Edwards stands to get a significant upgrade in terms of his contract with the Timberwolves, based on his performance so far during his career.

The 2020 NBA Draft's No. 1 pick is a three-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA Second Team member. He's likely to achieve All-NBA First Team at some point. Last season, he achieved career highs with 27.6 points per game and 39.5% three-point shooting. 

And so far he’s remained healthy, which is great for a Timberwolves team that is returning most of its key roster members, and a rookie, Joan Beringer, that seems like one of the big steals of this year’s draft.

Oklahoma City remains a problem in the Western Conference, and now the Houston Rockets, with the addition of Durant have entered into the equation. The Rockets are KD's latest attempt to add more championships following failed attempts with the Phoenix Suns.

The Timberwolves are still contenders with improving young players. The front office is likely to keep adapting in an attempt to build the type of team to keep Edwards happy and increase his chances to succeed.

And when the time is right, he'll likely get achieve a significant contract as the franchise's cornerstone.

While it's happened KD and other stars, it would be surprising to see Ant-Man depart Minnesota based on the team's potential to ultimately reach the NBA Finals and capture their first-ever championship.