As a team, one of the Wolves' biggest issues has been staying healthy. The main issues are the two guys making the big bucks: Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell. Those two are supposed to be the two guys who elevate Minnesota from a bottom feeder each year to a playoff team. Unfortunately, they have only shared the floor together five times since the trade happened last year. I would like to see what this team could do with the entire team healthy for a long stretch before there are any major overreactions (which, as we all know, Minnesota fans are really good at).
Although Ant's stats are not anything to go crazy over, if you watch the games you can clearly see the potential that this dude has. His ability to shoot it from deep along with his explosiveness and bounce off of the dribble are things for Minnesota fans to get excited about. Along with that, you can just tell that he is still a very raw prospect who has so much room to grow. He has been making and will continue to make a lot of "rookie mistakes" as the year goes on, but that is to be expected. Plus, it seems that it will not matter all that much considering that the Wolves are pretty much already out of playoff contention.
Another thing I love about this guy is just his personality and swagger. You watch him in shows and interviews and he is just a genuinely funny and likable guy. You see the clip of him and Draymond Green going back in forth in game. These are just the types of things you love to see out of the guy you just spent your number one draft pick on.
In my opinion, Edwards has a pretty high ceiling with all of the tools he has. Dwyane Wade even came out and said "I definitely think he can be a better player than I was." That is pretty high praise from the 3 time champ and one of the best shooting guards of all time. They do have some similarities that are enticing to look at, such as their athleticism and explosiveness off the dribble as well their crafty scoring.
I absolutely hate saying this as a Timberwolves fan sometimes, but what I have been seeing from Ant makes me feel kind of good about a team lead by Towns and Edwards in the future, along with the very encouraging play of shooting guard Malik Beasley, who has arguably been the Wolves best player this season as of right now. In fact, I am willing to go out there and say that I think he is actually a better player than D'Angelo Russell. But, that is a separate conversation to be had another time. Honestly, I will feel especially good about the Wolves future if they are able to retain their draft pick this upcoming offseason (their pick was traded to the Warriors in the Russell trade and is top 3 protected). All of a sudden this team would have a lot of potential moving forward. But, like I said, as a Wolves fan, words like "potential" are words that I am very sick and tired of hearing. As an almost 19 year old, I have been thinking about the potential the Timberwolves have for the future ever since I can even remember watching.
