Anthony Edwards has pieced together a sensational first year for the Minnesota Timberwolves, culminating in a race for the Rookie of the Year Award with LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets. Ant has seen a larger-than-expected role that started in the infant stages of the season when, one by one, the Wolves roster was decimated by injury. He capitalized on the additional workload and elevated status on the floor. As Year 1 winds down, it’s hard not to be excited about what his sophomore season may have in store for him.
Ant has shown improvement in his rookie season, and the comfortability he has on the floor is staggering for a 19-year-old. To say he has exceeded pre-season expectations would be an understatement. But he could get even better next season.
If the Wolves can mold him into a better facilitator, it would be a boon for both Edwards and the Timberwolves. He’s averaging 2.8 assists per game so far this season, and his usage assist percentage rests at 16%. These aren’t bad numbers for a rookie who isn’t a point guard. But lest we forget, Chris Finch said multiple times in his introductory press conference that one of the main goals of his offense would be to get the ball in the hands of the best players early in possessions. The way Ant has looked, he figures to be one of the best players on the roster.
The suggestion here isn’t that Ant take over as a floor general. But while he’s already so good at getting his own shot in any given situation on the floor, it would serve both him and the team better if he could elevate his playmaking skills for those around him. As a comparison, albeit an unfair one, LaMelo Ball has a whopping 37% in the usage assist category. He is a point guard and is the maestro for the Hornets, but if Ant could even take his 16% to 25% next year, it would bode well for Minnesota.
Look at what Zion Williamson is doing with the New Orleans Pelicans, what Julius Randle is doing for the New York Knicks. These are forwards who have transitioned to point-forwards and are incredible at getting their own while also putting their teammates in the best position to succeed. And if the debate is that Zion and Randle are on a different level, isn’t that now the expectation for Edwards? When you’re the No. 1 pick, there are instantly lofty expectations for you. The way Ant has played this year, he certainly has the look of a potential superstar. If he can improve his facilitation, it’s a win-win for Minnesota.
Ant’s game has other avenues for improvement. His 3-point shooting leaves a lot to be desired at times, but those numbers figure to go up with more reps. A lot of his defensive miscues are team-orientated and not specifically on Edwards. It doesn’t give him a hall pass, but the whole roster needs a fresh outlook on that side of the floor. That’s why the single most important thing he could do to elevate the team is to sharpen his playmaking and help set up everyone around him.
The likelihood of such an improvement seems well within reach. More and more NBA teams are shying away from needing a traditional point guard; instead, they have their best players take it up the court to get the offense in motion. Finch’s steadfast belief in getting the ball into the hands of the best players as much as possible is gaining more steam throughout the league. Look no further than this year’s likely MVP.
Nikola Jokic has been a monster again for the Denver Nuggets. Sure, when Jamal Murray is healthy, he is the point guard and one of the key orchestrators of the offense. However, the system works through Jokic bringing the ball up, working at the top of the key, and doing whatever is necessary to get teammates involved. Again, the ask is not for Ant to become a point guard but to take on more of a role that other non-point-guard stars do for their teams.
So what will Edwards be focusing on at season’s end?
Interestingly enough, Edwards was recently asked about his plans for offseason workouts and areas of improvement. Ant answered in a way that only he can.
Out of all the incredible, hilarious, brutally honest quotes from Edwards this year, this might not even rank in the top 10. And it’s still great. What will also be great is seeing how much more polished he is entering his second season. If part of that is becoming a Houdini-like facilitator, Minnesota will sign up for that.
