Minnesota Timberwolves: A new era begins with Anthony Edwards

A new era for the Minnesota Timberwolves begins

Anthony Edwards was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA Draft with hopes that he will be a player that changes the fortunes of their franchise that has struggled in recent years.

There is no denying Edwards’s talent as he displayed incredible potential as a freshman at the University of Georgia. He is such an explosive scorer and has drawn comparisons to future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade.

Edwards is motivated and inspired by his mother and grandmother who both lost battles to cancer. Edwards said that “he wouldn’t be where he is now without them” and it’s easy to see just how much they impacted his life as he paid tribute to them on draft night.

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Edwards is probably the most NBA-ready prospect in the draft and should be able to contribute immediately in the Wolves backcourt. A backcourt duo of Edwards and D’Angelo Russell could develop into one of the best in the league over the next couple of seasons as both players should complement each other with Russell’s ability to get the ball in the hands of playmakers combined with Edwards’s ability to finish strong at the basket.

His explosiveness should serve him well in transition, especially with his size at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds along with his 6-foot-9 wingspan. Edwards has ridiculous footwork, shifty moves, and is equipped with a wicked step back. However, there are phases of his game that he must improve to be successful at the next level.

While at Georgia, his shot selection was poor and while he was the best player on the team and given the green light, he will have to focus on taking better shots and working to get open creating separation. He must also show more effort defensively and be willing to defend as he will have to defend the elite shooting guards in the league.

If he can improve those areas of his game, the Wolves will have another player in their arsenal to build around. Edwards is a player the Wolves can plug into their starting lineup immediately and could form an outstanding inside/outside combination with star center Karl Anthony-Towns. The Wolves are hoping that Edwards won’t turn out to be another Andrew Wiggins and that he can eventually become a franchise cornerstone once he adjusts to the league.

Hopefully, this selection will work out for both the Wolves and Edwards alike as they will attempt to get into playoff contention in the Western Conference. The presence of Edwards should improve this team as he will bring an exciting brand of basketball that should result in W’s in the win column.

The sky is the limit for Anthony Edwards if he develops a work ethic and stays focused as he could develop into a future superstar.