Minnesota Timberwolves: What each 2020 draft night addition brings to the Wolves
By Kayne Rob
With the 2020 NBA Draft in the books, it’s time to look at what each addition brings to the table for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were active on draft night, to say the least. The Wolves made three picks in the top 28 and facilitated draft trades that included the departure of James Johnson and reunion of Ricky Rubio.
With all the hustle and bustle of the day, let’s look at some insight on each new addition to the Wolves roster, including undrafted free agent signings. We’ll dive into each player’s previous stats over the last season, short-term and long-term outlooks, and finally what to expect from each player in 2021.
If you’re simply looking for insight on the three first-round selections, check out out our immediate reaction, post-draft grades.
So kick back, relax, and learn about your new Timberwolves’ additions for the 2020-21 season!
Minnesota Timberwolves 2020 NBA Draft Addition: Anthony Edwards
Summarizing Anthony Edwards’ acquisition
The Minnesota Timberwolves added Anthony Edwards with the first-overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
As a freshman at the University of Georgia in 2019-20, Edwards earned Second Team All-SEC, was the SEC Freshman of the Year, and a top-fve finalist for the Jerry West Award for the nation’s best shooting guard.
2020 Per-Game Stats
- Games Played: 32
- Points: 19.1
- FG percentage: 40.2
- 3-point percentage: 29.4
- Rebounds: 5.2
- Assists: 2.8
Short-Term Outlook
Expect to see glimpses of brilliance early, yet don’t expect an instant All-Star.
The transition to the NBA can be a hard one for rookies and there will definitely be an adjustment period for Edwards entering the 2021 season. The start of the season is one month away, meaning there will be a shortened offseason/learning period.
Edwards will also need to adjust to not being the top scoring option for the first time in his entire career.
Long-Term Outlook
Looking a bit further out, Edwards could absolutely become a borderline All-Star player, but that will depend largely on his work ethic. He has all the natural-born ability and athleticism to be consistently at that level, but pushing his limits in the gym and weight room will be key.
If the Wolves could get someone with a Kevin Garnett-like mentality around the facility and working with this kid and then we could practically guarantee his success.
Additionally, finding a strategic X’s & O’s coach to help him play to his strengths could really go a long way, but that is a story for another day. With a true work ethic, Edwards can be an All-Star-level player. Without that piece of the puzzle, we could be looking at Andrew Wiggins 2.0.
2021 Expectations
In 2021, realistic expectations need to be set. Let’s not expect a Ja Morant or Zion Williamson level of instant impact.
In a shortened offseason, with a still-inexperienced coach, and Edwards finding himself as the third option with two All-Stars on the roster already, we should be preparing for a slower start compared to last year’s top rookies.
There remains a real chance that he may not even start immediately. Expect for the season to start slow but the latter half to start seeing the flashes of brilliance that made him the No. 1 overall pick.