The Minnesota Timberwolves are preparing to make some very important decisions this offseason. What they do between now and the start of the 2023-24 season will have a major impact on the franchise’s direction for the next several years.
For starters, they will be working on inking Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels to extensions. The two members of the 2020 NBA Draft class are entering their fourth years in the league and are finally off their rookie deals. Both have done enough to earn lucrative extensions, and it will be the highest priority for the Timberwolves to ensure they stay in Minnesota.
After that, the front office will be on to negotiating money for their other free agents, of which Naz Reid is the unquestionably the most notable. But as it pertains to Anthony Edwards, some new intel from Saturday afternoon came as something of a pleasant surprise to Timberwolves fans. Chris Haynes reported that Edwards will officially be leaving his current agency group, Klutch Sports.
Why is Ant leaving Klutch?
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) June 3, 2023
Text I got: “Bill Duffy is Bill Duffy”
Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels now both represented by Duffy and WME as they enter contract extension negotiations this summer. https://t.co/wKdtMFeM21
Edwards leaving Klutch is a great sign for his future with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
According to Haynes, Edwards will be leaving the renowned Klutch Sports group and signing on with WME Sports. WME recently acquired one of the most prominent NBA agency groups, BDA Sports, along with their top agent Bill Duffy.
Some of Duffy’s clients include Luka Doncic, DeAndre Ayton, Scottie Barnes, and RJ Barrett. Adding another huge client with the addition of Anthony Edwards, WME is gradually becoming more relevant in the NBA landscape.
So why is this such good news for the Timberwolves? The answer lies in the history behind Klutch Sports’ dealings. Edwards’ now former representation group is certainly prestigious and successful, but many fans had wondered if Ant’s involvement with them could one day lead him to leaving Minnesota.
This is because Klutch has been able to get several of its clients signed to the Los Angeles Lakers in recent years to play alongside their biggest client: LeBron James. Since James’ arrival in 2018, Anthony Davis, Lonnie Walker IV, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, J.R. Smith, Dion Waiters, Troy Brown, and Scottie Pippen Jr. are all players signed to Klutch that have played for the Lakers.
Knowing that there is no imminent danger of Anthony Edwards departing for Los Angeles anytime soon should produce a sigh of relief for Timberwolves fans. The organization still must do everything in their power to put talent around Edwards to incentivize him staying a Timberwolf for life, but there is at least no chance of Klutch interfering with that anymore.