Anthony Edwards' biggest area of growth isn't what you think it is

The vast majority of people would point to playmaking as Anthony Edwards' biggest area of growth this offseason. Admittedly, this season proved that Ant isn't ready to be a lead guard, and his playmaking could reach another level.

However, it wouldn't be a shocker if the Minnesota Timberwolves traded for a high-end lead guard, and Edwards needs someone who can alleviate the pressure off him. Playing more of his natural off-guard role would help cover up some of Ant's flaws as a playmaker.

One flaw that absolutely needs to improve, though, is his defensive engagement and consistency. 

There's a perception around the league that Edwards is a two-way star. Truthfully, Ant should be -- he's an elite athlete with solid size and length. Currently, though, he is far from an elite two-way player and only showcases his defensive abilities in flashes. 

Lessening the immense offensive load on Edwards could certainly result in more defensive commitment from him. Regardless, Ant-Man needs to buy in and play stout defense whenever he's on the court.

Ant needs to level up on defense

This past season, Edwards struggled with numerous aspects of defense. If I had to pinpoint the biggest problem, though, it was his off-ball engagement. Far too often, he was the back cut and missed basic rotations. Likewise, his screen navigation was lackluster. 

Edwards' on-ball defense was generally fine. He was never hunted by opposing players, but at times wasn't in proper defensive positioning. 

The Wolves' defense was 5.7 points per 100 possessions worse with Ant on the court. This number ranked in the 12th percentile overall per Cleaning the Glass. It was also the worst number among Timberwolves rotation players outside of Terrence Shannon Jr., and it was the worst mark of Ant's career. 

Sometimes, on/off numbers don't tell the full story, but in this case, they perfectly matched the eye test. 

Part of this could be getting caught up in the rigours of an 82-game season. You could point to his offensive load and injuries, contributing to what seemed like a lack of effort from Ant. Nonetheless, energy and effort were glaring concerns for the Wolves team, and it starts with their best player setting the tone.

While the Wolves won their first-round series, they didn't have the habits of a championship team, and part of this was undeniably Ant's shaky defense. 

To me, Edwards is already a top-five player in the league. If you want to be pessimistic, you could argue he's the seventh-best player. Nevertheless, it's clear that the 24-year-old has another level to reach, and he could be a legitimate top-three player. 

The clearest path for Edwards to reach this level next season isn't some shocking playmaking leap -- it's him becoming a true two-way monster.  

If the Wolves trade for a point guard, Ant will have more defensive responsibilities

I would consider the Timberwolves trading for a point guard or, at the very least, another high-level ball handler a likely outcome, assuming they don't have enough assets to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

Without a doubt, this would make life easier for Ant on offense. All season long, he was overtaxed as a creator and facilitator. Trading for someone who can take away some of these responsibilities from Ant-Man is vital, and trading for a point guard is the easiest path to address this need.

However, for all the offensive benefits that trading for a guard will bring the Wolves, it will heighten his defensive responsibilities. Kyrie Irving is thrown around as a dream target by Wolves fans. While I love the idea of a Kyrie-Ant duo, Irving's defense isn't the appeal of this pairing. 

Sure, Kyrie has shown to be a respectable defender at times, but he's a small guard coming off an ACL injury. The Wolves will absolutely need Ant to cover more ground, improve his engagement, and take on difficult matchups if they trade for Kyrie. 

In general, it's difficult to find a lead guard with high-level defensive chops. Dejounte Murray would be their best chance. Still, he isn't the defender he used to be in his San Antonio Spurs days. 

Jaden McDaniels was overextended as the team's primary point-of-attack defender. He has the ideal blend of size, length, and instincts to guard forwards and wreak havoc off the ball. Having Ant take on a bit more point-of-attack duties, especially against speedy guards, would help get the best out of McDaniels.

All in all, the benefits of Edwards living up to his defensive potential couldn't be clearer for him and the team as a whole.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow