Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards conundrum must be considered amid chase for a co-star

It's clear that Anthony Edwards needs a more dependable second option, and this will be the Minnesota Timberwolves' top priority this summer. President of basketball operations Tim Connelly made it clear that the Wolves will be aggressive this summer.

Nevertheless, finding a second option who is talented enough to provide this needed level of production, is a realistic target, and can complement Ant's playstyle, might be harder than you think.

The dilemma with Ant is that he's a heliocentric player and one of the league's best all-around scorers, but due to his iffy playmaking, he is best served as an off guard rather than a lead guard.

As such, finding a star who can thrive both on and off the ball is essential when considering a fit next to Edwards. Furthermore, Ant ideally would excel alongside a player with solid defensive chops. Undoubtedly, Julius Randle's inability to play off the ball and volatility on both ends of the floor are central to his poor fit with Edwards.

Also, to be clear, I don't think this means the Wolves need a star backcourt player, but rather just someone who can take a large portion of the ball-handling and creation duties from Edwards. I also think, despite his heliocentric playstyle, there are some real benefits to Ant-Man playing off the ball, especially with his stellar shooting.

Giannis and Kawhi are dream targets, but the Wolves aren't likely to land one of them

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard are often floated as dream targets, with the Wolves' pursuit of Giannis being well-documented. In theory, both players are ideal fits alongside each other. 

Still, landing these players will prove to be difficult given the Wolves' lack of draft capital and high-end trade assets. You never want to rule out Tim Connelly making a big splash, but this would be his most impressive accomplishment yet. 

Plus, despite the on-paper fit, it's worth wondering if Ant-Man and Giannis would develop a true two-man game -- Giannis didn't with Damian Lillard. I actually think Kawhi is a cleaner fit, since he is an elite wing who can initiate more offense and thrives spotting up. If you have a chance to add a star of this caliber, though, you go for it.

As mentioned, though, the Wolves need to prepare for a world where they can't land Giannis or Kawhi -- that's where finding a co-star for Ant gets more challenging. 

Finding the ideal backcourt partner for Ant

After Giannis and Kawhi, most Wolves fans are speculating about a backcourt partner for Ant. This need has been well-discussed for several years, and most players the Wolves could realistically land happen to be guards.

To me, Kyrie Irving is the perfect fit. Of course, Irving is one of the best ball handlers of all time, and a silky smooth off-ball player, but he is also capable of playing off the ball and thrived next to a heliocentric guard in Luka Doncic.

He is a 34-year-old coming off an ACL injury, though. Edwards would also have increased defensive responsibilities if the Wolves trade for Kyrie. As such, despite his clear fit, it's impossible to argue that Kyrie is risk-free. 

It's also unclear how attainable Irving is, but in terms of pure fit, it's hard to find a more seamless one next to Edwards than Kyrie. Outside of Irving, though, not many guards are truly ideal fits next to Ant-Man.

Dejounte Murray is another guard who's mentioned by fans as a Wolves trade target. Given his slashing, playmaking, and defense, I think he's a worthwhile target who could fit nicely next to Ant. 

Regardless, Murray's off-ball abilities and shooting make his fit somewhat questionable alongside Edwards. It's worth noting that Murray proved to be a poor fit next to Trae Young. Murray looked good upon returning from his Achilles injury, but that's another factor for Connelly to consider if the Wolves pursue him. 

How about Tyler Herro? While he's not a natural point guard, he could take some creation duties off Ant's plate while offering elite 3-point shooting. Given this, I think Herro is a better fit than many are discussing, and crucially, the Miami Heat have previously expressed interest in Randle.

It's worth wondering if a backcourt trio of Edwards, Herro, and (hopefully) Ayo Dosunmu is enough playmaking for a championship-level team. Furthermore, Herro's subpar defense is worth considering. 

Moving past these three targets, the Phoenix Suns could be interested in Randle, given their need for a bruising forward. In all likelihood, Jalen Green would be the centerpiece of such a deal. I won't go too in-depth, but Green would be a horrible fit given his shaky playmaking and inconsistent spot-up shooting. 

As you can see, it's hard to find a seamless fit alongside Ant. Perhaps there's a target I'm overlooking, or a fit is better than I made it out to be. And to be clear, most of these targets are still worth pursuing even if there are questions about their fit. 

Regardless, the Wolves must closely consider finding a co-star who has adequate talent and fits smoothly next to Edwards, which will be a challenging task.

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