One of the many reasons that the Minnesota Timberwolves could trade Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert is to get on Anthony Edwards' timeline. The idea sounds great in theory. If you can find a star who fits his timeline and is an attainable target, by all means, you make that move.
Doing so might be easier said than done, though. In the end, this could force the Wolves to embrace the gap year that fans dread.
I wouldn't say that a gap year is a likely outcome. And to be clear, I still think they'd be a playoff-caliber team, just not one that's close to a championship threat.
Regardless, the Wolves front office could be laser-focused on getting on Ant's timeline, and/or they might not be able to find a trade for a star (of any age) who fits and is a realistic target.
The Timberwolves could be forced to embrace a gap year
As noted, the Wolves' primary trade candidates are Randle and Gobert. Furthermore, they are devoid of most of their draft capital. Thus, it will be hard to trade for a star who truly lines up with Ant's timeline.
There are a few younger players who could be available and offer star potential: Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, and Tyler Herro come to mind.
Still, Morant is arguably the riskiest player on the trade market. Zion has a case for the same claim, while not filling as clear a positional need. Herro might be heading to Milwaukee as part of a Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster trade, plus he's a subpar defender.
With this in mind, the Wolves are unlikely to find an ideal young co-star alongside Ant on the trade market.
Now, I'm certainly in favor of trading for an older star, particularly Kyrie Irving, and splitting the difference by also trading for a younger center such as Nic Claxton.
However, it's worth wondering how feasible this path is, and whether it's possible that the Wolves heavily prioritize getting on Edwards' timeline.
In this scenario, the Wolves could prioritize cap flexibility, depth, internal growth, and youth. This would be a risky strategy given the Wolves' clear need for an extra creator alongside Edwards, and it would likely set up a year in which Minnesota would take a step back.
Like it or not (you probably hate it, be honest), this is the most probable outcome if the Wolves truly get on Ant's timeline unless they make a massive leap of faith by trading for someone like Ja or Zion.
This may pay off with massive growth from the likes of Jaden McDaniels, Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr., Joan Beringer, and Naz Reid. But it's also an undeniable major gamble.
As enticing as it sounds for the Wolves to commit to Edwards' timeline, they'd be better served by going for a half-measure by trading one of Randle and Rudy for an aging star and the other for youth and/or depth.
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