Despite the Minnesota Timberwolves' undeniable success in the past three seasons, they've never had a roster that maximizes Anthony Edwards.
In the past two seasons, Edwards has had the misfortune of playing alongside the non-spacing frontcourt of Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert. Even in the highly successful 2023-24 season with Karl-Anthony Towns (who was a better co-star than Randle), the Timberwolves lacked creation and playmaking alongside Ant-Man. Lest we forget, the Wolves ranked 16th in offensive rating during the 23-24 season.
Sure, the Wolves have had talented rosters around Ant, but their recent success isn't attributed to a roster that perfectly complements their star. To win at the highest level, every star needs a roster that complements them.
Thankfully, this offseason, the Timberwolves have committed to building a roster that better complements Edwards. LaMelo Ball's blend of playmaking and perimeter scoring makes him an ideal fit with Ant. He's also simply a more talented co-star than Randle.
A high-end lead guard who can create for himself and others is something Edwards has never had throughout his career, but this is the exact player he should thrive alongside.
The Timberwolves have built a roster that complements Anthony Edwards
Not to pile on Randle, but his lack of off-ball abilities and ball-stopping tendencies made him a poor fit next to Edwards. While LaMelo isn't a perfect player, he excels at playing both on and off the ball, which is exactly what you'd want from a co-star alongside Ant-Man.
Without a doubt, the addition of LaMelo, a co-star who perfectly complements Edwards, is the main reason that Minnesota improved the fit of their roster this summer.
Ayo Dosunmu's well-rounded skill set proved to be a perfect fit next to Ant. Re-signing Ayo is another wise move the Wolves made with maximizing the roster around Edwards in mind.
Jaden McDaniels has long been a perfect fit next to Edwards, given his elite defense. And as he's grown on offense, his fit alongside Ant has further improved. All the same, it's been clear that McDaniels needs a bigger role in the offense -- Edwards has even said so himself.
Yes, they trade LaMelo, but his playmaking and off-ball abilities can help make this growth from McDaniels possible. Having a 6-foot-9 forward as a secondary shot creator and offensive initiator is a massive advantage.
Setting up a roster that makes unleashing McDaniels easier is another reason why the fit of this roster has improved.
With limited forward depth, Minnesota's roster isn't a finished product. Nevertheless, their moves this offseason are a major step in the right direction in terms of building a better-fitting roster around Ant.
Tim Connelly has never shied away from big moves, so it's more than possible that he fills this void before the season begins. Whether that be signing LeBron James or making a trade, the Wolves have a clear path to filling this void.
Even if they don't make a big move, simply having more floor spacing around Edwards in the frontcourt should benefit him.
Considering that the Timberwolves have already had a ton of success with a roster that doesn't ideally complement Edwards, how can you not be bullish on what they can accomplish this season?
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