The Minnesota Timberwolves have an average 11-11 record in clutch time games. However, they've long struggled in close games and have routinely blown leads this season. Undoubtedly, the Wolves' ability to close out games is a concern.
At the same time, Anthony Edwards has been the best clutch time player in the NBA. He is averaging 5.6 clutch time points while shooting 62.5 percent from the field in clutch time situations. The problem is that the Wolves are too dependent on Edwards, especially in late-game scenarios. On the season, Ant has 56 clutch shot attempts with Julius Randle (25) and Jaden McDaniels (21) second behind Edwards. Randle, though, is shooting just 36 percent in the clutch.
Edwards' late-game play has been tremendous, and the Wolves would be lost without him. Nevertheless, a trade deadline move could give the Wolves a more natural playmaker and another closing option -- which could help Ant and the team as a whole.
The Wolves need to make a trade to lighten the load on Edwards
To me, the problem isn't that Edwards takes so many clutch time shots -- his production backs it up outside of the rare off-night. Additionally, most star players dominate their teams' shot attempts in clutch time play.
However, the Wolves clearly need an extra playmaker; landing one would help Edwards get to his spots easier and take him to another level as a clutch scorer. That's a scary thought for the rest of the league. Furthermore, a playmaker to take the pressure off Edwards would help diversify the Wolves clutch time offense and their half-court offense overall.
Minnesota commits the second most turnovers in the clutch, and getting a true lead guard who can stabilize the offense could negate this problem. Despite Edwards' heroics in the clutch, the Wolves rank just 17th in clutch time offense. Again, trading for a point guard with playmaking chops can help solve this issue.
Ant-Man can still bail the Wolves out and will still be the team's primary source of offense after a trade. Regardless, the Wolves' late-game offense can't be all on Edwards, and thus, a trade is needed.
A high-quality rotational guard who is capable of creating for themselves and others is exactly the type of point guard the Wolves need. The likes of Collin Sexton, Tre Jones, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Dennis Schroder would be ideal options. Luckily, the Wolves could add one of these players without breaking the bank.
The significance of adding a high-impact guard next to Edwards, especially in clutch time games, can't be understated, and the Wolves must make such a move ahead of the trade deadline.