The Minnesota Timberwolves season came to an end Tuesday night in Denver. They dropped game five 112-109, with Anthony Edwards missing a decent look at a game-tying three pointer at the buzzer.
The shorthanded Wolves fought valiantly against the West’s number one seed in Denver who just had too much depth, and too much Nikola Jokic (28 point triple-double) and Jamal Murray (35 points).
This Wolves team was hoping to build on last season’s success where they had Memphis on the ropes in the first round of the playoffs, eventually losing in game six. But injuries, a questionable trade, and some in-fighting and horrible decision making caused them to limp into the play-in tournament again. That put the team in the tough position of having to take on the number one seed Nuggets.
Not having the big bodied and capable Naz Reid off the bench was a killer. Losing Kyle Anderson after he got hit in the face in game four hurt a lot. But it was the loss of Jaden McDaniels that really hurt the most.
McDaniels, out after punching a wall in frustration during the last game of the regular season, had become the team’s best perimeter defender. This was the guy they could put on Jamal Murray and hope to slow him down in the endless pick-and-roll action Denver runs between him and Jokic.
McDaniels length and athleticism was sorely missed, and Murray was nearly unstoppable in the series. McDaniels is also capable offensively, especially when given open looks from three when Edwards got in the lane.
With Reid and McDaniels, would the Wolves win the series? Probably not, but it’s closer. And if you have them against the Lakers in the play-in game, you have a much better chance of winning there and playing Memphis (a very flawed team this season) in the first round and a better matchup.
So it goes.
The day after the loss, it is time to look to the offseason. The NBA is built around your team's stars and there will be plenty of offseason to look at some of the other pieces, like McDaniels, Reid, Mike Conley and others. But we start with their "Big Three". WCCO’s Henry Lake shares some thoughts on the that and the questions that face that group.
Anthony Edwards
He is clearly the future of the franchise. Anthony Edwards was tremendous in this series. Only 21-years young, Edwards showed he is gritty, plays through injuries, is unafraid to take over games, and took a step in the playoffs towards superstardom. His first All Star selection this year should be the first of many.
In 11 career playoff games, Edwards is averaging 28 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4 assists plus 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. Those are elite. He's 21!
There are flaws. He still takes some ill-advised shots. He could be an elite defender (watch this) but still has lapses. And he has too many turnovers. He does seem to have that killer instinct to close out games (see the dagger three point shot to put away game four), but there is still work to do there in order to take another step forward.
Edwards is also selfless. He shoulders the blame. He heaps praise on his teammates. The ceiling is extremely high. This is who you build around, without a doubt.
“If there’s one takeaway from this season, it’s that Anthony Edwards is a superstar,” says WCCO host Henry Lake. “He’s not a star. He’s a superstar. What you saw from him this postseason, that level of play. He found himself.
He showed the world that he’s a problem.”
Edwards still has a year left on his team-controlled rookie deal. Then he will get a massive payday.
“The number one thing this team has to do, is show Anthony Edwards in this offseason, that they’re going to be better going forward,” said Lake. “He’s doing things at 21 you just don’t see. But you can’t be in a situation where Edwards feels like he can’t win here.”
Of note: News broke late on Wednesday that Edwards has been charged with assault by Denver Police for "swinging a chair" in frustration after the loss Tuesday night, which then struck two women who work at the arena. More on that here.
Karl-Anthony Towns
It’s very difficult to judge Towns on his 2022-23 season, where he missed 42 games with injuries and had to learn to play a new position alongside Rudy Gobert.
There was some good. When Towns returned from the calf strain that kept him out until April, he hit some huge late-game shots and free throws to key some important wins, and keep the Wolves in the hunt for the play-in games. He played very well against the Lakers and Thunder in the two play-in games.
In the series against Denver, Towns had a very tough first few games. Towns dealt with foul trouble, missed open shots, had trouble guarding Nugget star Nikola Jokic, and had long stretches where he just disappeared.
The Wolves needed more from Towns.
They got more in games four and five. But Towns fouled out of both games despite playing good basketball. Down the stretch, they missed his rebounding and as a threat offensively which made it easy for Denver to double team Edwards.
“I thought he played fine, specifically in the fourth quarter,” Lake said. “I am not a KAT apologist at all. I’ve been critical of Towns. Still am. I thought the calls against him in the fourth quarter were a joke. But we gave up too many damn offensive rebounds.”
The problem is the Wolves, as they’re built now, need Towns to be great, not just good. There are going to be offseason questions.
Towns was given a max extension, which at the time, the three-time All Star definitely had coming. He’s due $36 million next season, then he’s getting over $50 million a season for the next three (with a player option in year four for over $60 million). That keeps him potentially under contract for five more years with over $250 million on the books. That’s a lot of money for a guy who is now a number two behind Edwards.
The Wolves have to decide if Towns is going to be a fit beside Edwards. He's a great shooting big, he is a willing passer, and has a ton of value. He has to be a great rebounder and a much better defender (without fouling).
The Wolves will definitely make some calls about Towns to see what he could garner them. Will it be enough to move the player who for eight seasons was a cornerstone? If he stays in Minnesota, he has to step up, be a leader, and stay healthy!
Rudy Gobert
When the Timberwolves made a deal with Utah to bring in Rudy Gobert, it was a “win now or else” deal. They mortgaged the future for the All Defense center from France.
That deal looks pretty iffy (at best) right now.
“Do I wish we could take back the Rudy Gobert trade? Yeah, I do. But you can’t worry about that anymore,” Lake said.
Now what? Do you try to move Gobert in the offseason, knowing now it wasn’t a great fit? You’ll get pennies on the dollar for him. Do you move Towns, leave Gobert in place and build that way?
Lake says there’s no way the team can trade Gobert.
“I don’t think there will be any takers,” says Lake. “You think somebody is trading for Rudy Gobert right now? Stop that.”
He had some moments and the Timberwolves were significantly better on defense compared to last year. But the 30-year old center is moving into the back half of his career. His defense on Jokic, a very difficult matchup for anyone, was commendable for most of the series against Denver. But lapses in the fourth quarter Tuesday were noticeable. The big center just cannot get outfought for key offensive rebounds in a tight playoff game and it happened a couple of times late.
This trade painted the Wolves into a very tight corner. Gobert is under contract for three more seasons at over $40 million per season which gives them almost no wiggle room, and very little NBA Draft capital.
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