The Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards are in the process of finalizing a maximum five-year contract extension that could be worth up to $260 million, league sources said. the athlete on monday.
After discussions began on Friday, league sources said, the two sides spent the weekend negotiating the finer points of the agreement and finalizing the contract, which runs for a full five years with no options. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract was not signed.
In his first three major league seasons, Edwards averaged 21.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and made 35 percent of his 3s, quickly establishing himself as a devastating offensive player who can run him defensively when the moment calls for it. His stats have steadily improved year after year, from 19.3 points per game as a junior to 21.3 and then 24.6 last season. His assists per game increased from 2.9 to 3.8 to 4.4 and his rebounds increased from 4.7 to 4.8 to 5.8.
He was better in the playoffs. In 11 postseason games, Edwards averaged 28.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 38-of-3 percent on nearly 10 attempts per game.
Edwards is represented by Bill Duffy and WME Sports. He recently joined the agency in a move that also includes plans to expand his business dealings off the court, particularly with Three Fifths Media, a production company he launched with business manager Justin Holland in 2019.
Accomplishing this is a big step for the Timberwolves, who now have a core of Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels. They finished last season 42-40 and lost to Denver in the first round of the playoffs. Edwards, Towns and Gobert are all in maximum deals and Wolves have opened negotiations with McDaniels on a long-term deal as well.
Athletic Instant Analysis:
What a story for Edwards
He was drafted first in 2020, but entered the league hearing doubts about his commitment to the game and his thirst to be great. In his three seasons in the league, he quickly dispelled any of those fears, proving himself to be a charismatic young star and one of the most offensive players in the league.
He is a gifted stand-in for excellence who has overcome a lot in his life to get this far. Edwards lost his mother and grandmother to cancer when he was 14, drove an hour each way to suburban Atlanta high school while bursting onto the scene, and is now an NBA All-Star and a central figure in his long-struggling career. The franchise hopes for better days. – Kraczynski
Why did Minnesota make the move?
Signing Edwards for a full five years and not having a player option in the past year is a great sign for the Timberwolves. Other designated player extensions were similar, including the LaMelo Ball deal in Charlotte. He gives Wolves the sense of stability they’ve needed for so long as they try to build a rival around him, Towns, McDaniels and Gobert. – Kraczynski
What’s next for Edwards?
Early in his career, Edwards was reluctant to acquire the Timberwolves, even as the first pick. He fell back on Towns and D’Angelo Russell for the first two seasons and constantly tried to divert attention away from himself to his teammates in post-game interviews. But this deal boosts Edwards’ standing even more than it already was.
Toward the end of his third season, he began to get more and more vocal about driving. This summer he’s been spending more time training in Minnesota and trying to set a tone for the rest of his team. He will no longer ride the gun. He will need to lead this team forward like any player on the roster. – Kraczynski
required reading
(Photo: Alonzo Adams/USA Today)