Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns developed a chemistry on offense that helped the Timberwolves reach the playoffs in 2022, but that connection was missing last season, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. The obvious reason, according to Hine, is that both players were trying to adjust their games to incorporate Rudy Gobert. Rekindling the connection between Edwards and Towns will be a priority in training camp.
“The key for us is to recapture the chemistry that Ant and KAT have always had,” coach Chris Finch said. “I’m not overly concerned about that, but because we played in a very different rhythm for most of the season, when Karl came back, that two-man game between him and Ant wasn’t as prevalent as it needs to be or should be.”
Towns missed much of the season with a calf injury, which slowed down any progress he and Edwards might have made in figuring out the best way to utilize Gobert. Edwards expects things to be different now that they’ve all had time to work together.
“We’re going to see it this year, man,” Edwards said. “KAT, he’s super healthy. He’s feeling good. I’m feeling good, so I think it should be fun. As long as we stay healthy, I think it should be super fun to see how we start to jell together, try to get back to where we was probably two years ago.”
There’s more from Minnesota:
- Kyle Anderson was worried that his career might be over after suffering an injury to his left eye in the playoffs, but he’s almost completely recovered after offseason surgery, according to Kent Youngblood of The Star Tribune. At Thursday’s media day, Anderson said he still can’t see well in the dark, but otherwise his vision is normal. “It was obviously rough like early July, late June,” he said. “I’m playing pickup in these small New Jersey gyms, it’s dark, and I can’t see a thing. But it’s gotten a lot better now. I’m sure an NBA arena, with great lighting, it should be fine.”
- The Wolves opened training camp on Friday without an extension for Jaden McDaniels, notes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. The 23-year-old forward, who’s gaining a reputation as an elite defender, said he’s more focused on basketball than his contract. “I know the contract thing is there,” McDaniels said, “but I just try to let my agents handle it and continue to get better as a player.”
- The Wolves are emphasizing maturity after failures in that area derailed last season, Hine adds in a separate story. McDaniels wasn’t available for the playoffs because he broke his hand by punching a wall, and Gobert was suspended for the play-in opener after taking a swing at Anderson on the bench in the final regular season game. “Our lack of organizational success is very evident and clear,” team president Tim Connelly said. “So until we take ourselves more seriously, no one else will take us more seriously. There’s been a very loud mandate and risen bar about how we handle ourselves.”
Odds Gobert is traded by the deadline?
… by the deadline…. This team is on its way to the play-offs and they have shaky hopes of making a run for the finals in a packed West…
Less than 5%
They should be looking to offload KAT very soon tho Imo. When the 36 kicks up to 47 nill next year that’s going to be a lot harder for teams to want to match
This is probably the last time to ever get an ounce of surplus value from him. Its bold, but Id secretly be shopping him between now and the Trade deadline
You’d rather keep Gobert and trade KAT? I think most agree he has more value. But even if you can recoup 1 or 2 FRPs for Gobert, it’s a brighter future with Edward’s and KAT than Gobert. And hitting on mid FRPs they’d get for either is low percentage, I’d rather stick with the better player.
I think the Knicks would be a great landing spot, but the level of ineptitude is beyond me. Clippers, once Jrue gets traded elsewhere… They have the perfect package. Morris, RoCo, Batum, Bones/Coffey/KMJ and a FRP.
Wolves just go back to the drawing board. I would then call up the Thunder, make a deal to swap a longer dated FRP for a near term one.
Would open up around 25M in cap space next year, if they made no other moves. And they’d be sitting on 80-90M in expiring contracts. They could do a lot of wheeling and dealing, recoup more assets without giving up their 2 core players.
Not getting anything for Rudy
Im looking to open up the money slots by getting off Kat not really trying to get a haul, tbh I don’t think that haul exists whatsoever
I’m low on Kat, Roco Batum Mann and 1 unprotected first would be my low bar, id try to get more obv but that offer would tempt me, Ive said Minny should offer Kat and Slow Mo for Randle Fourn… I think Knicks still decline but Id offer it
I can get the wait crowd but after this next deadline I think he becomes a negative asset. I like the young core of Naz McDaniels Ant, Miller too much too saddle them by his side for that long. Could it backfire, sure, but Ive lost faith in Kat in becoming a difference maker
If I’m the knicks and you offer me kat and slow mo for randle and fourn i’d take that quicker than stephen a smith has crazy look on his face once he hears the knicks.
I think they’d decline tbh but its fair to wonder
*He’s 50 on the books next year not 47
This team could be very good. If Edwards and Mcdaniels break out and Towns returns to form we’re talking 50-55 wins and deep playoff run.
KAT only played 29 games last season and they were 15-14 in those games. It’s really not much to say anything about how him and Gobert would work given so little time together.
Rudy to the >>>> Knicks ..
What would be an appropriate trade in your opinion? Mitchell, Fournier, and 2 firsts? Fournier is just dead weight on your roster and wants out.