Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards made an unusual gesture during Friday’s Game 6, congratulating the Spurs during a timeout with Minnesota down 33 points at home with 8:01 remaining (YouTube link). Edwards said it was an acknowledgement that San Antonio was the better team, per Myron Medcalf of ESPN.
As Medcalf writes, the Timberwolves have now lost three consecutive playoff elimination games by an average of 27 points. They lost at home to Dallas in Game 5 of the 2024 Western Conference finals, at Oklahoma City in Game 5 of the 2025 Western finals, and at home to San Antonio on Friday in the conference semifinals.
When asked if there were any common themes during those three losses, Edwards replied, “Good question. No comment.”
According to Medcalf, Edwards said he was content with the current roster, but he also said the Wolves didn’t prepare like a championship contender.
“I feel like you’re supposed to build championship habits or playoff habits in a regular season,” Edwards said. “No, we didn’t build the habits during the regular season.”
Here’s more on the Wolves:
- Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic views Edwards’ gesture as a sign that the 24-year-old guard recognizes the Timberwolves have been passed in the West’s hierarchy and believes it was a message to the front office to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. As Thompson observes, while Edwards publicly said the roster wasn’t an issue, he also suggested his teammates didn’t take advantage of the double teams he faced. “It was no struggle,” Edwards said of handling the defense’s extra attention. “Just trusting in my teammates, trusting in the next action we’re going to make something happen. And I feel like we did, man. We just couldn’t make enough shots to win the game. I think that’s just what it came down to.” That’s not exactly a bold statement, considering Julius Randle (three points on 1-of-8 shooting), Rudy Gobert (zero points on 0-of-4 shooting) and Jaden McDaniels (13 points on 4-of-13 shooting, five fouls in 23 minutes) combined to score 16 points on 5-of-25 shooting in Game 6.
- According to Medcalf, Edwards said the following when asked how the Wolves can catch up to the Thunder and Spurs, with other teams lurking in the West: “I don’t know, man. I don’t think that’s a question for me.“
- Randle, who was a game-worst minus-34 in 23 minutes, looks “miscast” as a No. 2 option when playing against title contenders, according to Thompson, who points out that Game 6 was so lopsided because San Antonio’s secondary stars — including Stephon Castle, who had a game-high 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists — dominated. Randle had no answers for trying to score on Victor Wembanyama throughout the series, Thompson writes.
- Backup guard Bones Hyland hopes to re-sign with Minnesota as an unrestricted free agent, tweets Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. “It feels like where I belong so I definitely want to come back,” Hyland said.
If Ant left immediately after 0.0 and didn’t show any sportsmanship he would be killed in the media. He wasn’t going back in and bounced right after the game.
Not sure there’s a feasible path to landing Giannis anyway, but we’ve tried this core for 3 seasons (2 if you consider the Randle for KAT trade off, but I don’t) and it’s clearly not enough in the west. They need to switch it up somehow.
Anthony Davis a landing spot in Minnesota? They’ll need a 4 after letting go of Randle?
Also they should def inquire on Tre Jones he would help them a lot in setting up the offense and allowing Edwards to rest in between possessions.
Wasn’t he there already? Or am I wrong about that? I doubt they want him either way. There are cheaper , Better options I’m sure. I doubt AD is a priority anywhere anymore.
AD is on a huge salary, and Minnesota are an expensive team.
I think that if Minnesota are going to trade a big contract, it’s going to be Gobert.
Tim Connelly often surprises me with what rabbits he’s able to pull outta his cap…Giannis wont be one of them but I coukld see KD Kawahi or AD, most likely KD
They have the 28th pick current draft, the 2033 pick and the 2032 swap…not much so have to get creative . That last game from Randle sure didn’t help the efforts … probably need a 3rd team here with an appetite for Randle or Rudy and possibly have to say good bye to fan fav Naz as well
KD said no before. Shannon has value but yea Randle was so bad he may be untradeable. KAT was so much better.
I think GA wants to go to MN.
Randle isn’t good enough as a second option and would be worse as a third due to his inability to play without the ball. #jackRusselSyndrome
Yeah definitely agree that Randle is holding the team back a little.
Gobert as disliked as he is gets through a ton of defensive work and even the guys going against him Jokic and Wemby said he did a good job making it difficult for them.
McDaniels is a nice 3 and D wing/forward. He sometimes has good offensive displays, probably needs to be more consistent on that end.
But Randle just ain’t it for them.
He can’t really play off ball, his 3 point percentage is only a scratch above 30%, he was a good rebounder now he’s only getting 6/7 boards, and yeah his 5 assists are nice but you’d rather he improved in other areas.
Donte is likely out all of next season, Ayo might’ve played his way out of town but Bones might stick around. Conley ain’t doing enough on a real contender.
One idea could be Randle, Naz and this years first (28th) for Ja Morant and Santi Aldama. Not sure what Memphis are doing.
Another idea could be Randle, Reid and pick 28 for DeAaron Fox, Luke Kornet, picks 42 and 44. Think Spurs need to give Harper and Castle the backcourt and add size using Fox’s contract.
Lastly Randle, Donte and pick 28 for DeRozan, Malik Monk and picks 45.
Kings clear two guys for 1 and add a first round pick.
agree with you up until your proposed trades. I don’t see ant coexisting with Ja for any number of reasons. between them, Naz and Randle played all the minutes at the 4, I dont think you can replace them with Santi and not be quite a lot weaker. and just a solid “no” to trading for derozen. the evidence is in: he’s a really good player who doesn’t impact winning.
Agree about Ayo.
From all the back biting I’m hearing and everyone throwing everybody else under the bus sounds like everything isn’t OK in Wolves Town. Sounds like there is a bad clubhouse problem. If that’s true I’m kind of surprised they said the coach was coming back that fast. Kind of sounds like Edwards isn’t happy and he’s the guy you have to keep happy. I’d monitor that situation in the future. I’m hoping the Bulls go all in on the Spurs asst. coach and it looks like they skipped the whole Minnesota tree for a reason.
Strip it down to Ant and McDaniel if you can, and build it back. Problem is Randle and Gobert are such limited players making such huge salaries they may be untradeable. They built their roster for one purpose only: To beat their GM’s former team, the Nuggets. But the Nuggets got passed and the Twolves have been, now, too.