2. Anthony Edwards & the Minnesota Timberwolves need homecourt advantage.
Surpassing the defending champion Golden State Warriors, a healthy Phoenix Suns, a talented upstart Memphis Grizzlies and veteran-laden Dallas Mavericks is a monumental task.
Based on the ESPN Top 100 players, four reside in Minnesota: Edwards, Towns, Gobert, and D’Angelo Russell. They currently sit with the eighth-best odds to win the conference at +2000. A hot start is needed. They cannot lose six in a row in October and November like the prior season.
Trading five players for Gobert creates a lack of depth, meaning the Wolves will rely heavily on Gobert, Towns, and Edwards to steady the team. Edwards’ continued trajectory into one of the top players in the league will catapult the Wolves into the playoff race.
His team-leading 34.3 minutes per game and field goal attempts are likely to increase. Once the opportunities come, the Georgia native needs to capitalize, like in his first playoff game when he dropped 36 points and made the league take notice.