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In a year of uncertainty, altered timing and general chaos, the Minnesota Timberwolves knew three months before Wednesday’s NBA Draft that they were going to make the number 1 pick overall. However, until just before NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the selection of Georgia guard Anthony Edwards, it was unclear what the Timberwolves intended to do with the choice.
In fact, the Timberwolves were working on the phone “discussing possible trading scenarios,” until minutes before the choice became official, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. While an optimist may understand this and choose to applaud Timberwolves basketball operations president Gersson Rosas for conducting his due diligence in an effort to turn the tide of a grim franchise, the reality may not be so rosy.
The truth appears to be that Minnesota had three months to convince itself of whom to choose, but lacked the conviction to fully commit to Edwards until minutes before the time of reckoning, when it became clear that no acceptable commercial offers were available. Looking at what Edwards did in Georgia last season, who could blame the Timberwolves for their desire to buy the pick?
To be clear, Rosas told reporters Wednesday night that Edwards was “head and shoulders” above the competition as the franchise considered who to take. But this can be interpreted more as an indictment of a weak draft than a blaring endorsement for a shooting guard who only made 29.4% of his 3-point shots in college last season. For a franchise that just traded a disappointing previous # 1 absolute pick. On January 1 when he split from Andrew Wiggins, Edwards bears some alarming similarities.
Both were one-and-done guards considered by 247Sports to be the No. 1 overall in their respective recruiting classes. Neither did anything in college to damage their NBA Draft title, nor did the efficiency model during their short college careers. Wiggins was actually a better 3-point shooter than Edwards, although Edwards showed more promise as a distributor.
So what reason is there to believe that Edwards will be the creator of the difference that Wiggins never was in the Timberwolves’ drive to consistently compete in the ever-difficult Western Conference? An examination of Edwards’ intangibles reveals more questions than answers with just over a month before he begins his career in the NBA.
Edwards practically waved a red flag in Minnesota’s face with comments made to ESPN in a story published earlier this week saying basketball “is a job.” He said “I love basketball”. But this was preceded by Edwards who remarked that “I still don’t like it very much”. At best, it is only the immaturity of a nineteen year old that is coming. At worst, it’s an indictment against his desire to be an elite player and a sign that he will lack the drive needed to help the Timberwolves gain traction.
A player with Edwards’ natural talent may be a good NBA player – just like Wiggins is a good NBA player – but teams don’t recruit anyone n. 1 in general hoping they are good. It takes a different level of commitment to embrace the grind of an 82-game season and not just survive, but actually thrive on the inside and get big. But this is what is expected from the overall choices n. 1.
It was difficult to attend the Wednesday evening celebrations and not be touched by the emotion expressed by so many selected. One who stood out was Obi Toppin, who fell to the Knicks at No. 8 absolute. Though he surely expected to be picked first, Toppin held back the tears of joy acknowledging that “many people pray to be in this position, and I won’t take it for granted.”
Edwards, on the other hand, seemed satisfied, but not particularly moved, to be taken as number 1 overall. Comparing their reactions to the editorial team can feel like breaking your hair. But how about comparing them as players? When Georgia and Dayton met at the Maui Invitational last November, Edwards finished with six points out of 2 out of 10 with no assists and three turnovers in 28 minutes. Toppin finished with 25 points and led his Dayton Flyers to an 80-61 win.
Ultimately, Minnesota may have truly believed Edwards was the best player in the draft. But is he a winner? There’s a difference.
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