Official Anthony Edwards Thread

[Klomp]

If/when Any starts getting the foul calls he should be getting, and he keeps being aggressive, he could easily get close to 30ppg. We still haven't seen them feature him in post ups yet, if they ever do, that kid is strong, not many two guards who will handle that well. Again, assuming he gets the calls that other players get.

The question is can he do more of it playing off ball, my question is do the Wolves want him to?

The simple is answer is yes they do. Jeff Teague in his first year with us was not afraid to shoot the long ball. All we asked of Teague was to facilitate to the 3 stars (Butler, Wig, KAT,) and to keep the defense honest when they cheat off of him. In year 2 Teague was not willing to shoot often enough and he would dribble way too much. The collapse of the 2018 season began with a starting PG who dribbled too much and didn’t facilitate well enough. Ant is not our PG but he kills the offense often enough that he is a problem. Now to be fair he is a 19 year old with less development than most his age (we covered this above,) but that doesn’t mean we want him to continue to do it in future years. Edwards needs to attack more quickly and decisively. He needs to be more willing to move the ball and trusting he will get it back. He needs to move more without the ball, and do things like set off ball screens. Ant needs to learn to play as part of an offense before he tries to learn to become the main attraction of the offense. Especially with a teammate like KAT who can score from anywhere.

Equating Anthony Edwards to Jeff Teague is one of the crazier takes I've seen here in 2021.....and that's saying something.

[Norseman79]

If/when Any starts getting the foul calls he should be getting, and he keeps being aggressive, he could easily get close to 30ppg. We still haven't seen them feature him in post ups yet, if they ever do, that kid is strong, not many two guards who will handle that well. Again, assuming he gets the calls that other players get.

The question is can he do more of it playing off ball, my question is do the Wolves want him to?

The simple is answer is yes they do. Jeff Teague in his first year with us was not afraid to shoot the long ball. All we asked of Teague was to facilitate to the 3 stars (Butler, Wig, KAT,) and to keep the defense honest when they cheat off of him. In year 2 Teague was not willing to shoot often enough and he would dribble way too much. The collapse of the 2018 season began with a starting PG who dribbled too much and didn’t facilitate well enough. Ant is not our PG but he kills the offense often enough that he is a problem. Now to be fair he is a 19 year old with less development than most his age (we covered this above,) but that doesn’t mean we want him to continue to do it in future years. Edwards needs to attack more quickly and decisively. He needs to be more willing to move the ball and trusting he will get it back. He needs to move more without the ball, and do things like set off ball screens. Ant needs to learn to play as part of an offense before he tries to learn to become the main attraction of the offense. Especially with a teammate like KAT who can score from anywhere.

Maybe the rest of the team needs to learn how to play with Ant as the main attraction, especially KAT. KAT has always screamed secondary scoring type of player, not lead. He would be exceptional in that role. If he would consistently play like a 5, and stop trying to be a guard it would help.

That said, I do no disagree with what you said, most of which should come with experience. I do disagree about him needing to learn to basically -what I interpreted you saying - to defer to others. This team has needed an alpha style player for years - since KG left first time. The last thing I want to do is cuckold the most legit chance we have had at one, (Lavine was close).

[winforlose]

If/when Any starts getting the foul calls he should be getting, and he keeps being aggressive, he could easily get close to 30ppg. We still haven't seen them feature him in post ups yet, if they ever do, that kid is strong, not many two guards who will handle that well. Again, assuming he gets the calls that other players get.

The question is can he do more of it playing off ball, my question is do the Wolves want him to?

The simple is answer is yes they do. Jeff Teague in his first year with us was not afraid to shoot the long ball. All we asked of Teague was to facilitate to the 3 stars (Butler, Wig, KAT,) and to keep the defense honest when they cheat off of him. In year 2 Teague was not willing to shoot often enough and he would dribble way too much. The collapse of the 2018 season began with a starting PG who dribbled too much and didn’t facilitate well enough. Ant is not our PG but he kills the offense often enough that he is a problem. Now to be fair he is a 19 year old with less development than most his age (we covered this above,) but that doesn’t mean we want him to continue to do it in future years. Edwards needs to attack more quickly and decisively. He needs to be more willing to move the ball and trusting he will get it back. He needs to move more without the ball, and do things like set off ball screens. Ant needs to learn to play as part of an offense before he tries to learn to become the main attraction of the offense. Especially with a teammate like KAT who can score from anywhere.

Maybe the rest of the team needs to learn how to play with Ant as the main attraction, especially KAT. KAT has always screamed secondary scoring type of player, not lead. He would be exceptional in that role. If he would consistently play like a 5, and stop trying to be a guard it would help.

That said, I do no disagree with what you said, most of which should come with experience. I do disagree about him needing to learn to basically -what I interpreted you saying - to defer to others. This team has needed an alpha style player for years - since KG left first time. The last thing I want to do is cuckold the most legit chance we have had at one, (Lavine was close).

@Klomp I wasn’t equating him with Teague I was using an example to illustrate a point. Edwards is making the same mistake with too much dribbling and wasted shot clock and not enough passing and working without the ball.

Now responding to Norseman, Finch wants the offense flowing through KAT. You wonder why he is getting so many assists per game? The answer is when gets it at/around the elbow it collapses the defense. When Edwards dribbles for 10 seconds it resets the defense. Pace matters.

[TheZachAttack]

If/when Any starts getting the foul calls he should be getting, and he keeps being aggressive, he could easily get close to 30ppg. We still haven't seen them feature him in post ups yet, if they ever do, that kid is strong, not many two guards who will handle that well. Again, assuming he gets the calls that other players get.

The question is can he do more of it playing off ball, my question is do the Wolves want him to?

The simple is answer is yes they do. Jeff Teague in his first year with us was not afraid to shoot the long ball. All we asked of Teague was to facilitate to the 3 stars (Butler, Wig, KAT,) and to keep the defense honest when they cheat off of him. In year 2 Teague was not willing to shoot often enough and he would dribble way too much. The collapse of the 2018 season began with a starting PG who dribbled too much and didn’t facilitate well enough. Ant is not our PG but he kills the offense often enough that he is a problem. Now to be fair he is a 19 year old with less development than most his age (we covered this above,) but that doesn’t mean we want him to continue to do it in future years. Edwards needs to attack more quickly and decisively. He needs to be more willing to move the ball and trusting he will get it back. He needs to move more without the ball, and do things like set off ball screens. Ant needs to learn to play as part of an offense before he tries to learn to become the main attraction of the offense. Especially with a teammate like KAT who can score from anywhere.

Maybe the rest of the team needs to learn how to play with Ant as the main attraction, especially KAT. KAT has always screamed secondary scoring type of player, not lead. He would be exceptional in that role. If he would consistently play like a 5, and stop trying to be a guard it would help.

That said, I do no disagree with what you said, most of which should come with experience. I do disagree about him needing to learn to basically -what I interpreted you saying - to defer to others. This team has needed an alpha style player for years - since KG left first time. The last thing I want to do is cuckold the most legit chance we have had at one, (Lavine was close).

There's something to the idea that KAT is not capable of being elite on both ends of the floor at once. If you are running everything through him on offense, asking him to bang and set screens and navigate double teams/etc, as well as anchor a defense, he's going to not be able to do both well. We've seen that when KAT takes a #2 role offensively, he can play above average or better defense. If we have the players around him to support it, I don't mind KAT being a facilitator and shooter primarily (low-energy) while also anchoring the defense. On key possessions and stretches you can iso him in the post and do other things, but I think that could work in the best way for the team even if KAT's individual offensive numbers, especially scoring, aren't as high as a different type of usage.

[winforlose]

The simple is answer is yes they do. Jeff Teague in his first year with us was not afraid to shoot the long ball. All we asked of Teague was to facilitate to the 3 stars (Butler, Wig, KAT,) and to keep the defense honest when they cheat off of him. In year 2 Teague was not willing to shoot often enough and he would dribble way too much. The collapse of the 2018 season began with a starting PG who dribbled too much and didn’t facilitate well enough. Ant is not our PG but he kills the offense often enough that he is a problem. Now to be fair he is a 19 year old with less development than most his age (we covered this above,) but that doesn’t mean we want him to continue to do it in future years. Edwards needs to attack more quickly and decisively. He needs to be more willing to move the ball and trusting he will get it back. He needs to move more without the ball, and do things like set off ball screens. Ant needs to learn to play as part of an offense before he tries to learn to become the main attraction of the offense. Especially with a teammate like KAT who can score from anywhere.

Maybe the rest of the team needs to learn how to play with Ant as the main attraction, especially KAT. KAT has always screamed secondary scoring type of player, not lead. He would be exceptional in that role. If he would consistently play like a 5, and stop trying to be a guard it would help.

That said, I do no disagree with what you said, most of which should come with experience. I do disagree about him needing to learn to basically -what I interpreted you saying - to defer to others. This team has needed an alpha style player for years - since KG left first time. The last thing I want to do is cuckold the most legit chance we have had at one, (Lavine was close).

There's something to the idea that KAT is not capable of being elite on both ends of the floor at once. If you are running everything through him on offense, asking him to bang and set screens and navigate double teams/etc, as well as anchor a defense, he's going to not be able to do both well. We've seen that when KAT takes a #2 role offensively, he can play above average or better defense. If we have the players around him to support it, I don't mind KAT being a facilitator and shooter primarily (low-energy) while also anchoring the defense. On key possessions and stretches you can iso him in the post and do other things, but I think that could work in the best way for the team even if KAT's individual offensive numbers, especially scoring, aren't as high as a different type of usage.

When Ant is as consistent as Butler we can talk about it. Right now his jumper (from any range,) is inconsistent, and his finish at the rim (through contact or otherwise,) is good but not great. He should get more foul calls but he isn’t. I could go on, but my point is Ant isn’t there yet. He needs to learn to play within a scheme before he tries to redefine it. A coach who holds Ant accountable will do wonders for him.

[Norseman79]

The simple is answer is yes they do. Jeff Teague in his first year with us was not afraid to shoot the long ball. All we asked of Teague was to facilitate to the 3 stars (Butler, Wig, KAT,) and to keep the defense honest when they cheat off of him. In year 2 Teague was not willing to shoot often enough and he would dribble way too much. The collapse of the 2018 season began with a starting PG who dribbled too much and didn’t facilitate well enough. Ant is not our PG but he kills the offense often enough that he is a problem. Now to be fair he is a 19 year old with less development than most his age (we covered this above,) but that doesn’t mean we want him to continue to do it in future years. Edwards needs to attack more quickly and decisively. He needs to be more willing to move the ball and trusting he will get it back. He needs to move more without the ball, and do things like set off ball screens. Ant needs to learn to play as part of an offense before he tries to learn to become the main attraction of the offense. Especially with a teammate like KAT who can score from anywhere.

Maybe the rest of the team needs to learn how to play with Ant as the main attraction, especially KAT. KAT has always screamed secondary scoring type of player, not lead. He would be exceptional in that role. If he would consistently play like a 5, and stop trying to be a guard it would help.

That said, I do no disagree with what you said, most of which should come with experience. I do disagree about him needing to learn to basically -what I interpreted you saying - to defer to others. This team has needed an alpha style player for years - since KG left first time. The last thing I want to do is cuckold the most legit chance we have had at one, (Lavine was close).

@Klomp I wasn’t equating him with Teague I was using an example to illustrate a point. Edwards is making the same mistake with too much dribbling and wasted shot clock and not enough passing and working without the ball.

Now responding to Norseman, Finch wants the offense flowing through KAT. You wonder why he is getting so many assists per game? The answer is when gets it at/around the elbow it collapses the defense. When Edwards dribbles for 10 seconds it resets the defense. Pace matters.

Actually, I don't wonder why he gets so many assists, why would I? Does Edwards take a bit, yes, but that will improve with experience and such. Right now he is reading and processing, evolving if you will. Look at how his free throw attempts per game is growing, as are rebounding, steals, and assist numbers, and 3 pt percentage since Finch took over.

Of course Finch wants the offense going through Kat right now, most teams prefer to play inside out when possible, or to run hand off/give and go with the high post. But make no mistake, Edwards is developing how the Wolves want him to, and that's an alpha, 4 level scorer (his midrange needs work).

[TheZachAttack]

Maybe the rest of the team needs to learn how to play with Ant as the main attraction, especially KAT. KAT has always screamed secondary scoring type of player, not lead. He would be exceptional in that role. If he would consistently play like a 5, and stop trying to be a guard it would help.

That said, I do no disagree with what you said, most of which should come with experience. I do disagree about him needing to learn to basically -what I interpreted you saying - to defer to others. This team has needed an alpha style player for years - since KG left first time. The last thing I want to do is cuckold the most legit chance we have had at one, (Lavine was close).

There's something to the idea that KAT is not capable of being elite on both ends of the floor at once. If you are running everything through him on offense, asking him to bang and set screens and navigate double teams/etc, as well as anchor a defense, he's going to not be able to do both well. We've seen that when KAT takes a #2 role offensively, he can play above average or better defense. If we have the players around him to support it, I don't mind KAT being a facilitator and shooter primarily (low-energy) while also anchoring the defense. On key possessions and stretches you can iso him in the post and do other things, but I think that could work in the best way for the team even if KAT's individual offensive numbers, especially scoring, aren't as high as a different type of usage.

When Ant is as consistent as Butler we can talk about it. Right now his jumper (from any range,) is inconsistent, and his finish at the rim (through contact or otherwise,) is good but not great. He should get more foul calls but he isn’t. I could go on, but my point is Ant isn’t there yet. He needs to learn to play within a scheme before he tries to redefine it. A coach who holds Ant accountable will do wonders for him.

Sure, in a general sense. I feel like my post properly hedged with assumptions that the supporting cast (i.e. Edwards) would have to be right. Though, I also have a philosophical disagreement in the right way to develop Edwards which is fine and I can understand the other side.

[ClarkeW]

I’m an optimist, so when I see the tools that Anthony Edwards has displayed during his first 40 or so NBA games and remember that he’s only 19 years old I definitely get excited about what the future could hold. Shot selection is something that will need to be worked on, along with the shooting percentages themselves. But I do believe that over the next couple of years we will see improvement in those areas.

One thing that has surprised me about Edwards so far as a rookie is his vision. I know a lot of people give him crap about slowing down the offense, and I get it. But some of the passes he makes when driving to the hoop like a cannonball... there just aren’t a lot of players who can do that. That should only get more dangerous over time as well.

As for defense, he has the tools. Awareness (aka experience) and motivation are the two things that he needs. Edwards is a motivated guy in general, so I think that will come with some team success and just feeling like the games matter. The awareness part we’ll have to wait and see.

[Klomp]

I’m an optimist, so when I see the tools that Anthony Edwards has displayed during his first 40 or so NBA games and remember that he’s only 19 years old I definitely get excited about what the future could hold. Shot selection is something that will need to be worked on, along with the shooting percentages themselves. But I do believe that over the next couple of years we will see improvement in those areas.

One thing that has surprised me about Edwards so far as a rookie is his vision. I know a lot of people give him crap about slowing down the offense, and I get it. But some of the passes he makes when driving to the hoop like a cannonball... there just aren’t a lot of players who can do that. That should only get more dangerous over time as well.

As for defense, he has the tools. Awareness (aka experience) and motivation are the two things that he needs. Edwards is a motivated guy in general, so I think that will come with some team success and just feeling like the games matter. The awareness part we’ll have to wait and see.

I would add that most all star players slow down the offense and kill ball movement. LeBron did, Wade did, Jordan did, Kobe did, Harden does, Durant does, etc. It's just a price you pay for having an alpha player. If we're content sharing the ball and missing the playoffs every year, but I would like to try something different for a change.

[TheZachAttack]

I’m an optimist, so when I see the tools that Anthony Edwards has displayed during his first 40 or so NBA games and remember that he’s only 19 years old I definitely get excited about what the future could hold. Shot selection is something that will need to be worked on, along with the shooting percentages themselves. But I do believe that over the next couple of years we will see improvement in those areas.

One thing that has surprised me about Edwards so far as a rookie is his vision. I know a lot of people give him crap about slowing down the offense, and I get it. But some of the passes he makes when driving to the hoop like a cannonball... there just aren’t a lot of players who can do that. That should only get more dangerous over time as well.

As for defense, he has the tools. Awareness (aka experience) and motivation are the two things that he needs. Edwards is a motivated guy in general, so I think that will come with some team success and just feeling like the games matter. The awareness part we’ll have to wait and see.

I would add that most all star players slow down the offense and kill ball movement. LeBron did, Wade did, Jordan did, Kobe did, Harden does, Durant does, etc. It's just a price you pay for having an alpha player. If we're content sharing the ball and missing the playoffs every year, but I would like to try something different for a change.

There are too many posters on this board who want to develop Ant as a secondary player and judge him through that lens instead of developing him as the 3 level alpha #1 option that his ceiling suggests he could be. You could say the same negative comments about every #1 wing scorer for NBA teams across the league.

[Klomp]

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[Klomp]

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[Calinks]

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That's what I want to see!

[Klomp]

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For full context, compared to total FGM last 5 games:

Williamson 40 of 51 (78.4%)
Antetokounmpo 39 of 55 (70.9%)
Gobert 31 of 32 (96.9%)
Butler 30 of 50 (60.0%)
Kanter 27 of 32 (84.4%)
Edwards 26 of 46 (56.5%)
Harrell 26 of 33 (78.8%)

Maybe still a little low, but trending in the right direction!

[winforlose]

Just a cursory hypothetical, not a suggestion or opinion either way. I am wondering if seeing the upside Ant possess would anyone make any of the following trades. For the purposes of this hypo assume all salaries were equal (even though they are obviously not equal.)

1. Ant for Zion
2. Ant for Wiseman
3. Ant for Lamelo ball

[TheZachAttack]

Just a cursory hypothetical, not a suggestion or opinion either way. I am wondering if seeing the upside Ant possess would anyone make any of the following trades. For the purposes of this hypo assume all salaries were equal (even though they are obviously not equal.)

1. Ant for Zion
2. Ant for Wiseman
3. Ant for Lamelo ball

I would trade Ant for Zion FOR SURE. I would trade Ant and our 1st round pick (assuming we get it) for Zion almost. At this point, I'd still trade Ball for Ant straight up if offered.

[Calinks]

Just a cursory hypothetical, not a suggestion or opinion either way. I am wondering if seeing the upside Ant possess would anyone make any of the following trades. For the purposes of this hypo assume all salaries were equal (even though they are obviously not equal.)

1. Ant for Zion
2. Ant for Wiseman
3. Ant for Lamelo ball

Right now I'd probably make all three trades. If Edwards hits his potential peak he will be a more valuable player than all of them (debatable with Melo) because I think top shelf guards have more value than top shelf bigs. That said, I think he has a long ways to climb to get there and the odds aren't likely he will so I'd roll the dice with the others who seem to have better NBA games right now.

[shangrila]

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For full context, compared to total FGM last 5 games:

Williamson 40 of 51 (78.4%)
Antetokounmpo 39 of 55 (70.9%)
Gobert 31 of 32 (96.9%)
Butler 30 of 50 (60.0%)
Kanter 27 of 32 (84.4%)
Edwards 26 of 46 (56.5%)
Harrell 26 of 33 (78.8%)

Maybe still a little low, but trending in the right direction!

To be fair to Ant he's the smallest guy on that list, not to mention aside from Butler he's the only non-big there too.

[Dalvin]

With how ANT has talked well about Rubio, I wonder if he has the clout with Rosas to make sure that Rubio is not traded and it's D'Lo that he prefers to be traded? Would Rosas choose between KAT's friendship or ANT's being helped to fulfill his potential with Rubio?

[jpatrick]

Just a cursory hypothetical, not a suggestion or opinion either way. I am wondering if seeing the upside Ant possess would anyone make any of the following trades. For the purposes of this hypo assume all salaries were equal (even though they are obviously not equal.)

1. Ant for Zion
2. Ant for Wiseman
3. Ant for Lamelo ball

Definitely yes for Zion. Yes for Ball. No to Wiseman.