The Minnesota Timberwolves have committed to building their team around Anthony Edwards by agreeing to a maximum contract extension. Edwards and the Timberwolves reached a deal worth $207 million over five years, with the potential to reach $260 million if he earns an All-NBA selection. Agent Bill Duffy confirmed the agreement.
The extension will go into effect for the 2024-25 season. Edwards joins Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana), LaMelo Ball (Charlotte), and Desmond Bane (Memphis) as players who have received maximum rookie-scale extensions this summer.
Throughout his first three seasons with the Timberwolves, Edwards has shown steady improvement. His scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and shooting percentages have all increased each year. In the previous season, he averaged 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on 46% shooting, including a 37% shooting from 3-point range. Only nine players averaged similar numbers in points, rebounds, and assists, and Edwards was the youngest among them at 21. When steals per game are added to the criteria, he becomes the youngest player since LeBron James in the 2005-06 season to achieve those averages.
The contract extension was expected, with the only question being the timing. According to league rules, Minnesota had to wait until July 1 to finalize the deal. Despite the slight delay, the Timberwolves were eager to secure Edwards’ long-term future.
As the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Edwards will turn 22 next month. He has quickly emerged as a go-to player for the Timberwolves, especially during Karl-Anthony Towns’ absence due to injury. Towns and center Rudy Gobert are the other two max players on the Timberwolves’ roster. Towns signed a $224 million contract extension last year, while Gobert has three years remaining on his deal.
With a goal of achieving a winning record for the third consecutive season, the Timberwolves aim to make further progress and secure a playoff berth. The franchise has not experienced a streak of six straight years with a winning record since the 1999-00 through 2004-05 seasons.
