The 2020 NBA Draft was a huge event for the Minnesota Timberwolves. As a franchise that has been largely irrelevant for most of their existence, drafting first in 2020 gave them an opportunity to start turning their fortunes around.
Eventually, they settled on Anthony Edwards out of Georgia, which was not a surprise to anyone at the time. The reason why they picked him, however, might be the bigger story.
In an article by The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, he sheds some light on Minnesota’s decision-making process ahead of the 2020 draft. Apparently, neither LaMelo Ball nor James Wiseman was excited about potentially joining the team.
It was always going to take an almost irrational level of audacity to turn one of the NBA’s least successful franchises into a winner.
James Wiseman, sources told The Athletic, did not want to come to Minnesota and play behind Karl-Anthony Towns. LaMelo Ball was curiously quiet and short with his conversations with personnel in the interview process, leaving the impression that he wasn’t excited about being with the Timberwolves. Then there was Anthony Edwards, who made it abundantly clear to them that he was ready for anything they could throw at him.
Ball ended up going to Charlotte while Wiseman was thrust into an exciting situation in Golden State. Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards is thriving as he leads a TWolves team to prosperity.
On the court, not much has changed for Minnesota. They have good stretches but continue to expose some major flaws on both ends of the floor.
The difference now is that, for the first time in a while, there is some real optimism about the future. Besides the growth of Edwards, who is averaging 22.7 points per game this season, Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell have given fans a lot to be excited about.
In the front office, the departure of former team President Gersson Rosas is allowing a culture of accountability to transform the franchise from the inside out.
So while you can’t blame LaMelo and Wiseman for passing up on the historically inept Timberwolves, they have to watch as Anthony Edwards has the time of his life digging the team out of its grave.
