新人 Edwards makes himself room in 最高の，を越す trio for T-wolves
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - More than a year after acquiring D'Angelo Russell as the 選ぶ-and-roll initiator for pal Karl-Anthony Towns, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally の近くにd this season with a 十分な month of games that both halves of their 星／主役にする pairing were 利用できる to play in.
Their biggest takeaway from the longest stretch of time Towns and Russell have had together on the 床に打ち倒す was that they're 現実に only two parts of what has quickly become a formidable trio.
Anthony Edwards filled his audition for the NBA 新人 of the Year award with high-飛行機で行くing dunks, timely 3-pointers and wide smiles, leaving the Timberwolves with no 悔いる about making him the first 全体にわたる 選ぶ in the 草案. Towns and Russell will have to make room.
"They help me tremendously, because they can space the 床に打ち倒す, so it makes it easier to get downhill," said Edwards, who led all first-year players in 得点する／非難する／２０ing at 19.3 points per game at age 19. "Because I´m so dynamic going downhill, it opens the '3' up for them. Like, I can just kick it, and they´re wide open. I think we´ve got a pretty good thing going here."
The Timberwolves think so, too, even after yet another tumultuous season and the 16th time 行方不明の the プレーオフs in the last 17 years.
Towns had wrist trouble and then COVID-19, a 特に painful time for him considering the 病気 led to his mother's death last year. Russell had 膝 外科 and was absent even longer than Towns. 大統領 of basketball 操作／手術s Gersson Rosas 解雇する／砲火／射撃d 長，率いる coach Ryan Saunders two months into the season, 取って代わるing him with Chris Finch.
Minnesota Timberwolves 今後 Anthony Edwards (1) dunks in 前線 of Dallas 無所属の政治家s guard Tyler Bey (2) in the fourth ４半期/4分の1 of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, May 16, 2021, in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves 敗北・負かすd the 無所属の政治家s 136-121. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Through it all, Edwards played in every game, the only one in Minnesota to do so in 2020-21, while 最小限に減らすing his 証拠不十分s with an 感染性の energy and 信用／信任 that 燃料d （疑いを）晴らす 改良 over the course of his debut in the league. Each of his eight highest 得点する／非難する／２０ing totals - 範囲ing from 29 to 42 points - （機の）カム during the second half of the schedule.
"He doesn´t know how good he is and, scary enough for us, we don´t know how good he is. It feels so good to say that, because you´re talking about a 19-year-old who´s late to the sport," Rosas said, 追加するing: "It´s not always pretty, not always efficient, but the 調印するs of greatness are there."
STILL HEALING
Towns played in 50 games and finished 19th in the league with an 普通の／平均（する） of 24.8 points per game. His 狙撃 百分率 (48.6%) was a career low. His dislocated left wrist played a part in that, but he said he wouldn't need offseason 外科.
"I was impressed that I was even able to have that while just playing with one 手渡す most of the year, and it´s hard to only finish with 権利 手渡すs," Towns said.
STAYING PUT
Towns, who has three more seasons on his 最大限 契約, has seen the Timberwolves 地位，任命する their worst two winning 百分率s of his six-year career in the last two seasons. He's never even hinted at 不満 with the Twin Cities market or the Timberwolves organization, though, going out of his way on 多重の occasions over the last two years to 表明する 信用／信任 in the direction of the team. Another one of those （機の）カム Monday during his season-ending interview with reporters over ビデオ 会議／協議会.
"I just really am happy that I´m still able to be here playing for this amazing city and 明言する／公表する and be able to stay here and 影響 change in the community," Towns said, "and I´m just so happy that I´ve been given a chance to play here in Minnesota."
OTHER PIECES
Though Malik Beasley's 合法的な trouble and hamstring 傷害 限られた／立憲的な him to 37 games, the Timberwolves are sold on him as a 狙撃 guard, perhaps as a sixth man next season. Jaden McDaniels showed plenty of 可能性のある in his first season. Beyond the 最高の，を越す five players, though, the 残り／休憩（する） of the roster remains up for 得る，とらえるs. 力／強力にする 今後 is the most 批判的な area to 昇格.
"It could be more of a physical 縁-保護するing type guy or an 積極的な multi-技術d switch defender," Finch said. "We´ll see what´s out there. I have every 信用／信任 in Gersson and his 乗組員 to bring us the best 利用できる guy, if that´s what we decide to do."
LET'S PLAY PING PONG
The Timberwolves had the worst 記録，記録的な／記録する in the league two months ago but passed five teams (Houston, Detroit, Orlando, Cleveland and Oklahoma City) and now have a 27.6% chance of 上陸 one of the first three 選択s in the 草案. If they don't get lucky in the 宝くじ, they'll have to give up their first-rounder - which is 最高の，を越す-three 保護するd - to the Golden 明言する／公表する 軍人s to 完全にする the 貿易（する） they made last year for Russell.
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Minnesota Timberwolves 中心 Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots over Boston Celtics 中心 Luke Kornet (40) in the first ４半期/4分の1 during an NBA basketball game, Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard D'Angelo Russell (0) goes up to shoot as Miami Heat 今後 Jimmy Butler (22) and guard Anthony Edwards (1) look on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, May 7, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo 物陰／風下)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) 会談 with 長，率いる coach Chris Finch during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
