The Minnesota Timberwolves need a better roster alongside Anthony Edwards; there's no denying that. How the Wolves go about upgrading their roster is up for debate, though. Things will be particularly challenging due to the Wolves' lack of draft capital, high payroll and unwillingness to part ways with young players.
If the Wolves strike out on a star, their next best option is further empowering Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Ayo Dosunmu (assuming he re-signs) and whoever they land via trade. In this scenario, the Wolves would fill this void for a second option in the aggregate, or one of these players would emerge as a clear-cut No. 2 option.
This is a divisive strategy among Wolves, with some arguing that this could upset Ant-Man, as the team wouldn't be giving him a clear-cut co-star. My counter to this is that there are no two players with whom Ant is closer with than McDaniels and Reid.
Edwards has played his entire career with these two players and has routinely expressed confidence in both of them. I think he would be very much on board with them getting bigger roles, even if it leaves him without a traditional second option.
By keeping McDaniels out of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks and by viewing Reid as a part of their sub-26 core, the Wolves have already committed to this idea on some level. And if you have this much belief in both players, why not see what they can do with more responsibilities?
Empowering this young core could be the best way to build a long-term contender and keep Ant happy.
Not trading for a star means bigger roles for McDaniels and Reid, which Edwards would support
Perhaps the most famous example of Ant's belief in McDaniels is when he said, before their first-round series with the Phoenix Suns. We all know what happened next: the Wolves swept Phoenix.
This mindset would essentially be what the Wolves would be embracing by not trading for a co-star. So what if your team has bigger names? Jaden (and other players) can provide that second-option production on any given night. McDaniels averaged 16.3 points in the playoffs, including dropping 32 points in a closeout game without Ant, which shows that he can scale up.
If the Wolves opt to trade Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert without getting a classic No. 2 option, plenty of folks would question their viability as a contender. But that's what this group thrives on, as they've been underdogs in each of their past three first-round series (winning all of them).
The Wolves' best chance of winning a championship doesn't involve trading for any big name on the market -- it involves building a well-rounded roster alongside Edwards. Yes, they need more ball-handling, but that doesn't have to be from a true star.
Now, if there was a no-brainer star available for a fair price, yes, by all means, they should make that move. But no such trade exists. Ja Morant is the biggest name available. Beyond his injury concerns, it's fair to wonder how he would adapt to playing more of an off-ball role alongside Ant.
The Wolves would be committing to a $40 million player, which requires them to move off at least another player in addition to Randle or Gobert. From there, the Wolves would have to find a trade for the other veteran that saves money -- that's easier said than done. There's a chance that trading for a star, especially one with as many risks as Ja, could backfire.
Everyone can agree that the Wolves must keep Ant happy. I just happen to think the best realistic way to accomplish this goal isn't swinging for the fences with a blockbuster trade but rather improving the fit of the roster around him and empowering his two closest teammates.
Feel free to disagree with my stance, but it's at least worth considering how highly Edwards views McDaniels and Reid when thinking about the possibility of them earning bigger roles.
