Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards knee surgery puts $304 million supermax path at risk

Anthony Edwards has arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday. The procedure will keep the Minnesota Timberwolves star out for weeks at least, and it could cost him far more than playing time. ESPN reported the expected absence at up to two months. Team president Tim Connelly told reporters Wednesday that the club expects Edwards to come back "good as new," according to an Associated Press story carried by ESPN.

The money is the bigger issue. Heavy.com laid out the contract stakes, drawing on comments The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski made on his podcast. Edwards played only 61 games last season, short of the league's 65-game minimum for major awards. That meant he started this season still needing an All-NBA selection, an MVP or Defensive Player of the Year to qualify for a designated veteran extension. That deal is worth about $304 million over four years, starting in 2029-30. The rule lets a player miss 17 games, and a two-month absence would very likely use up all of them. Krawczynski noted that Edwards could still sign a smaller extension, or he could wait a year and try to qualify again. Either way, he called the financial hit to the player and the team immediate.

The timing is hard on Edwards. He scored 133 points in four games, a franchise record, including 47 in Monday's 127-125 overtime loss at Cleveland. He played that game despite being listed as questionable. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that the knee, which gave him runner's knee problems last spring, was aggravated in the opener at Miami. An MRI on Tuesday showed new damage that earlier scans had not picked up. Connelly said it is not the meniscus and described the procedure as a cleanup. He said Edwards agreed to the surgery reluctantly and that the team does not expect him to miss the season. According to the Star Tribune, team sources hope he returns sometime in December.

On ESPN's studio side, Stephen A. Smith called the injury devastating for Minnesota. The front office sees it differently and believes the roster has enough depth to keep winning.

What it means for Golden State and beyond

Wednesday night's home game against the Warriors is Minnesota's first without Edwards. The opening week shows what the Wolves have to replace. They went 3-1 and beat Miami, Orlando and Toronto by 25, 22 and 23 points. They are averaging 122 points and allowing 105, a margin of plus-17 per game. Edwards scored about 27 percent of the team's points, and no other player comes close to that load.

As ESPN noted, guard Donte DiVincenzo is already out after tearing his right Achilles tendon in last spring's playoffs. That leaves LaMelo Ball running the offense, with Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. the likely candidates to start in Edwards' spot. Bones Hyland should also see more minutes. Golden State came to Target Center at 1-3, per iHeart. That gives Chris Finch a chance to try new rotations against a team that has struggled early.

The longer test runs through December. Minnesota plans to update Edwards' timeline after Thursday's procedure. That update will show how many games the Wolves have to cover without him and how close Edwards comes to the 65-game line that his next contract depends on.