It’s not as though Anthony Edwards hasn’t had a fine playoff run thus far. He poured in 44 points during a Game 4 loss that may have left him wondering if he had teammates at all. Still though, up against a Denver Nuggets team that with championship cred, Edwards needs to stoke the fire if all these “next face of the NBA” tags and Michael Jordan comparisons are going to continue.

Minnesota Timberwolves need Anthony Edwards to take another step

It’s sometimes difficult to remember that Anthony Edwards is just 22 years old. He has a level of maturity, both on and off the court, well beyond his years. Asking him to carry the load and come through with another Jordan-esque performance might not be fair. Right now though, it’s what is required of him.

Playoff career-high 44 POINTS for Anthony Edwards in Game 4.

Left it all on the floor.

His @Timberwolves will look to move to 5-0 on the road this postseason in Game 5 (Tuesday, 10:30pm/et, TNT). pic.twitter.com/0PSmhpIkR9

— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2024

Related: Anthony Edwards is Over the Michael Jordan Talk

At different points throughout the season Edwards has looked like a generational talent ready to take the league by storm. He went at Kevin Durant, a favorite of his, in the first series and put him down. While not playing directly against Nikola Jokic, the Timberwolves need their superstar to show the greatness that is Anthony Edwards once again.

Nuggets vs Wolves Game 7 is up to Anthony Edwards

Basketball is a team game, but a single individual can have an impact over the course of 48 minutes more than almost any other sport. Chris Finch needs to see Rudy Gobert play like the Defensive Player of the Year, and Karl Anthony Towns has to contribute in a way that looks like a superstar. The only avenue to Game 7 though, is if Anthony Edwards has a moment in which he carries the team on his back.

It’s not as though the Timberwolves need 60 points or a triple-double from Anthony Edwards to compete. What they need is the type of performance where it feels like he simply dominated the game. Returning home to the Target Center, with fans begging for this run not to be over, Edwards can provide another milestone in an early career full of them, and the series would go back to Denver for a winner-take-all tilt.

Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards on Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic’s Game 5: “I just laugh. That’s all I can do. I can’t be mad. … He’s the MVP. He’s the best player in the NBA. He showed it the last three games. … He was special tonight. I have to give him his flowers. He was that guy.” pic.twitter.com/C0x3kylQS2

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 15, 2024

Whether veteran point guard Mike Conley is able to play on Thursday night or not, Minnesota must find a way to be better collected and remain within themselves. Showing signs of frustration and allowing cracks to show through on the court, Edwards can help to provide a presence well beyond his years.

Related: Kendrick Perkins Takes Anthony Edwards + Michael Jordan Comparisons to Another Level

Minnesota is certainly not going to be given belief by many outside of the locker room, but what Anthony Edwards does on the court in what may be the biggest game of his career, can change that notion in a hurry.

It didn’t help his game, unfortunately. Schroder finished a -16 in 28 minutes off the Nets’ bench in a sloppy 101-86 Wolves win. The 30-year-old German scoring 9 points to go with 1 rebound, 2 assists and 2 turnovers. Then, with time running out in the game, controversy struck when Schroder went after the coolest cucumber in the NBA, Mike Conley.

Why? Apparently, he took offense to Conley shooting a 3-pointer while the Timberwolves were running out the clock in the 4th quarter. The shot clock was about to strike zero, but there was still over 20 seconds left on the game clock. Mike was wide open with the ball in his hands, so he shot it… and Schroder was not happy with that decision.

Dennis Schröder was not happy after a Mike Conley late three in the T-Wolves W 😳 pic.twitter.com/dZiIhYdQQk

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 25, 2024

Jaden McDaniels steps in after Dennis Schroder shoves Mike Conley

After Schroder went after Conley, Jaden McDaniels immediately steps in to defend his veteran point guard. I wasn’t really sure I could like this team any more than I already did but Dennis helped prove that wrong today and I’d like to thank him for that. What an exchange.

Unlike Dennis Schröder’s decision with that 4-year/$84 million dollar extension offer from the Lakers, there was simply no way Mike Conley was turning this down.
pic.twitter.com/2exZxRw15R

— Kyle Theige (@KyleTheige) February 25, 2024

I mean, I guess Conley could have let the shot clock run out and eaten the turnover… and some might even argue that he should have. But even that is a flimsy argument, at best. I understand that the Timberwolves were up big but, with the shot clock running out, it’s not big enough of a deal to try and start a melee over.

Related: Patrick Beverley Calls Timberwolves Coach Chris Finch a ‘Sore Loser’

After the game, Anthony Edwards said that Schroder was extra feisty all night, which makes this final episode less of a surprise. Some have wondered out loud if it is the bad haircut he received recently that has him in a bad mood.

"He was talking crazy all night, honestly."

Anthony Edwards on Dennis Schroder shoving Mike Conley which caused both teams to be separated, a lengthy & leading to 4 technical fouls. https://t.co/DaacRhMKW5

— Alan Horton (@WolvesRadio) February 25, 2024

Others think it might be jealousy over how much better of a point guard Mike Conley is, even at an advanced age compared to Dennis. In the end, we may never know… but we know he had no chance of getting a reaction out of the Wolves’ point guard, if that’s what he was going for.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. is nearing a two-year, $22 million contract extension, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/7qA67tO1JJ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 19, 2024

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Depth Chart and Injury Report – 2024

It was reported a couple of weeks ago that the Wolves were moving in on a possible extension with Conley and that he was very interested in the possibility. Crazy how quickly things can get done when both sides are motivated.

Minnesota Timberwolves needed more Mike Conley

According to Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic), it was head coach Chris Finch who started lobbying Timberwolves ownership for a Conley extension at the very beginning of this season. Money Mike is in the midst of a career-year, even as he creeps into his late-30s.

• Mike Conley Stats ( 2023-24): 44% FG | 44% 3PT | 10.6 PTS | 6.4 AST | 2.9 RPG | .923 FT% | 15.5 PER | 5.8 WS

Conley’s 3PT% (44%) is right near his career high, his eFG% (.588) is a career high. But where Conley has thrived in Minnesota is with his role as the Wolves’ on-court pacesetter and distributor, but even more importantly, as a big brother figure for blossoming young stars Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Related: Anthony Davis Says Timberwolves are the Best Team He’s Seen This Season

There’s no doubt, Conley is the perfect point guard to help transition Ant from young phenom to NBA Superstar. And given some of the things we saw at NBA All-Star weekend, it’s pretty clear Ant still needs some guard rails up to help him navigate these pup years.

Related: Anthony Edwards Credits Timberwolves Win to Rudy Gobert Cussing Out Teammates at Halftime

Both guys have brought a level of professionalism off the court and defensive accountability on the court that has unlocked the true talents of Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. Conley wasn’t just the key to unlocking Gobert, he was the key to unlocking the entire team.

Rudy Gobert makes LeBron James, Steph Curry level impact?

But when asked by NBA insider Mark Medina (Sportskeeda, Sportsnaut, FOX Sports Radio) about his friend Rudy Gobert and why he was snubbed from the All-Star game, Conley said it’s disappointing to see the league dismissing Rudy because he is the one who makes the Wolves go. That Rudy makes just as big of an impact on winning as, wait for it, LeBron James and Steph Curry.

“I think he’s not treated like a superstar because he doesn’t do the superstar things, offensively, that LeBron [James] and Steph [Curry] do. But he has the same impact on a game. People gameplan for him like they gameplan for others. You gameplan differently for Steph as you do for somebody else. But with Rudy, you do have to gameplan for his gravity offensively. If he goes to the offensive glass, they’re bringing two or three people. Knowing the film session, they are saying, ‘You got to box out. All three of us have to be there. We have to be in the paint.’

Mark Medina – Sportskeeda

Is Mike Conley crazy?

At face value, we might see fans and players across the league lose their minds over a comment like this one. Conley comparing Rudy Gobert to LeBron and Steph may seem insane to casuals.

Related: Rudy Gobert Says He’s a Hall of Famer, Is He Right?

But in reality, Gobert brings such an insane improvement to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ defense and rebounding, not to mention the maturity and accountability he brings to the locker room, that it’s impossible to deny the effect he has on winning.

Fuck it, Rudy Gobert Perimeter Defense highlights pic.twitter.com/KopSGY38Lh

— Ev (@EvInFour) February 13, 2024

In fact, you could argue that in 2024, he has a greater impact on winning than Steph and LeBron, because neither of their teams are winning at near the level of the Wolves. While Minnesota sits atop the West, it’s the Lakers and Warriors who are struggling to remain in the play-in tournament conversation.

Related: Two Minnesota Timberwolves Earn All-Star Nods, One Other Star Gets Snubbed

Conley keeps the Wolves together, on schedule and all moving in the right direction. And he does it with grace, humility and leadership we haven’t seen from that position in a long time, which is why both his teammates and the fans love him.

Mike Conley is averaging 10.8 PPG, 2.8 RBS and 6.3 AST a game and he’s played an impressive 43 of 48 games this season. And some new buzz on Thursday from local insider Darren Wolfson (KSTP) suggests the Wolves have started discussions with Mike Conley on a potential extension.

Mike Conley Extension on the Way?

Darren Wolfson joined the Mackey and Judd Show (SKOR North), shedding light on the potential future plans of the Timberwolves and Mike Conley. Conley stands out as eligible for an in season extension, setting the stage for discussions about their next moves.

“There have been discussions on an extension for Mike Conley Jr, so remember, there are a lot of guys that are not extension eligible in-season. He’s the opposite; he’s actually extension eligible right this moment. So, not to get into all the minutia, but if the Wolves wanted to sign Mike Conley Jr to a contract extension today, they could do that. Now, it’s not far down the road or anything like that, but there have been discussions. Last time I brought that up a couple of months ago, I said ‘no, nothing’s off the ground at this point’. [Extension talks are] at least a little bit off the ground.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey and Judd Show

Due to Mike Conley’s age of 36, it’s unlikely that the extension would exceed two years. Conley’s teammates have emphasized his importance to the team, making it crucial to keep him in Minnesota. The Timberwolves record of 2-3 without Conley this season further shows his impact on the team’s performance.

Tyus Jones too expensive for Minnesota Timberwolves

Wolfson wasn’t done with his Wolves scoops, after Conley’s possible extension. Another topic of discussion revolved around the acquisition of a backup point guard, and former Timberwolves PG and Apple Valley native, Tyus Jones emerging as a possible target.

Related: Timberwolves Interested in Gordon Hayward and Doug McDermott, Especially Post Trade Deadline

Tyus Jones, an Apple Valley native, is having a great season on a disaster team, the Washington Wizards, who are expected to deal him before the deadline. Wolves fans would love to see him return to the Timberwolves and the fit is pretty much perfect for what they need. Wolfson, however, says that the Wizards’ asking price (a first round pic) is just too rich for Minnesota’s blood.

“I did check again on Tyus Jones, like I know Tyus Jones fans at Mayo Clinic Square. It sounds like, now, hey, maybe the price comes down like next Wednesday, 24 hours out, but right now, the price is still pretty darn high. First-round pick, the Wolves, because of the Stepien rule, they can’t even trade their 2024 first-round pick, not that they would anyway, but point is, like, the Wolves just, there’s not a match. I’ve been saying that since December. There’s not really a match for Tyus Jones, depending on restricted free agent, the former Wolf who continues to perform at a very, very solid level. Ty would help these guys so much, but it sounds like Washington is still asking for too much. That’s a trade that I just, it’s hard for me to find a match, Minnesota and Washington.”

Wolfson – Mackey and Judd Show

If the Wizards are asking for a first-round pick, the Timberwolves can’t make that trade due to the Stepien rule, as Wolfson mentioned. Perhaps as the deadline approaches and the Wizards aim to maximize their return for Tyus, the price might decrease.

However, this could still require the Timberwolves to trade away a player or two, such as Troy Brown, Kyle Anderson, or even Shake Milton. With less than a week left before the deadline, the Timberwolves have to decide whom to pursue to strengthen their roster through a trade. We’ll soon find out who they target.

The other franchise changing trade between Minnesota and Utah

But the destiny of this franchise seemed to take a turn in the right direction after last season’s trade deadline, when the Wolves executed a 3-way deal that sent D’Angelo Russell from Minnesota to the LA Lakers and Russell Westbrook + a 1st round pick to the Utah Jazz.

The Lakers, Jazz and Timberwolves are in discussions on a three-team deal that would send D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers, Russell Westbrook and draft compensation such as a first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. to Minnesota, sources tell me and @Tjonesonthenba.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2023

In the deal, the Timberwolves got a 35-year-old Mike Conley from the Jazz, along with a young asset for their bench, Nickeil Alexander-Walker. At the time, most fans back in Minnesota didn’t know what they had gotten in NAW… or in Conley for that matter.

Still, unlike the immediate pushback Tim Connelly faced after completing the blockbuster trade that landed Rudy Gobert, this deal received high marks across the board right away. It just made sense.

Related: Bally Sports North May Stream Timberwolves, Twins and Wild on Amazon Prime

DLo wasn’t a part of the Wolves’ future, especially when issues between he and Rudy Gobert began bubbling to the media surface. Mike Conley, on the other hand, played with Rudy for four seasons in Utah and has never been known to have issues with any teammate or any coach… ever.

Defense isn’t D’Angelo Russell’s game. Just ask him…

But after seeing what D’Angelo Russell said in his postgame press conference, following the Lakers latest loss, I was reminded of just how franchise changing last year’s trade really was, which in retrospect, may be just as influential as the Gobert deal was months earlier.

When asked something about his defense, DLo said that he shouldn’t be judged on his defense. Why? Because defense isn’t part of his game. If nothing else, at least he’s honest.

This may be the first player I’ve seen willingly tell the world he isn’t impacting a game if he isn’t making shots pic.twitter.com/6YPeFyvKTT

— kingtisemedia (@kingtisemedia) December 22, 2023

“If I’m not making shots and I’m depending on just getting a stop [defensively]… um, that’s where I work and try to be better, but umm… [defense] is not what I do.”

Tim Connelly swapping DLo for Mike Conley deserves highest honor

I know, right. Thank the basketball gods for that trade and whatever stars happened to align that allowed the Minnesota Timberwolves to rid themselves of whatever that was, in return for everything that Mike Conley brings them.

Related: Jump on the Timberwolves Bandwagon Now or Live with Regret Later

Not only is Conley the consummate professional, and someone who reflects that professionalism onto his younger teammates. But he was the key to unlocking Rudy Gobert. With Russell gone and Mike Conley replacing him at point guard, the Wolves newest max contract big man has flourished both on and off the floor.

Rudy Gobert lob dunk, assisted by Mike Conley for his 6,000th NBA assist pic.twitter.com/mNDSdUwAWZ

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) December 17, 2023

Before you feel too bad for the Lakers, the trade doesn’t necessarily place them in too bad of a light, even if the Wolves got far and away the best arm of the deal. LA got off of Russell Westbrook, which they were desperately trying to do at the time.

DLo is far from perfect but at least he can shoot better than my 7th grade daughter who’s never played organized basketball in her life. Danny Ainge and the Utah Jazz, on the other hand, do not come off as clean.

Sure, they got some future cap relief + another 1st round pick. But two of Utah’s future 1st round picks and some draft swap decisions, will be dictated by how good the Timberwolves are over then next few seasons. And with Mike Conley on roster, those picks will now be much later in the 1st round.

I will never fully understand why the Utah Jazz (and Danny Ainge specifically) agreed to trade Mike Conley to Minnesota.

They essentially gifted the Timberwolves the passcode to unlock Rudy Gobert, which has in turn unlocked everything else for this team.

— Kyle Theige (@KyleTheige) December 22, 2023

Where would Minnesota Timberwolves be without Mike Conley?

Had Connelly not found a way to get that trade done, who knows where the Minnesota Timberwolves are right now. How bad would the locker room have gotten, had Russell been the team’s point guard for the rest of the season? I don’t even want to know.

And if they had traded DLo for another piece that didn’t fit as perfectly as Mike Conley has, is Gobert playing as well as he is now? Are the Timberwolves the best team in the West? Probably not. Thus, I propose we put Tim Connelly’s suit coat in the Target Center rafters immediately.

Related: Anthony Edwards Releases Statement Confirming Exposed Text Messages Were His

Without that seemingly innocuous 3-team trade last season before the deadline, it’s unlikely we’re in the best season of Minnesota Timberwolves basketball in two decades. And even if it doesn’t lead to an NBA Finals appearance, I’m glad we’re at least getting the ride.

Sadly for Wolves fans, it doesn’t seem that way. Many are now questioning if it was wise to give away so many NBA picks and players to get a defending juggernaut who doesn’t seem to be defending that well!

We are now over halfway through the regular season, so we have a pretty good idea of how things are going to pan out. At the time of writing, the Wolves sit eighth in the Western Conference. In this article, we look at their playoff prospects, including if they will even make it, and if so, how far can they go.

Current standing – Bottom of the pack

At the time of writing, Minnesota had a .500 record and were eighth in the West. We can’t pretend that we didn’t expect better. Gobert was meant to bring immediate success and potentially move the Wolves into the top half of the playoff contenders.

Expectations often fall short of reality.

Season performance so far – Underwhelming

The first half of the season has been less than stellar. The chemistry has been off and so far, Gobert hasn’t really gelled with the rest of the team. If anything, their defense has been worse, and they are near the bottom of the league in both defensive and offensive rebounds. Add to that a wave of injuries and it’s easy to see why the Wolves are in eighth place.

In terms of individual performances, Gobert is falling short of his own usual standards. He is scoring less, rebounding less and blocking less. The blocks are perhaps the most startling change. Usually, you can count on him averaging two per game. This year, he currently sits at 1.3 per game which is a large decrease. His rebounding has also dropped from a typically league-leading 13+ per game to 11.5 RPG. This could be due to the pressure, the booing from the fans or just how he fits into the team.

At the start of the season, Ant Man was not playing brilliantly either and it has regularly been reported that he is unhappy. It is believed that he doesn’t really like playing with Gobert, and analysts believe that the big man could be stifling Edward’s offensive potential. In the last month, however, Edward’s form has picked up and he has had some fantastic individual performances including a whopping 44-point game. Indeed, his stats are up across the board compared to last season, which is a huge positive.

D’lo continues to be inconsistent, and of course KAT has been sidelined since the end of November so we can’t really comment on his impact. Other players, such as McDaniels, continue to be important parts of the team.

How far can they go?

So, we have some inconsistent performances, and some team chemistry that needs working out. When you are halfway through the season, that isn’t great. However, there is still time to work things through and for the squad to get healthy.

With the current standings, the Wolves would be facing the Denver Nuggets in the first round. As much as we love them, we just can’t see them being able to stop an MVP-level Jokic and a supporting cast of Gordon, MPJ and Murray who are all playing excellently. We think that they would just have too much firepower and talent and they have been in incredible form recently.

If the Wolves can move up and improve their playoff standing, things get a little murkier. After the Grizzlies, you then get to teams such as the Kings, Pelicans and Mavericks. On a good day with the right performances, the Wolves could potentially win here.

So, realistically, Minnesota may take a few games from a team such as Denver or Memphis and could progress to the second round with the right matchup. However, with the current team chemistry, trade rumors and injuries, a first-round exit is more likely.

Potential for a turnaround – KAT returns

How far the Wolves can go depends on many factors as seen above. One of the biggest is the return of KAT, what shape he is in and if he can find a way to coexist with Gobert. Unfortunately, with their current standing, and other teams in the West, it is unlikely that even if the Wolves do find their chemistry, they will get further than the first round.

According to Shams (The Athletic), PoBO Tim Connelly is nearing agreement on a three-team blockbuster trade that will send D’Angelo Russell to the LA Lakers, Russell Westbrook and a 1st round pick to the Utah Jazz and Mike Conley Jr. to the Wolves.

The Lakers, Jazz and Timberwolves are in discussions on a three-team deal that would send D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers, Russell Westbrook and draft compensation such as a first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. to Minnesota, sources tell me and @Tjonesonthenba.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2023

**Update: The trade is currently being finalized (per Woj). It includes three future 2nd round picks and Nickeil Alexander-Walker back to the Wolves, along with Mike Conley Jr.

Mike Conley Jr vs D’Angelo Russell

Mike Conley Jr has one partially guaranteed season remaining on his contract after the 2022-23 season. Swapping DLo’s expiring contract out for Conley’s allows the Wolves one extra year to kick the can down the road on their 4th max salary slot and should fit in really well with Rudy Gobert, after their two seasons together in Utah.

If the Wolves do climb the Wester Conference ladder with this trade, it will cost Utah spots in next year’s 1st round, since they own the Wolves 1st round pick. Grabbing that additional 1st from the Lakers probably makes up for that concern on their end.

Mike Conley Jr isn’t playing better than D’Angelo Russell, in recent months. But he should give the Minnesota Timberwolves a trusty veteran point guard who brings consistency to the lineup night in and night out, along with 73 games of playoff experience over the course of his 15-year career.

More Players Will Be Involved

The Three players mentioned in Shams’ original tweet won’t be the only players moving in this deal. We do not know where they will land yet but former Timberwolves, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt are expected to be on the move, as well. According to Woj, the Wolves haul will include picks but no additional players (for now)

Ongoing discussions have included Utah’s Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt as part of the potential three-team deal to the Lakers, sources said. Sides are working through pick protections and additional draft compensation too, per sources. https://t.co/DoI0EBOBVq

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2023

Three-way talks with Lakers, Jazz and Timberwolves would potentially land D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley with LA, Mike Conley, Jr., and picks with Timberwolves and Russell Westbrook and picks with Jazz, per sources. Jazz remain engaged elsewhere on Conley Jr., too.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2023

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan