Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesAnthony Edwards is eligible for a maximum contract extension this summer, and the Minnesota Timberwolves star is making a change to his representation ahead of negotiations.
Edwards is switching from Klutch Sports to Bill Duffy and WME, according to Bleacher Report and TNT’s Chris Haynes.
Dane Moore @DaneMooreNBAWhy is Ant leaving Klutch?
Text I got: “Bill Duffy is Bill Duffy”
Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels now both represented by Duffy and WME as they enter contract extension negotiations this summer. https://t.co/wKdtMFeM21
The Timberwolves selected Edwards first overall in the 2020 draft out of Georgia, and he’s eligible for a five-year, $195 million rookie max extension. He is virtually guaranteed to put pen-to-paper on a max deal after showing improvement in each of his first three seasons.
The 21-year-old made the 2020-21 All-Rookie Team after averaging 19.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 72 games while shooting 41.7 percent from the floor and 32.9 percent from deep.
Minnesota finished the season with a 23-49 record and missed the playoffs, but the Timberwolves put together a bounce back 2021-22 season thanks in part to Edwards.
The Georgia product averaged 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 72 games during his second season while shooting 44.1 percent from the floor and 35.7 percent from beyond the arc.
The Timberwolves finished with a 46-36 record before falling to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.
Edwards put together the best season of his fledgling career in 2022-23, averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals in 79 games while shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 36.9 percent from deep en route to his first All-Star selection.
Minnesota finished the season with a 42-40 record, clinching a postseason berth for the second consecutive year, but it fell to the Denver Nuggets in the first round.
The Timberwolves likely won’t hesitate to lock up their franchise player, especially after president of basketball operations Tim Connelly told reporters in April that Edwards and Jaden McDaniels will have “really really nice offers with a lot of money in their inbox” once they can begin contract discussions.
That said, Edwards told Chris Hine of the Star Tribune last month that money hasn’t been a motivating factor in his career.
“I’m ready to play. I’m not even — that’s cool. The money cool,” Edwards said. “But I love the game of basketball. I don’t do it for the money. I do it because I just want to be known who they say, ‘He was a great player.'”
Edwards will earn $13.5 million in 2023-24 after Minnesota exercised his club option. He also holds a qualifying offer worth $17.6 million in 2024-25.
Source : Bleacher Report