Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch believes Anthony Edwards must re-establish himself as a high-leverage defender if he needs to have an MVP-caliber season in 2026-27.
Finch additionally indicated that Edwards’ offensive duties will likely be adjusted after the All-Star guard carried a big workload throughout the 2025-26 marketing campaign.
“I feel we’re going to want him to get again to being a extra high-leverage defender for us,” Finch mentioned, through the Minnesota Post. “His on-ball dealing with duties (on offense) will likely be lowered, which was in all probability essentially the most taxing factor for him final yr.”
Finch views the 2 areas as linked. By lowering a few of Edwards’ ball-handling duties, Minnesota can doubtlessly protect extra of his power for defensive assignments whereas nonetheless counting on him as its major scorer.
“I additionally really feel that for him to have an MVP season, he has to have extra of a defensive element,” Finch mentioned.
Edwards enters the 2026-27 season after producing a career-best 28.8 factors per recreation in 61 appearances final season. He shot 48.9% from the sphere and 39.9% from three-point vary whereas averaging 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks.
The 25-year-old has steadily elevated his scoring output all through his six NBA seasons, going from 19.3 factors per recreation as a rookie to 21.3, 24.6, 25.9, 27.6 and 28.8 over his first six campaigns.
His 2025-26 season earned him one other All-Star choice and third place in Clutch Participant of the 12 months voting. Edwards has additionally completed seventh in MVP voting in every of the earlier two seasons, whereas making the All-NBA Second Workforce in each 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The defensive element Finch referenced was already seen in Edwards’ 2024-25 marketing campaign. He completed third in Clutch Participant of the 12 months voting that season whereas averaging 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks, though his general defensive workload will develop into extra necessary with Minnesota reshaping its roster.
The Timberwolves made main adjustments round Edwards this offseason, most notably acquiring LaMelo Ball from Charlotte in a four-team trade. Minnesota additionally added Jonathan Kuminga after trading Josh Green to Utah, whereas Julius Randle and Naz Reid departed.
Ball provides Minnesota one other high-level ball-handler, which might straight deal with Finch’s plan to cut back the quantity of offensive creation required from Edwards. The projected beginning lineup of Edwards, Ball, Jaden McDaniels, Kuminga and Rudy Gobert additionally provides the Timberwolves appreciable defensive size.
Gobert stays an necessary defensive anchor after averaging 11.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks final season whereas incomes All-Defensive First Workforce honors and ending fourth in Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting.
Edwards’ offensive effectivity will stay central to Minnesota’s ambitions, however Finch is figuring out protection as the extra aspect that would elevate him from a perennial All-NBA candidate to a legit MVP contender.
