Anthony Edwards is set to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after playing through discomfort during the Minnesota Timberwolves first four games of the NBA season. The issue has bothered him since last year, when he dealt with right knee soreness before hyperextending his left knee during the playoffs. The Timberwolves are reportedly preparing for Edwards to now miss up to two months of action, although other reports suggest his absence could be longer, potentially not until January.
The procedure is expected to be an arthroscopic cleanup rather than surgery for a meniscus injury, but a firm return date hasn't been established. The timing is brutal for Minnesota, who had been off to a hot start rattling off three straight wins over the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors to start the year before narrowly falling 127-125 in overtime against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. Now, the Wolves will need to manage a large stretch of the regular season without their best player.
The injury could also have major financial consequences. If Edwards doesn't return until mid to late December, as expected, that would mean he'd miss around 20 to 30 games. He would therefore fall short of the NBA's 65-game requirement for end-of-season awards, putting his eligibility for a four-year, $304 million supermax extension this summer in jeopardy.
More news: Steve Kerr Makes Strong Statement About Warriors Rookie After Breakout Game More news: Stephen A Smith Blasts Kawhi Leonard After Brutal Injury News Edwards signed a five-year extension with Minnesota in 2023 worth up to $244.6 million. His current deal runs through the 2028-29 season, but the Timberwolves have the ability to extend him next summer. The potential $304 million extension would cover four additional seasons, beginning in 2029-30.
However, to qualify for the supermax, Edwards needs to earn a qualifying accolade during the 2026-27 season, such as All-NBA, MVP, or Defensive Player of the Year. But due to the league's 65-game rule, he would need to appear in at least 65 regular-season games to qualify for any of those awards. Edwards played just 61 games last season, leaving him ineligible for All-NBA honors despite a career year, averaging 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, along with 48.9% shooting from the field and 39.9% from 3-point range.
He was already on pace to smash those averages this year, averaging 33.3 points per game on 40% shooting from deep before the injury. But if he misses another two months, he'll likely miss out on any major honors again this season. This won't prevent Minnesota from offering him a new contract.
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