Anthony Edwards enters the 2026/27 season with a brand-new co-star and, according to some analysts, a genuine case as an early MVP frontrunner after Minnesota’s blockbuster offseason move.
## The LaMelo Ball Trade
Minnesota acquired All-Star guard LaMelo Ball from Charlotte in a four-team trade this offseason, sending out Naz Reid, a 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks in the process. The move immediately reshapes expectations for a Timberwolves team looking to build further on back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances in 2024 and 2025.
## Why Analysts Are Excited
ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins named Edwards his early MVP frontrunner for the season, arguing that Ball’s elite passing ability will free Edwards from primary ball-handling duties and let him thrive as a scorer in transition and off wide-open catch-and-shoot opportunities. Edwards averaged a career-high 28.8 points per game last season, and some projections suggest he could push toward 30 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists this season.
## Managing Expectations for Year One
Edwards himself has been candid about the adjustment period ahead, acknowledging there will likely be “ups and downs” as he and Ball learn to play together for the first time. Both were drafted within two picks of each other in 2020, adding a fun subplot to their new partnership.
## A New Team Identity
Minnesota’s offseason overhaul also included trading Julius Randle to Brooklyn and re-signing guard Ayo Dosunmu to a five-year, $112 million extension, signaling a broader shift toward building the roster specifically around Edwards’s timeline.
## Staying Grounded
Despite the hype, Edwards has pointed to reigning champion Jalen Brunson as the league’s true “face” for now, noting that winning a championship remains the benchmark he hasn’t yet reached.
## The Bottom Line
Whether Edwards claims MVP honors or not, the pairing with Ball represents one of the more fascinating backcourt experiments of the new season, with genuine title implications for a Timberwolves franchise looking to finally break through.