Due to setback of the team. The all-time Minnesota Timberwolves player, Anthony Edward, has officially announced his retirement.

Due to setback of the team. The all-time Minnesota Timberwolves player, Anthony Edward, has officially announced his retirement.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards played his 65th game of the 2023-24 NBA season on Tuesday in a shorthanded 115-112 loss to the defending champion Denver Nuggets. In doing so, he earned his eligibility for end-of-season accolades including MVP and the All-NBA teams.

The latter are the far bigger—and more realistic—concern for Edwards. The five-year max extension that he signed with the Timberwolves last summer includes language that would bump his starting salary up from 25% of the 2024-25 cap to 30% if he makes an All-NBA team this season.

Based on the current $141 million cap estimate for next year, a 25% max would start at $35.25 million and would be worth $204.45 million in total, while a 30% max would begin at $42.3 million and would be $245.3 million in total. While making an All-NBA team would behoove Edwards’ bank account, it would make team-building even more difficult for the Timberwolves going forward.

Beyond Edwards’ new deal kicking in, the Wolves also have Karl-Anthony Towns’ four-year, 35% max extension and Jaden McDaniels’ five-year, $131 million rookie extension beginning next season. Towns will be the highest-paid player on the team next season at nearly $49.4 million, while frontcourt partner Rudy Gobert is on the books for $43.8 million. Throw in Naz Reid at nearly $14 million and Mike Conley at $10 million, and the Timberwolves are already playing with second-apron territory.

The quintet of Gobert, Towns, Conley, Reid, and McDaniels is expected to earn roughly $139.7 million next season. Again, the cap estimate is $141 million. The luxury tax line is expected to be $171.3 million, which Edwards’ extension alone will push the Timberwolves past. From there, it’s a question of which apron they end up topping.