Kendrick Perkins predicts Anthony Edwards will request a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves if they don’t reach the NBA Finals next season originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Anthony Edwards has been facing a lot of heat lately, predominantly for his performance in the 2025 Western Conference Finals. The Timberwolves guard appeared helpless in front of the Thunder defense. Scoring 18 points on 5-for-13 shooting in a must-win Game 5 rang warning bells.
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Edwards has often been projected as the future face of the league, taking the reins from LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Besides being highly talented and charismatic, his ability to draw eyeballs is the biggest reason behind this notion. Not to mention, his outspoken ways and animated personality.
Sending popular teams like the Lakers and Warriors home during the playoffs, many felt a superstar had already arrived. Sadly, this notion didn’t last long, courtesy of the back-to-back WCF exits. This has led Kendrick Perkins to believe that Ant-Man could potentially want out of Minnesota.
“If Anthony Edwards don’t reach the NBA Finals, he’s going to request a trade from Minnesota…$45M is not really at the top of the top, Bradley Beal is making $52M,” stated Perkins, who had been critical of the Ant-Man’s showing in the playoffs.
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Trade possibilities and current contract
Edwards potentially asking for a trade could be one of the darkest days in the Timberwolves’ franchise history. They’ve had their biggest draw with him since drafting Kevin Garnett in 1995, and this would also be a significant setback in the eyes of Wolves fans.
Currently, on a five-year $244M rookie extension, Edwards still has four seasons left on his contract. He is reported to earn an average salary of anywhere close to $48M. Looking at the recently signed NBA extensions, most suitors should be open to honor the terms.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of reasons for Edwards to stay, especially with Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez taking complete control. The new ownership is ready to go the extra mile to build a winning culture, whether it is luxury taxes or bearing losses in the future.
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According to reports, Lore and Rodriguez already have some plans, having a fan-first approach. This includes improving relations with T-Wolves veteran Kevin Garnett. There have also been some talks about building a new arena.
Ant-Man pledged resurgence after back-to-back WCF exits
Edwards was undoubtedly disappointed with the outcome of the 2025 playoffs. He did not shy away from acknowledging that the Thunder were the overall better team. Nonetheless, he plans to use defeat as fuel for the upcoming season, and he is looking to bounce back after another WCF heartbreak.
“I’m going to work my b-tt off this summer. Nobody’s going to work harder than me this summer, I’ll tell you that much. I’ll try to make it happen again for Mike (Conely Jr.),” said Edwards, hoping to bring the 37-year-old his first NBA championship.
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Edwards has a lot of work to do this off-season, be it developing a mid-range game or working on his catch and shoot. He needs to be his versatile best, especially on the offensive end. When it comes to getting double-teamed on offense, he can look to connect with his idol, Michael Jordan, who had faced a slightly similar situation with the Pistons and was able to fully utilize it to his advantage and for the betterment of the team.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.