Following Minnesota’s playoff elimination, rebuild conversations are intensifying around the franchise. Most discussions focus on how the Timberwolves should complement cornerstone Anthony Edwards.
This season, Edwards received help from Julius Randle after Minnesota traded Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. However, the result remained unchanged: another Western Conference Finals exit.
Former Minnesota player Austin Rivers joined the debate with a controversial take. He believes two specific players must be cut to maximize Edwards’ potential.
The first player on Rivers‘ list is Randle. Rivers argues Edwards needs guard partnerships rather than star forwards like Randle.
“My thing is Julius next to Ant. It’s always been this, they started playing really well as a team and everybody can’t stop him. And then they ran into a team that, like, really defends, and it’s just been nasty,” Rivers explained.
“I would rather, instead of having a second star being a forward, it’s not a Julius thing, it’s a position thing. For me, I would rather him be paired with another guard,” he continued.
“I’d rather Ant be with seven guards on his team and then just get a couple lob threats down low who could just run and jump.”
The second target is Rudy Gobert, whose production doesn’t match his hefty contract. Against Oklahoma City, Gobert managed just 29 points and 33 rebounds across five games.
Despite earning $36.5 million annually, Gobert averaged only 7.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 0.7 assists throughout the entire postseason. Rivers believes that salary could be better utilized elsewhere.
“I like Rudy. Rudy gets paid a lot. You can use that to go get like a decent big man who can run and jump and a guard and a pick. I don’t know what his value is, but maybe not that anymore, but still,” Rivers stated.
His vision involves radical roster construction around Edwards. “I would rather have Ant with like, six or seven guards and then a couple wings and a couple, just all you have to do is rebound block, and I don’t need a star center. I don’t need a star power forward.”
“I already got Naz Reid anyway, if I need some scoring, just gonna get you a guy who can run and jump and block. Remember how Clint Capela was with Houston, go and get you something like that,” Rivers concluded.
