RealGM Basketball Wiretap

21 March 2023

• Anthony Edwards Out Of Walking Boot, Day-To-Day Moving Forward

  The Minnesota Timberwolves got some good news regarding star guard Anthony Edwards. Edwards' swelling has decreased in his sprained right ankle and it out of a walking boot. Edwards will be considered day-to-day as far as a return to the court.

  Edwards was injured early in Friday's double-overtime loss at the Chicago Bulls. He played just eight minutes before being forced from the game.

  The first-time All-Star then missed Saturday's game at the Toronto Raptors. That was Edwards' first missed game of the season. That snapped a string of over 90 consecutive games played for the Wolves guard.

• Anthony Edwards In Walking Boot, Out Indefinitely

  Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will be out indefinitely after suffering a sprained right ankle on Friday night. Edwards was injured after playing only eight minutes in Minnesota' double overtime loss at the Chicago Bulls.

  Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said Edwards is still in a walking boot on Saturday. Finch also said that there is no timetable for Edwards to return and that his star guard will be out indefinitely.

  Edwards was a first time All-Star this season. He had appeared in all 71 games for the Wolves this season, and 93 consecutive games overall for Minnesota before this injury.

• Anthony Edwards Leaves Game With Right Ankle Injury

  Anthony Edwards left the Minnesota Timberwolves' 139-131 loss to the Chicago Bulls in the first quarter due to a right ankle injury.

  Edwards did not put any weight on the ankle as he was carried off the court. The guard would later rejoin the bench in a protective boot.

  "I couldn't walk on it, so I knew it was a wrap. See how it feels tomorrow," said Edwards after the game.

  With the loss, the Wolves are now the No.8 seed in the Western Conference.

• Karl-Anthony Towns Returns To Basketball Activities, Expected To Return In Coming Weeks

  Karl-Anthony Towns is continuing to progress in his rehabilitation program and has been participating in basketball activities, according to a press release from the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is expected to return in the coming weeks and further updates to his playing status will be provided when available.

  In 21 games (all starts) this season, Towns is averaging 20.8 points on 50.5% shooting, 8.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.

  Towns has been out since November 28th with a calf strain.

• Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore Have Funds For Next $250M Installment For Wolves On Mar. 28th

  The next payment for Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves is due on March 28th and the pair has the funds ready.

  "The money is in the bank and ready to be funded today," a spokesman for Rodriguez and Lore told The Post on Tuesday night.

  Some within the industry speculated that Rodriguez and Lore would be unable to raise the cash to make the payment.

  Rodriguez and Lore spoke to at least one potential investor about selling a stake in the team at a $3 billion valuation. The Wolves were purchased by Rodriguez and Lore at a $3 billion valuation.

  "It is a ridiculous pitch," said the source.

  They have until March 28, 2024, to buy the remaining 40% to secure majority ownership.

  Taylor plans on keeping the other 20 percent of the franchise.

• Wolves Could Bring Karl-Anthony Towns Off Bench Upon Return

  If Karl-Anthony Towns returns this season, the Minnesota Timberwolves could bring him off the bench.

  When Towns does return, he could be on a minutes restriction.

  "We feel KAT is able to help us regardless of what the situation is," Finch said. "If it's a minutes restriction, maybe you're strategic and he comes off the bench to start with that, depending what the minutes are. I think he would be open to anything at that point in time."

  Towns suffered a calf strain in November and was initially expected to only be our four to six weeks.

• Karl-Anthony Towns Entering 'Final Stages' Of Calf Rehab But 'No Real Timeline' On Return

  Karl-Anthony Towns is entering the "final stages" of his rehab from a calf injury, but there is still no timetable for when he will return.

  Chris Finch gave the update on Towns to reports before the Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the Philadelphia 76ers.

  Towns has been out since November with the injury.

  "He's doing some basketball activities now, which is good to see," said Finch. "Still no real timeline for him though."

  The Wolves still expect Towns to return despite his extended absence.

  "There's a sense of real urgency for him to, I think now, he can see the end in sight, and I think he's getting excited by that," said Finch.

• Wolves Continue To Believe In Karl-Anthony Towns, Have No Plans To Trade Him

  The Minnesota Timberwolves made a bold move in trading for Rudy Gobert and the follow-up to it if it continues to be a disappointment could be a trade of Karl-Anthony Towns to try to repair the situation. Towns has been out since November with a calf injury and the franchise has tiled even more heavily toward Anthony Edwards in his absence.

  "It has felt like the inevitable end game where at the very least it is something that is talked about between teams," said Zach Lowe on his podcast of potential chatter around the Wolves trading Towns.

  "Teams are already talking about it," Jon Krawczynski replied. "There's no doubt that other teams are eyeing this situation and looking to see if KAT will become available.

  "I can tell you from everyone that I've talked to within the organization, they very much believe in KAT. They believe that once he comes back and they have some time to build around ANT and Gobert and KAT, they very much believe that can still work. Chris Finch believes it. Tim Connelly believes it. They don't have any plans to trade him.

  "But if the bottom falls out of this thing and they go forward that way, there are going to be teams knocking on the door. I do think that overall, especially locally here, there's a lack of appreciation among fans for what Karl-Anthony Towns is as a player."

• Bryn Forbes Arrested On Family Violence Charge

  Bryn Forbes was arrested early on Wednesday on a family violence charge in San Antonio.

  Forbes was waived last week by the Minnesota Timberwolves to create a roster spot and is currently a free agent.

  Forbes was arrested on suspicion of assault with bodily injury, a misdemeanor, after a verbal argument with a female companion turned physical, according to police records.

  According to a police report, Forbes had an argument with a woman he is dating. Forbes struck the woman several times after the couple arrived home, according to the report. The San Antonio Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services responded to assist the woman.

• Karl-Anthony Towns Could Return With 10-15 Games Left In Season

  The Minnesota Timberwolves are optimistic that Karl-Anthony Towns can return from a calf injury with 10-15 games left in the regular season, reported Shams Charania on FanDuel TV'sRun It Back.

  "There's optimism he'll be back at some point second half of the season, anywhere from 10-15 games left in the year is what you'd hope for, when there's really a month-plus left in the NBA regular season.

  "But they've been really cautious. That was a very serious calf strain that he had," said Charania.

  Towns, who was injured in late November, was originally expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

  The Timberwolves are currently 31-29, with one game left before the All-Star break.