Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has declared Anthony Edwards a “cold-blooded scorer” following the acquisition of LaMelo Ball, and the numbers behind that projection are hard to argue with. Ball arriving from Charlotte shifts ball-handling load off Edwards in a way the roster has never had before. That is not a cosmetic upgrade. That is a fundamental change to how Minnesota generates offense.
What Finch Said About Edwards’ Expanded Role
Finch spoke to Chris Hine of the Minnesota Star Tribune about Edwards‘ offseason engagement and what the new partnership unlocks. The coach was direct about the mood inside the facility.
“He’s engaged in a way like I’ve not seen, and I think it’s a combination of factors. Obviously excitement of playing alongside LaMelo. I think it’s also a maturation and recognizing what the team needs, where the team’s at. He’s far more like, I think, just engaged in the overall sport. He’s looking, he’s watching, he maybe didn’t have the confidence to express some of his thoughts before, and now he’s just way more communicative, and it’s fun.”
That quote carries more weight than standard coach optimism. Finch is describing a player who has shifted his entire approach to the game, not just his offseason routine. A more communicative, externally-focused Edwards heading into a contract year with a legitimate All-Star running alongside him is a genuinely different proposition.
The Statistical Case for Edwards Thriving Off-Ball
Edwards averaged a career-high 6.0 minutes of possession per game last season, the 12th-highest mark in the league, per NBA.com tracking data. That figure reflects a player who was forced to carry creation responsibilities that do not suit a scorer of his profile, with roughly 61 percent of his three-point attempts coming self-created rather than off a pass. The Timberwolves
