Minnesota hosts Golden State tonight at 3-1, with Anthony Edwards out and an estimated return date of Dec. 21. Three reports have shaped the week around the team, and they do not carry equal weight.
The Knee, Corroborated
Hoops Rumors reported on Oct. 27 that Edwards needs knee surgery and could miss two months. The report carries a confidence score of 45 and is still listed as open. That score undersells it. ESPN's Jamal Collier, citing sources, reported that Edwards will miss up to two months, and The Athletic, citing a source, reported an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee. The injury report then moved him from day-to-day to out, with Dec. 21 as the estimated return, which fits the two-month window. Nothing beyond the procedure itself has been reported, so the date should be read as an estimate. The loss is plain: Edwards was averaging 33.3 points over four games and had 47 at Cleveland.
Freeman, Back in the Fold
On Oct. 27, Krawczynski reported for The Athletic that Minnesota was bringing Enrique Freeman back on a two-way deal. Hoops Rumors carried it with a confidence score of 49. It no longer needs a score. The Timberwolves announced the two-way signing on Oct. 28, shortly after Freeman was one of five players the team waived in mid-October. Krawczynski added that the club had one open two-way slot, looked at several options and chose Freeman for his familiarity with the system. He will begin in Iowa, so this is a depth move, not a rotation one.
An Extension Without a Price
The weakest report concerns Jaden McDaniels. Hoops Rumors reported on Oct. 20 that he and the Timberwolves agreed to a one-year extension. It carries a confidence score of 35, remains open, and no salary or other terms have followed. Until numbers appear, treat it as reported, not settled. His current figure is $26.2 million. Any bigger move runs into a tight sheet. Payroll stands at $215.3 million, above the apron and well past the $200.4 million luxury-tax line. The 2027 and 2028 firsts are swaps, and the 2029 and 2030 firsts carry protections. With Edwards out until December, the front office has little to trade from, and for now the answer is the 17 players already on the roster.
When will Anthony Edwards return from his knee injury?
His estimated return date is Dec. 21. ESPN reported he will miss up to two months after a procedure on his right knee.
Did the Timberwolves sign Enrique Freeman?
Yes. The team announced a two-way contract with Freeman on Oct. 28, and Krawczynski reported that he will begin in Iowa.
