“KAT did not request this trade. He never has requested a move in 9 years here.” Prior to Shams Charania breaking the news on September 27, many had expected the star duo of Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns to return during the upcoming season to build on their previous success. However, through one of the most dramatic and late trades of the 2024 offseason, the Center has now been sent to the New York Knicks. Making an appearance at Media Day without his partner now, everyone was anticipating to see Anthony Edwards’ reaction. While emotions certainly reached the player, he also wanted to highlight where his priorities lay.

Earlier today, when taking questions during the highly anticipated presser, it was expected for Karl-Anthony Towns’ absence to be the elephant in the room. When asked about the same to Anthony Edwards, he replied “I think everyone know KAT is my brother so that really hurt.” At the same time, however, the star player also added that “It’s a business.” Therefore, while the trade move stinged, the player felt that it was not his place to be too expressive when such shocking trades are a part of the NBA culture.

The response came just a day after his own girlfriend, Jeanine Robel, had put out her own reaction to the trade news. Taking to Instagram, she wrote on her story “I’m going to miss my friends this season! The crew has been separated. [broken heart emojis].” While it will take time for Edwards to heal too, he is looking to prioritize his team at the moment. With that in mind, he already informed during the presser that he is ready to meet the new players, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, and look to how they can fill the void left by Towns’ exit.

If the previous season showed anything, it was that the Timberwolves did not require a reshuffle. After all, the partnership of Edwards and Towns had helped the franchise set a 56-26 record, defeat the defending champions Denver Nuggets during the playoffs, and make the Conference Finals for the first time since 2004. However, while their overall status as a championship contender was rising, their financial status was equally deteriorating. Prior to the Knicks trade, Spotrac set the Timberwolves’ salary cap at over $241.8 million, placing them way, way over the luxury tax limit and aprons established under the updated CBA guidelines. Even if their salary cap was hitting $205.6 million, the Timberwolves management had to pay over $105.6 million in tax. With the franchise holding three Centers in the form of Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid, one of them had to go to provide some relief. By commanding a high pay of $53.1 million for the upcoming season, Towns made himself the obvious target.

Therefore, Anthony Edwards may have known that getting rid of his teammate was not anything personal. Furthermore, with both Randle and DiVincenzo’s combined pay for the upcoming season being less than Towns, what better thing is there ‘business-wise?’ Edwards did not use his platform to criticize the trade, but mourned the loss in his own manner.

Anthony Edwards shuts down any talk of him being considered the sole No 1 option now: “We both was the one”

While Anthony Edwards was the young scorer with a personality that made him willing to take on challenges head on, Karl-Anthony Towns was the experienced veteran. The 23-year-old made himself the face of the NBA, but the Center’s nine-year experience in the same franchise also raised his status. Therefore, both players seemed to possess the crown of the Number 1 option. As highlighted by a reporter during Media Day, however, Edwards is the undisputed player on the pedestal with his partner gone. While his competitive personality would allow him to take the title any day, the recent days seem to lie in the ‘Too Soon’ zone.

“I don’t know, man. I feel like it’s kind of weird to talk about it because he just got traded. That’s my dawg, man. Wasn’t like a one or two situation. It was, we both was the one, we just played off of each other” said Edwards in response to the reporter. “I’m happy to be whatever the guy that they want me to be now but we was just together so it’s hard for me to talk about.”

Whether Rudy Gobert or Naz Reid will become the primary center now, it will be hard for Anthony Edwards to form the sort of bond, and on-court understanding, that he shared with the now Knicks star.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.