How can Timberwolves survive Anthony Edwards' absence? LaMelo Ball must level up, but there's another key

Edwards needs surgery on his knee and is set to miss up to two months Oct 27, 2026 at 9:40 pm ET • 5 min read Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards is expected to miss up to two months as he undergoes arthroscopic surgery on his ailing right knee, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. This is stunning news, as it comes less than 24 hours after Edwards played like a superhero, scoring 47 points in an overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. Rather than have Edwards continue to play on the injured knee, the team decided to address the issue early in the season, with December as the target for Edwards' return, per The Athletic. The surgery is scheduled for Thursday, per ESPN. This is the same knee that gave Edwards trouble last season and he was listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Golden State Warriors with "right knee injury maintenance" earlier Tuesday. He has since been downgraded to out. Edwards, who was seen grabbing at his right knee during Sunday's win over the Toronto Raptors, missed the final game of Minnesota's first-round playoff win over the Denver Nuggets last year with a hyperextension to this same knee, but was able to return against the San Antonio Spurs for Game 1 of the conference semifinals off the bench. This was from The Athletic's game story on Monday night:"Edwards dealt with a hyperextended left knee in the playoffs last season and was also bothered by inflammation in his right knee. He played through it in inspiring fashion, getting around-the-clock treatment and having his right knee drained multiple times to stay available, and said in the preseason that he took most of two months off to allow both knees to heal."It sure looked like that time he took off this summer had worked. The Wolves are 3-1 and were looking like one of the league's best teams behind the electric duo of Edwards and LaMelo Ball, who was acquired from the Charlotte Hornets in a June blockbuster. Through the first week and change, Edwards is averaging 33.3 points per game and leading the league with 18 3-pointers at a 40% clip. He already has games of 45 and 47 points, and did so on a right knee that needs surgery. It's LaMelo Ball timeThe Wolves have to hold the fort down as best they can without Edwards, and their best chance at doing so in a deep Western Conference is for Ball to lead the offensive charge. Edwards is a two-way star. This will affect the Wolves' second-ranked defense, but there is more infrastructure in place on that side. Ball is Minnesota's best bet to continue creating quality offense and you'd have to imagine his scoring will tick up. Take the tiny sample for what it's worth, but so far this season the Wolves are operating at what would be a bottom-10 offensive rate over 74 non-garbage-time possessions with Ball on the court without Edwards, per Cleaning the Glass. That will obviously need to improve. Ball averaged over 20 points per game last year with the Hornets but is down to 14.8 this year. That's because Edwards has been so dominant, and Ball has been effective beyond his box scores by creating pace and energy. But now the Wolves need him to be more aggressive as a scorer (hopefully with some modicum of efficiency) and to prove he's ready to fully lead a team with real expectations. That said, he doesn't have to do it alone. This is where it really hurts that Donte DiVincenzo is rehabbing a torn Achilles, but the Wolves still have a handful of guys who can add to the collective effort of at least somewhat replacing Edwards' production in the aggregate. Terrence Shannon Jr. has been sensational to start the year. Jonathan Kuminga, who can create his own offense, has a real opportunity to put himself in his best light as he remains in search of the lucrative long-term contract that has eluded him. Ayo Dosunmu is a double-digit scorer and 3-point marksman who can level up. But none of these guys can do what the Wolves' new No. 2 can. Jaden McDaniels ready for All-Star leapMcDaniels is currently on a five-year, $136 million contract and the Wolves just signed him to a one-year, $40 million extension to set as his base number for another potential extension in 2028. In other words, McDaniels makes All-Star money and could be on his way to more than that, and he's worth it. Now he's going to have to really be worth it. McDaniels has All-Star upside, and with what should be a meaningful usage bump in Edwards' absence, this is his time to take the leap. He's averaging 15 points per game on 59% shooting so far. He's making 42% of his 3s. We know he's a demon defender, but he's been on a steady rise as a major offensive weapon who can create for himself (he has one of the best deceleration steps in the league). As we saw during his time with Charlotte, Ball lifts the shooting of those around him as much as any player in the league. We've already seen that in Minnesota, too, and now that McDaniels is going to be even more of a target for Ball, he could easily jump north of 20 points per game and threaten for an All-Star spot. Remember, this is a guy who went for 32 points and 10 boards to close out the Nuggets in Game 6 of their first-round series last year without Edwards, who was sidelined because of the same knee on which he's now set for surgery. McDaniels is a championship No. 3 option in the OG Anunoby mold, but he can be a legit No. 2 option for a "hold down the fort" stretch. It's time for him to prove it. In Ball's case, ramping up to All-Star production is the expectation. He's been at that level before. But McDaniels joining him on that level is the key to Minnesota surviving Ant's absence. The schedule at least looks friendlyBetween now and Christmas, the Wolves have only six games against upper-echelon teams: the Spurs, Rockets, Knicks, Thunder, and the Lakers (twice). They lose all margin for error against the Portlands and Memphis' of the league, but all things considered, this is a relatively soft stretch of schedule with 16 of their next 26 at home. Here's how it looks through November, a month that includes an eight-game homestand. DateOpponent10/28vs. Warriors10/30vs. Clippers10/31at Spurs11/2vs. Bucks11/4at Rockets11/6at Pelicans11/8vs. Jazz11/12vs. Mavericks11/14vs. Bulls11/16vs. Blazers11/17vs. Blazers11/19vs. Knicks11/21vs. Grizzlies11/23vs. Nets11/25at Thunder11/27vs. Grizzlies11/29at Kings