Timberwolves Star Anthony Edwards Undergoes Knee Surgery

Minnesota Timberwolves fans face a gap in their lineup as star guard Anthony Edwards prepares for a knee operation. The team expects him to be back to full form after the procedure, but the timeline for his return remains uncertain.

President of basketball operations Tim Connelly announced on Wednesday that Edwards is scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Thursday. Connelly described the procedure as a cleanup operation. He stated that the team expects to have a clearer picture of Edwards' return date once the surgery is complete. That return could happen in a matter of weeks or several months.

Connelly did not provide a specific diagnosis for the injury. Edwards previously dealt with right knee pain during the prior spring, which limited him to a career-low 61 games. He also suffered a deep bone bruise on his left knee during the first round of the playoffs last year, causing him to miss two games. The current issue resurfaced early in the new season when Edwards grabbed his knee and grimaced during Sunday's home opener.

Despite listing Edwards as questionable, the team allowed him to play Monday's game at Cleveland. Edwards scored 47 points in an overtime loss. He has recorded 133 points in the first four games of the season, a franchise record. A magnetic resonance imaging scan taken on Tuesday revealed new damage that was not present in earlier scans from training camp and the playoffs. Connelly noted that Edwards' condition over the summer did not previously warrant a recommendation for surgery.

Connelly said Edwards agreed to the operation while complaining about the necessity. He added that the guard has handled the news well. Connelly noted that Edwards is a naturally positive person who quickly told his teammates they had the game. "You guys got it," Edwards reportedly said.

The Timberwolves are already without guard Donte DiVincenzo, who tore his right Achilles tendon in the same playoff game where Edwards injured his left knee. The team added point guard LaMelo Ball, which moved Edwards to his natural shooting guard position. The backcourt has depth with Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. available from the bench. One of those players is likely to start while Edwards is out.

Reserve guard Bones Hyland is also expected to see a bigger role. Hyland acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Edwards' dynamic scoring and leadership. "Nobody can be like Ant, but we've got players who can step in and just take over a game as well," Hyland said. The team plans to rely on collective effort to fill the void.