Anthony Edwards is stepping up to be the new face of the NBA. Is he ready to take up the mantle? That’s up for debate — especially with LeBron James and Stephen Curry having one stronghold above the link. However, Edwards is only 23 years old and destined for superstardom.
Is that aura enough to take him in the first round of fantasy basketball drafts? Let’s discuss.
The case for Edwards as a first-round pick
Why not invest in one of the most exciting and entertaining players in the league? Between the epic highlight reels, comedic exits and never running away from the to smokeAnt-Man is a rising star whose breakout has yet to reach its peak.
The two-time All-Star led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals in his fourth season at just 22 years old. Edwards joined Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady as the only shooting guards in NBA history average at least 25-5-5 before making 23. That’s some esteemed company. In addition to posting career bests in points per game, Edwards shot 46% from the field and 83% from the line with 1.8 shares.
Seeing his player efficiency rating (PER) rise every year with a top 10 usage rate is also encouraging. Is his PER elite? No. But again, betting on Edwards this season is betting on him taking another step forward. Averaging 28-6-5 with increasing stocks is both reasonable and achievable. That’s basically the jump Donovan Mitchell made to get into the first round last season (with a ridiculous jump in steals per game).
For all the discussion around aura this offseasonJayson Tatum is a perennial top-12 pick in fantasy despite finishing in the top 12 once in his seven-year career. That’s not meant to be a dig against Tatum, but fantasy managers continually take him in the first round when, statistically, he’s a better rebounding version of Ant. A lot of the arguments surrounding Tatum going so high is because of his tall floor and durability. Ant’s played over 70 games since his rookie campaign. The gap isn’t that wide, so it’s not wild to consider Edwards a first-round value.
The case against Edwards as a first-round pick
Buying into the Edwards boom train is not a good business decision. On the court, he has a similar vibe to Ja Morant – must-see TV whenever the ball touches his hands. It is why the Timberwolves have the greatest growth in nationally televised games this season. However, none of that respect and appeal gets you fantasy points.
Edwards’ best finish in category ties is 37th, so he obviously has some work to do to reach first-round status. While he rates as above average in at least five categories, he is elite in only one area – scoring. If Edwards can increase his efficiency and share production, that’s the fastest path to being a top 12 player. While I won’t rule it out, there is no shortage of players from picks 13-25 in my latest ranks who could match or surpass Edwards’ production.
A better case can be made for Edwards being a first rounder in point leagues because, if you’re like me and anticipate a bump in a few spots, you don’t have to worry about the inefficiencies that might come with it. If you’re considering drafting Edwards in the first round of draft picks, it’s not without risk. But the upside is that you would be calling on a potential MVP candidate who is entering the age where superstars are made.
Final Verdict
I have Edwards listed as a mid-two-round pick in both category and point ties so I won’t be reaching in the first round to get him. But don’t be surprised if he sneaks closer to an early second in my ranks by draft season.
