Anthony Edwards says KAT trade is 'definitely hurt'

The reported trade sending Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota to New York and Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo from the Knicks to the Timberwolves has not been finalized, so team officials aren’t talking about it, but the players acknowledge it and share their points of view. Among those who spoke at Timberwolves media day Monday were Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert.

“I think everyone knows KAT, my brother, so it really hurts. But it’s a business so I just have to get on with it,” Edwards said. Of his new teammates, Edwards said he was “ready to get to know them” and “try to figure it out and figure it out as quickly as possible because we’re trying to get back to where we were and go again further away”. ”

Edwards is now becoming the team’s undisputed alpha. Naz Reid is the only player on the roster who has been with the Timberwolves longer than him, but he’s not quite ready to talk about what life will be like without Towns, who he considered his co-No. . 1 star on the team last season.

“I don’t know, man. I feel like it’s a little weird to talk about because he just got traded. He’s my friend, man. It wasn’t like a one or two situation it was, we were both the same, we just played against each other,” Edwards said. “I’m happy to be the guy they want me to be now, but we were just together so it’s hard for me to talk about.”

Gobert’s thoughts when asked about the Towns trade revealed his views on his evolving role.

“I think KAT is a one-of-a-kind player, honestly, but I think my role on this team will be no different than last year. And I feel the same way with everyone in this locker room, ” Gobert said, before noting that there will be more pressure on Reid to step up.

“Obviously some guys, I think maybe Naz, some guys might have even more responsibility,” he said. “Naz showed that he can take responsibility when KAT was injured or even when KAT was playing. Naz was already an important part of our team last year. I think we’re just going to be who we are. Obviously, he doesn’t There’s only one KAT in the world, there’s only one player who has these skills, but we have to keep trying to improve as a group and maintain the same identity as a group. as a team and to continue to learn and improve.”