Could Anthony Edwards Be Headed Home?

It could mean something, it could mean nothing at all, but when Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards claimed “I can’t wait to come home”, it raised eyebrows not only in the Twin Cities but throughout the NBA. Fresh off of winning the All-Star Game MVP, in which he put on an absolute show at the Intuit Dome, and somehow that wasn't the biggest story coming out of Sunday night. Instead, six little words whispered into Jalen Johnson's ear spread like wildfire over social media. 

Following the Team Stars' victory, Edwards was caught on camera talking with the Atlanta Hawks forward. Assuming the typical celebrity caught on camera “look like we are talking about something important, but don’t want anyone to know” mouth covered action, the clip and audio spread across NBA social media within minutes.  And just like that, Minnesota Timberwolves fans collectively wondered what this meant for the future of a franchise that just made back-to-back Western Conference Finals and had one of the biggest young stars on their roster. 

To be fair to the 24-year-old three-time All-Star, it's genuinely hard to know what to make of this. Edwards also said, "y'all got so many wings," apparently complimenting newly acquired Jonathan Kuminga and the Hawks' loaded roster of wing players.  There are also some people who just want to believe that the Atlanta, Georgia native just wants to head home for some of Atlanta’s famous chicken wings. 

At the moment, there's no immediate cause for concern or reason for Edwards to rock the boat in Minnesota right now, as he's under contract through the 2028-29 season on a five-year, $244 million extension with no player option.  The Wolves are a legitimate Western Conference contender sitting in sixth spot with a 34-22 record and just a half game out of a top-four seed. 

Edwards has become one of the most electrifying players in the league, averaging 27.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game this season while firmly planting himself in the MVP conversation. Minnesota has built something real around him, and by all accounts, the future in the Twin Cities looks bright. However, the allure of playing for the Hawks in a city in which he was born and raised, and where he built his basketball foundation, might be something that Edwards has always dreamed of. While it's probably nothing for anyone to get concerned over, in the NBA, "probably nothing" has a funny way of becoming everything.