Two Young Wolves will be headed to Las Vegas next week, but it’s not for Summer League.
USA Basketball announced today that rookie sensation Anthony Edwards and future sixth man of the year Naz Reid were named to the 2021 USA Men’s Select Team that “will train with the Men’s National Team from July 6-9 during its training camp in Las Vegas,” per the press release. They will join the following players (via Timberwolves PR):
Named to the 2021 USA Basketball Select Team were: Saddiq Bey (Detroit Pistons/Villanova); Miles Bridges (Charlotte Hornets/Michigan State); Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves/Georgia); Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers/Vanderbilt); Tyrese Haliburton (Sacramento Kings/Iowa State); Tyler Herro (Miami Heat/Kentucky); John Jenkins (Bilbao Basket, Italy/Vanderbilt); Keldon Johnson (San Antonio Spurs/Kentucky); Josh Magette (Darüşşafaka Tekfen, Turkey/Alabama-Huntsville); Dakota Mathias (Philadelphia 76ers/Purdue); Immanuel Quickly (New York Knicks/Kentucky); Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves/LSU); Cam Reynolds (Houston Rockets/Tulane); Isaiah Stewart (Detroit Pistons/Washington); Obi Toppin (New York Knicks/Dayton); P.J. Washington (Charlotte Hornets/Kentucky); and Patrick Williams (Chicago Bulls/Florida State).
The big winner here is, in fact, all of us. Without any 2021 draft picks—is that what ultimately lifts the curse over this franchise?—Wolves’ fans will at least be treated to more Ant and Naz content live from Sin City as they compete against some of the best players across the league, including former friends Kevin Love and Zach LaVine.
My only complaint is not seeing Jaden McDaniels on the roster, too. I can only assume the powers that be were afraid BIG MAC would inevitably lock up all of the senior guys and his elite defense would result in hurt feelings.
Next season, Ant will be expected to make a big jump and lead the Wolves as he proved he could as his rookie campaign progressed. Naz, to a lesser extent, will be asked to shine as a big-time scoring weapon off the pine (shout-out to Clyde Frazier!) and both players should profit from four days of competitive basketball as they help the National team prepare for the impending 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
(Quick side note that’s fun to repeat over and over again: Naz Reid was undrafted.)
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is set to coach the Select Team, which means he can pass along extremely deep and compelling stories about how hard Jimmy Butler works. This should only help Edwards in his quest to take over the entire league, become MVP, and eventually bring Larry O’B home to the North.
LaMelo Ball could not be reached for comment so here’s a picture of ANT-MAN and Naz together! Godbless.