The Minnesota Timberwolves have been stuck in the basement of the NBA ever since Kevin Garnett left. There has been a lot of hope through those years, but only one having playoff appearance since 2004 is about as bad as it gets. The Wolves have had players like Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love, and Andrew Wiggins all try their best to get the Wolves out of the basement but all have failed. Now, Karl-Anthony Towns is entering his seventh NBA season and he hasn't exactly succeeded where the others failed. He's made the playoffs once but that was the Jimmy Butler year that was followed by chaos and disaster in Minnesota. Another new era looks to be underway in Minnesota and hopefully this number one pick can lead the Wolves to the playoffs.

Timberwolves X Factor: Anthony Edwards

Edwards was selected by the Timberwolves with the first overall pick last season but it was nowhere near a unanimous decision around the league. LaMelo Ball and even James Wiseman got some love as the potential number one pick but the Wolves ultimately went with Edwards.

For those who haven't paid close attention, it may seem that LaMelo Ball would have been the better choice, but Anthony Edwards is turning into exactly what the Timberwolves need.

Karl-Anthony Towns has never seemed like the main guy to lead a team to the playoffs. He has the talent, at least on offense, to be that guy but it takes strong leadership and some players are just born with the ability to be the main guy on a team. Players like LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, or Giannis Antetokounmpo come to mind as guys with the personality to take over. Anthony Edwards reminds me of those players with how he carries himself. He has the talent to become a star and he has the personality to become a true superstar.

For Timberwolves fans, Anthony Edwards brought a breath of fresh air the franchise hadn't felt in ages. He was a 19 year old rookie but the way he carried himself and talked to the media, his teammates, and fans was just something Wolves fans haven't had. Andrew Wiggins was a hyped up rookie but ultimately there were questions about his work ethic and leadership so much so that the team was willing to attach a first round pick to get off of him. Towns is above Wiggins, but he just isn't that main guy.

Minnesota went through the Jimmy Butler experience but he wasn't the right guy for Minnesota at the time. Anthony Edwards is that guy and the Timberwolves need him to be that guy.

Is it unfair to be leaning on a 20 year old to be the face of the franchise and basically help carry the team to the playoffs? Maybe, but you can be sure Edwards has no problem at all with it. His coaches and teammates absolutely love the guy and they seem to be ready to hand him the reigns to the team. Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell both need to start winning immediately for their own reputations and they know that. They also know Anthony Edwards gives them their best shot to do so.

Edwards is also much more than just a fun personality. He's becoming a star already and it hasn't gotten nearly enough attention. From the day new Head Coach Chris Finch was hired, Edwards was basically let loose and played a large chunk without the injured Towns or Russell. In 42 games under Finch, Edwards played 34.8 minutes per game and scored 22.9 points per game. His efficiency wasn't great, shooting 43% from the field and 34% from the three point line, but his decision making and shot selection were much better. He started to realize the player he could become and we saw glimpses of a star in the making.

If the Timberwolves want to make the playoffs then Anthony Edwards will play a huge role in getting them there. Both Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell are going to need to have seasons close to their career bests, but if Edwards doesn't take another step then it might not matter what those two do. The big three of Edwards, Towns, and Russell looks to be one of the most formidable on the offensive side of the ball. Don't count this team out quite yet.