Anthony Edwards to have knee surgery Thursday, putting his $304 million supermax path at risk

Minnesota's star will undergo a procedure on his right knee Thursday, one night after scoring 47 points in an overtime loss at Cleveland. A long layoff would put MVP and All-NBA honors out of reach, and with them his route to a supermax extension.

Minnesota is set to lose its star for a large part of the opening months. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the surgery plan, citing sources.

Later on Tuesday, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski said the expected absence is more than two months. The Timberwolves had not confirmed the procedure. The team is expected to give more details about the surgery and his outlook on Wednesday.

The timing is jarring. On Monday, Edwards was listed as questionable before the second night of a back-to-back in Cleveland. He then played a season-high 41 minutes and scored 47 points in a 127-125 overtime loss. It was the seventh game of his career with at least 47 points and his highest scoring total against the Cavaliers.

Before that game, coach Chris Finch called the knee a day-to-day matter. He said he did not consider it a long-term worry. Edwards aggravated the knee in the season opener at Miami, team sources told the Minnesota Star Tribune. That started internal talks about how to treat it.

Two months out would end his supermax eligibility

Such a layoff would sideline Edwards until about Christmas.

The knee is not a new concern. Edwards played only 61 games last season, mostly because of knee problems. The 21 games he missed were the most of his career.

Minnesota has some evidence it can hold up without him. The Wolves went 12-9 in those games last season. The organization hopes Edwards will return sometime in December. It believes the roster has enough depth to keep winning while he is out.

The West’s pressure points shift on both sides

Minnesota is not the only Western Conference team absorbing a major blow. In Sunday’s game against the Clippers, Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams dislocated his ankle and broke his fibula. Cason Wallace tore his labrum. Both could be out for the season.

The two teams’ schedules are linked. Minnesota plays at Oklahoma City in an NBA Cup group game on Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Edwards is unlikely to be available for that one on a two-month timeline.

The more immediate test comes Wednesday. Minnesota had listed Edwards as questionable for that home game against Golden State before the surgery plan became known. The Wolves now enter that stretch with no clear date for his return.

The target on the calendar is Christmas. The Thunder visit the Timberwolves on Friday, Dec. 25, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN. It will be Minnesota’s first Christmas Day home game.