A 100 million annual salary in the future is not a dream, but Edwards will enter the Best Team again next season. He can sign 360 million for 4 years and unlock the craziest contract in NBA history!

When 23-year-old Anthony Edwards dunked his opponent in the Western Conference semi-finals and roared and beat his chest, Minnesota fans may not have realized that they are witnessing the birth of a future "400 million gentleman". In the 2024-25 All-Squad 2nd-Team All-Squad roster released by the NBA today, Edwards' name is on the list. According to salary experts, if he is selected into the Best Team again next season, he will be expected to sign a four-year, $360 million (about RMB 2.6 billion) super maximum salary in 2027, with an average annual salary exceeding $90 million, approaching the "100 million annual salary". This is not only a carnival of money numbers, but also a basketball narrative about talent, ambition and the changes of the times.

1. Contract analysis: From 245 million to 360 million, how do the rules "make wealth"? Behind Edwards' "wealth code" is the chemistry between the NBA's carefully designed salary rules and personal achievements:

"Specified Rookie Terms" trigger mechanism ():

If a player is selected into the Best Team (or MVP/DPOY) twice during the rookie contract period, he can lock in the super maximum salary with a starting salary of 30% of the salary cap in advance. When Edwards signed a five-year, 245 million contract with the Timberwolves in 2023, he has met the conditions with his second team results in the 2023-24 season. Next season, you only need to enter the best team (any first, second or third team) to activate the terms of meeting the standards for two consecutive years.

Salary calculation "snowball" effect ():

When the new contract takes effect in 2027, the NBA salary cap is expected to rise to $180 million. According to the rules, Edwards' starting salary is 35% of the salary cap (about $63 million), and then it increases by 8% every year, with a total of 360 million in four years. By the 2030-31 season, its salary in a single season will exceed US$100 million, becoming the first "Mr. Billion Years" in history.

(Suspense preparation)

But the premise of all this is: Edwards must maintain top performance next season and avoid two major risks - injuries and team record declines.

2. Strength support: From the "Wolf King" to the "new storefront", why is he worthy of?

Edwards' path to advance perfectly matches the selection logic of the NBA's super top salary:

Explosive data growth:

This season's regular season averaged 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists, and the playoffs soared to 30+8+6. Compared with James (27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists) and Durant (25.8 points, 6.7 rebounds) during the same period, his scoring efficiency and comprehensiveness have ranked among the top five in the league.

Hard Battle Gene:

Western Conference Semi-Finals Against the Defending Champion Nuggets, Edwards scored 44 points in G7, becoming the youngest "Trick 7 Mr. 40+" in NBA history. This big heart manifestation is the key plus point for judges when voting.

Business value soared:

Its jersey sales have entered the top five in the United States, with social media fans soaring by 3 million in a year. The league has long listed him as one of the signature stars of the "post-James era", and its commercial exposure resonates with competitive performance.

Compared with Curry's data when signing a 201 million contract in 2017 (25.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists), Edwards' starting point is higher, and the expansion of the salary cap makes his "money prospects" far exceed his predecessors.

3. Undercurrents of challenge: Three mountains stand in front of the "400 million road"

Health hazards:

Although Edwards' attendance rate has reached 95% so far in his career, he has fought with injuries many times this season's playoffs. The NBA stipulates that it is necessary to play at least 65 regular season games when participating in the Best Team, and any injury may turn 360 million into vain.

Team record pressure:

Timberwolves' salary will break through the luxury tax line next season. If the Western Conference's top four records cannot be maintained, Edwards' "high-end data" may be diluted. History shows that judges are more inclined to vote for the core of the playoff team.

position competition is fierce: On the back line, Alexander and Doncic have locked in a first-team seat, and Booker and Mitchell are eyeing each other. Edwards needs to make breakthroughs in at least one of scoring (30+ impact), efficiency (more than 60% of real shooting percentage) or organization (6+ assists per game) in order to remain in the best team.

Timberwolves revealed with the team reporter: The team has planned to introduce experienced point guards to share organizational pressure, so that Edwards will focus on scoring - this may be a key layout made by the management to "guaranteed the signing".

4. Butterfly effect: How does a contract change the alliance pattern?

If Edwards successfully unlocks a contract of 360 million, it will trigger multiple chain reactions:

The Timberwolves' "sweet troubles":

The proportion of its salary in 2027 will exceed 45% of the team's total salary, forcing the management to choose between Towns and Gobert. Referring to the Warriors' "Curry + Thompson + Green" mode, the era of the Big Three may end early.

Salary system reconstruction:

Active maximum salary record is maintained by Jokic (303 million in five years), and Edwards' new contract will directly increase the maximum salary ceiling by 20%. In the future, the contracts of new generation superstars such as Doncic and Wenban Yama may exceed 500 million in 5 years.

Small market team counterattack template:

Minnesota, as the 15th small market in the United States, will prove that the "draft team building + maximum salary lock-up" model is still feasible, and reverse the trend of superstars gathering in big cities.

(Deep Insight)

NBA economist Lawrence Katz pointed out: "The Edwards contract will become a watershed in labor-management negotiations. In the future, the 'Ross clause 2.0' may be established to limit the speed of wage inflation."

5. Ultimate suspense: Can he break the "billion yuan curse"?

Historical data shows that among the five contracts in NBA history that exceeded 200 million, Curry only led the Warriors to win the championship, and Harden, Wall and others fell into the vicious circle of "high salary and inefficiency". If Edwards wants to avoid repeating the same mistake, he needs to do:

Technical transformation: develop stable three-pointers (only 35% hit rate this season) and pick-and-roll support ability

Leadership upgrade: reduce singles for key balls, learn Jokic's "team gain" model

Business restraint: control off-field endorsement activities and avoid overdrawing competitive state

From the cold night in Minnesota to the spotlight in Las Vegas, Edwards' "400 million Rhapsody" has long surpassed basketball itself. This is an era where individual talents and business rules dance together, and it is also a window for small town teams to counterattack their destiny. Every game next season will be a vivid footnote to this real-life version of "Punishment Got Gold". And the only thing we can be sure of is that this 22-year-old boy is rewriting the NBA's wealth code every time he rushes to the basket.