Northwest Notes: Edwards, Holiday, DeRozan, Brazile

The news that Anthony Edwards would require knee surgery was a blow to the Timberwolves, who have gotten off to a hot start in the LaMelo Ball/Edwards era. Team president Tim Connelly confirmed, following the MRI on Edwards’ knee, that the surgery was not meniscus-related but instead a “cleanup” procedure, Jon Krawczynski writes for The Athletic. “The imaging from yesterday showed an issue that we want to get addressed quickly,” Connelly said. “Our only concern is for his long-term health.” Edwards has been dealing with knee issues since last year’s postseason, and both he and the team decided that rest was the best approach this offseason, but after the season opener against Miami, where he scored 45 points, Edwards once again faced discomfort in his knee. He is expected to miss at least two months with the injury. “It’s not something we are concerned with long-term,” Connelly added, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater (Twitter video link). We have more from the Northwest Division: Jrue Holiday is not in a role that is likely to show up on the highlight reels this season as the Trail Blazers move forward with their starting backcourt of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard, but he still has an important role to play off the bench, Mark Medina writes in an interview with Holiday for Fadeaway World. “I feel like I’m a complete player. So I can adjust to anything,” Holiday said. “But we have a great group of guys and great group of coaches. They have made the roles very, very clear in what they want out of us. I feel like that plays to my strengths with the roles that they have for me. So it’s been great.” The Blazers have gotten off to a hot start, and their depth has been a big part of their success. Holiday isn’t the only veteran still dealing with the changes that come from becoming a reserve player. DeMar DeRozan is coming off the bench for the first time in his career in his first year with the Nuggets, and on Monday, he had his best showing of the young season, scoring 21 points on 15 shots. He’s still feeling things out, Vinny Benedetto writes for the Denver Gazette, but he’s starting to get the hang of the new role. “I’m just trying to catch on as fast as I can and understand everything, understand how I can help, especially coming into the game, reading the flow of the game,” DeRozan said. “I’m just trying to make an impact on the game… Those guys create so much attention. They make it easier on me. I try to do the same thing when I have the ball. Anything they do makes my job easier and vice versa. Whenever I’m in the game with those guys, I’m just trying to make everything on the floor as simple as possible. It’s going to continue to get better.“ Another player quickly becoming a key reserve for the Nuggets is rookie forward Trevon Brazile, Benedetto writes. He’s still figuring out the ins and outs of the Nuggets’ system, but has quickly shown that his athleticism translates to both sides of the floor. Brazile has brought an energy on the glass and as a cutter that Denver is in need of, and has at times looked like Nuggets legend Marcus Camby, Chris Dempsey writes for Demps And Circumstance. With Cameron Johnson out Wednesday, Brazile started at small forward, highlighting the versatility he brings to the Nuggets’ bench.