Anthony Edwards Faces a Tougher Christmas as Wolves Add LaMelo Ball

The NBA's Christmas Day slate has a little of everything — a Finals rematch at noon, LeBron James returning to L.A. in a 76ers jersey, and Curry-Jokic closing the night. But the game that matters most for your fantasy roster is Minnesota hosting Oklahoma City, where Anthony Edwards walks into a matchup that just changed shape.

Edwards averaged 28.8 points, 5 rebounds and 3.7 assists across 61 games last season (2025-26), good for 44.1 fantasy points per game and a spot at #15 overall in our rankings (#7 among guards). Those numbers make him a foundational fantasy piece. The catch: his last five outings ran 10.8 fantasy points below his season average, and now the Wolves have added a genuine second creator in LaMelo Ball.

Why the OKC Matchup Shifts

Two things moved this offseason. Oklahoma City lost Lu Dort, the physical wing who's historically been a headache for Edwards as his primary defender. On the flip side, Minnesota brought in Ball — and that matters because the Wolves have often forced the ball into Edwards' hands against the Thunder in spots that don't suit him. Ball can beat OKC's pressure himself and free up looks for the supporting cast.

For Edwards owners, that's a double-edged read. Losing Dort's coverage should make life easier on nights when Ant does attack. But a legit ball-handler next to him could shave a few possessions off his usage, which is the exact lever that drives his gaudy fantasy line. The scoring stays elite; the assist and volume ceiling gets murkier.

The Fantasy Takeaway

Don't overthink this. Edwards is still a top-15 asset and nobody's dropping a 44-plus fantasy point guard over an offseason addition. The move for managers is to hold, monitor how touches split early once roles settle, and bank on the Dort departure offsetting whatever Ball takes off his plate. If the cold five-game stretch bleeds into December, that's a buy-low window opening — not a sell signal.