NEW YORK — The Javits Center is buzzing, and the sports world’s eyes are locked on Manhattan.

At 1:15 PM ET today, free agent LeBron James will host a live recording of his Mind the Game podcast alongside guest co-host Tyrese Haliburton on the opening day of the inaugural Fanatics Fest NYC. Directly after, at 3:00 PM, LeBron and his agent Rich Paul will transition to the invitation-only CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit, where LeBron is set to sit down with Boardroom’s Rich Kleiman to discuss the next era of athlete-driven business.

But while the King commands the stage to talk business, the behind-the-scenes NBA rumor mill is churning at a fever pitch.

In my report earlier today, I broke down the stark contrast of LeBron’s potential impact from Cleveland to Philly. Cleveland remains the frontrunner in the minds of everyone I’ve spoken to, with the Philadelphia 76ers looming large right behind them.

Yet, there is a sleeping giant waiting in the wings—if their young superstar is willing to wake them up.

The Timberwolves Internal Eagerness: “Everybody’s Interested”

While Minnesota has stayed relatively quiet on the public front, sources within the Timberwolves organization reveal a massive internal interest in bringing the future Hall of Famer to the Twin Cities.

“Everybody’s interested in LeBron. He’s the big dog,” a source with knowledge of the Timberwolves’ thinking tells Scoop B Select.

When pushed on whether Anthony Edwards specifically wants LeBron James in a Minnesota uniform, the response from a source was immediate:

“Yeah. Of course nobody’s turning down that opportunity. Nobody’s turning down the opportunity to play with arguably the best player in the NBA.”

The fit isn’t just about accumulating star power; it’s a direct response to a positional void. Following the trade deadline shuffle, Minnesota’s roster needs are clear. While they managed to bring in Trey Lyles to bolster their depth, the frontcourt still has a glaring vacancy.

“We need another 4,” one source added point-blank. “We signed Trey Lyles, [but we need more].”

LeBron playing the point-forward or small-ball 4 role next to Rudy Gobert would instantly vault Minnesota’s frontcourt into the most versatile unit in basketball.

The Edwards Factor: The Ultimate Call to Action

Despite the front office’s clear desire and the obvious roster fit, the reality of the situation hinges entirely on one person: Anthony Edwards.

In my report earlier today, I revealed that Anthony Edwards has not reached out to LeBron.

This is the ultimate bottleneck. As one source put it: “If Edwards were to make that call, Minnesota would instantly rocket to the center of the conversation.”

Without Ant initiating the recruitment, the Timberwolves remain on the periphery, watching the Cleveland and Philadelphia sweepstakes unfold from afar. For a young superstar who has drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan and carrying the torch as the future face of the league, taking the lead on recruiting the greatest player of this generation would be a definitive power move.

The NYC Litmus Test

So, how will we know if Anthony Edwards is serious about making a run at LeBron James?

The answer lies in New York City over the next 24 hours.

I’m told that if Edwards is serious about recruiting LeBron, he will make an appearance at Fanatics Fest tomorrow (Friday).

With LeBron, Rich Paul, and the league’s power brokers already commandering the Javits Center today, an physical arrival by Ant-Man on Friday would send shockwaves through the convention center—and the league.

The stage is literally set in Manhattan. The front office wants him. The roster needs him. Now, the ball is entirely in Anthony Edwards’ court.

Will he make the call?