The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to a five-year, $136 million rookie extension with younger wing Jaden McDaniels, in accordance to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. McDaniels, now getting into his fourth NBA season, has grown into probably the most best 3-and-D gamers within the NBA, and he is a key a part of Minnesota’s hopes to significantly contend this season.
While McDaniels’ 3-point taking pictures quantity is rather low at 3.4 makes an attempt per recreation final season, he made 39.8% of his photographs from deep final season, a big development over his first two campaigns. More importantly, McDaniels has turn into some of the disruptive wing defenders within the league. He just about earn All-Defense honors final season and must be a powerful contender once more this yr.
When Minnesota infamously traded an enormous package deal of gamers and draft alternatives to land Rudy Gobert, McDaniels was once reportedly the only asset that the Timberwolves refused to come with. That choice proved sensible, as McDaniels is now a core participant for the Timberwolves.
Of direction, conserving that core in combination may not be reasonable. The Timberwolves additionally agreed to max rookie extension with celebrity guard Anthony Edwards previous within the offseason. Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns are each on super-max offers, and the Timberwolves paid to retain best backup middle Naz Reid previous within the offseason as smartly. That will make the Timberwolves a luxurious tax staff for the following a number of years barring different strikes. Owner Glen Taylor has normally have shyed away from such spending, however the brand new possession staff of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez seems extra motivated to spend on a staff that may be very robust subsequent season.
Wings are a few of the priciest gamers within the NBA due to their shortage. Very few gamers can do what McDaniels already can, and given his upside as a ball-handler, he turns out to have a lot of room to proceed rising. As dear as this deal is for Minnesota, McDaniels is definitely value the associated fee.