Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels has been a perennial All-Defensive candidate in recent years, but didn’t command significant attention from opposing defenses. Entering this season, McDaniels had never averaged more than 12.2 points per game in a season or had a usage rate higher than 16.3%.
Early in his sixth NBA season, however, the 25-year-old is showing signs of developing into a legitimate two-way threat, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Through 11 games, McDaniels is averaging 18.4 points per game on a scorching hot .550/.538/.844 shooting line, with a 21.3% usage rate. While those shooting percentages probably aren’t sustainable, McDaniels has looked more comfortable handling the ball, getting to the rim, and creating shots for both himself and teammates, according to Krawczynski.
“We’re going to keep giving him the ball, putting the ball in his hands,” teammate Anthony Edwards said. “He can play with the ball in his hands; he’s just got to make the right play. If he makes the right play, we can be 10 times better, you know? Because he’s a great scorer. We just need him to be another facilitator for us.”
McDaniels’ talents as a perimeter defender have made him a valuable role player and quality starter despite a lack of offensive production, but if he continues to play like he has on the other end of the court, he could be on his way to establishing himself as a star in his role.
“He’s one of the best two-way players in the league,” Julius Randle said, per Krawczynski. “We’ve got to be consistent in that and keep feeding him confidence, trusting him.”
We have more from around the Northwest:
- Ace Bailey‘s stats so far this season (8.7 PPG on .415/.324/.824 shooting) have been modest, but the Jazz rookie has scored double-digit points in four consecutive games and is earning praise for his team-first approach, says Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. “He’s highly intentional. He, even at 19, fits in with us. He wants to do the right thing always,” veteran big man Kevin Love said. “Ten games in, once he gets to 20, he’s gonna make another step — once he gets to 40, and once he gets a full season.”
- The offseason addition of veteran center Jonas Valanciunas has allowed the Nuggets to slightly reduce Nikola Jokic‘s workload (he’s averaging 33.9 MPG after playing 36.7 last season) and to be more competitive when the three-time MVP isn’t on the floor (the team has a -4.0 net rating when Jokic sits, compared to -9.3 last season). Mark Medina of Essentially Sports spoke to Valanciunas about his experience in Denver so far and to head coach David Adelman about what the 33-year-old has brought to the team. “Attitude-wise, culture-wise, statistically, everything has been positive,” Adelman said of Valanciunas. “He brings such a good energy every day with the team. I feel like there is a part of him that is just really enjoying being on a successful team. He can be an impact guy on that team and play really important games.”
- A spokesperson for Paul Allen‘s estate denied a report claiming that the Allens would be retaining a 20% stake in the Trail Blazers once the sale of the team to Tom Dundon is complete, per Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report (Substack link). That spokesperson stated that the Blazers will be owned entirely by Dundon’s group once the sale closes, with the Allen estate no longer holding any shares.
Jokic’s season so far via +/-
1 game with a -10 (vs GSW)
10 games with a minimum +9 (all the way to +28)
Insane.
Portland can win in the play-in, get the 8th seed, and then will get swept 4-0 by Oklahoma. San Antonio or GSW can be that team, too; it doesn’t really matter, as all of them will be swept by Oklahoma.
Minnesota will likely be the team that gets to the semis from the 4th or 5th seed, where they will be swept 4-0 or 4-1 by Oklahoma.
#2 and #3 biggest value is that they don’t get to play Oklahoma until the Conference Finals. It will most likely be Denver; they will also be swept 4-0 or 4-1.
Houston is the team that can give them the most trouble, due to their size and inside presence. They can make it a series, even take it to 7 games. But I don’t think they’ll be in the Western Finals.
Denver’s almost as good as OKC. Maybe just as good. Watch out.
Oklahoma will outplay Denver’s perimeter players. Jokic won’t be able to make up for losing battles all over the court.
Also, I see Oklahoma as a sneaky candidate to make a frontcourt acquisition. They have Chet, iHart and Jaylin Williams manning 2 positions. The injury to Sorber was kind of a big deal. As was Philly tanking and lucking into retaining their own pick.
Anyway, OKC are in a good position to make a trade. A bigger body that can do 3 of the 4: occupy space in the paint with size; defend 1v1; defend the rim; rebound.
Before the season started, I liked the idea of Rob Williams from Portland. Risky, but OKC have the depth to manage him like Boston managed Porzingis, and he wouldn’t cost much. Rob Williams wins competitive games even after barely playing basketball for months.
Gafford from Dallas, maybe? I don’t like the fit, though.
Kessler got injured, Jarett Allen is unlikely to be available, and those would be much bigger trades. Atlanta will not give up Mo Gueye. Orlando feels pressure and isn’t likely to give up any of their valuable front-court guys, unless they make a mistake and trade one of them for a “40% 3pt backcourt shooter”.
Maybe Boston go into tank at the deadline and trade Queta? It would be another brilliant move by Brad Stevens, and not because Boston and Queta have no future, but because it would create value for the Celtics.
Edey and Clingman were taken off the board in 2024 before OKC got to pick.
Hopefully all the video of carusos 78 fouls on jokic will be noticed this time
I’ll never understand why people act like Robert Williams has any value as an NBA player. He actually doesn’t “win competitive games”, as is illustrated by the Blazers being 3-4 in the games he’s played in, while posting a +/- of – 40 in those 7 games an avg of -5.7, and – 6, -9, and -3 in the 3 wins.
As a card carrying member of the Anti-OKC Fouling Floppers, I hope they DO trade for him!
Sometimes, +- tells the story of how a player performed; sometimes, it doesn’t.
I watched Portland’s games. I saw a winner in Rob Williams.
Also, for the trade I suggested, it doesn’t matter how much of a winner he is in Portland. What would matter is what he’d do in Oklahoma. I think he’d fit them like a glove.
And it’s not that he’s a silver bullet. He’s easy to acquire. Suggesting trades that would cost 3+ frps is boring.
But honestly, the killer move for OKC would be if they somehow signed Steven Adams in the summer. Not just to get better, but to prevent a rival in the conference from getting him.
@NBA is OK
Did you watch the Portland – GSW game yesterday? What did you think of Rob’s performance? I saw a guy making winning plays and playing solid overall.
He had the same positive impact in their games against Denver, Orlando. He performs in competitive games against serious teams.
Rob has always played like that, even despite his injuries. And acquiring him wouldn’t cost much. Not even 1 frp, probably a second or two would be enough.
OKC can certainly trade for a more reliable, higher-profile player. But Timelord could help any team, even Oklahoma.
Isn’t OKC handcuffed a bit on trades, unless they want to trade iHart?
That doesn’t help portland as Chicago owns their pick if it’s outside the lotto
Well, it doesn’t mean that Portland will try to retain that pick.
When Smart got traded to Washington, they got a 1-14 protected frp. If Memphis lost their play-in game, they would retain that pick. But they beat Dallas, and the Wiz got their pick, which was #18 in the draft.
@Peter
So you’re taking the heavy favorites, fair enough.
I’ll take the field.
Not at all. Nobody is a 50.1% or higher favourite to win the conference in 25-26. That’s too much in a sport like basketball, where players are huge and get injured easily. And where you have to go through multiple rounds of playoffs. I take the field over OKC.
I wrote the most likely scenario.
But I’ll take OKC to get the #1 seed, sure.