Jaden McDaniels‘ name has popped up in rumors surrounding the Timberwolves‘ pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, but on Thursday night’s win over the Thunder, he showed just how valuable he is to Minnesota in his own right, writes Jon Krawczynski for The Athletic.
The sixth-year wing is averaging career-highs in points (14.9) and assists (2.9) per game, as well as three-point percentage (44.5%), free throw attempts per game (2.5) and free throw percentage (84.9%). He has also missed just two games this season after playing all 82 last year, and has only made fewer than 70 appearances once in his career (in a COVID-shortened season).
Most importantly, McDaniels has the support of the team around him.
“He’s my favorite player in the league,” star Anthony Edwards said about him. “I love everything about Jaden, everything that he does on the court, defensively, offensively, for us as a team, on the bench, he’s always cheering his teammates on no matter how the game goes for him.”
Both Edwards and head coach Chris Finch have discussed how hard he grinds to fix the holes in his game and the business-like approach he takes to his career.
“He’s an incredible worker,” Finch said. “He’s like a machine every day.”
Krawczynski writes that any Antetokounmpo deal for the Wolves would likely require McDaniels to be moved, either to the Bucks or to a third team, but should no deal come to pass, McDaniels has become the piece the Wolves need him to be at exactly the right time.
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- The Thunder are unlikely to make a major shake-up move at the trade deadline, with most reports indicating that 22-year-old wing Ousmane Dieng is the most likely player on the team to be moved. That said, the team could still use some frontcourt insurance depth, especially with Isaiah Hartenstein in and out of the lineup with injuries, Rylan Stiles writes for Sports Illustrated. In his breakdown of seven potential trade targets, Stiles primarily focuses on depth big men who are unlikely to be overly coveted by their team. Kevin Love (Jazz), Nick Richards (Suns), Bobby Portis (Bucks), and Jock Landale (Grizzlies) are three veterans he believes could be acquired for little more than Dieng and second-round picks, of which the team is loaded. He also looks at the Nets‘ Day’Ron Sharpe, a productive per-minute big man whom Stiles notes could fit into Oklahoma City’s non-taxpayer mid-level exception before the club decides what to do with his team option in the summer. As a more ambitious target, Stiles notes that Trey Murphy III (Pelicans) would make an excellent stylistic fit, but the cost to acquire him would likely be more than the Thunder are willing to pay in-season.
- The Jazz are also not expected to make any major moves by the deadline, Andy Larson writes for the Salt Lake City Tribune. Notably, that means that unless Utah is blown away by a godfather offer, Lauri Markkanen is expected to remain a part of the team’s core moving forward. While Jusuf Nurkic was considered a clear trade candidate coming into the year, his solid play within coach Will Hardy‘s system has the team trying to figure out how he can fit into the team’s outlook moving forward rather than gauging what they can get for him in a deal, Larson reports. Nurkic is averaging a career-high 5.0 assists per game, along with his 11.2 points per game, his best mark since the 2022/23 season. Larson notes that Love and Kyle Anderson could be moved in deals, as both have been in and out of the rotation, and that rather than acting as sellers, the Jazz could be in a position to take bad money in order to add more assets to their substantial draft pick collection. He lists D’Angelo Russell of the Mavericks and Maxi Kleber of the Lakers as two such players they could receive draft compensation to take on.
- Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley wants to keep playing past this season, but doesn’t know if he’ll be able to do so, according to Dane Moore (Twitter video link). “Honestly, every game I play from here on out I think about, ‘Is this my last game?‘” Conley said. “I know I want to play more years, but you just never know how things work… I’m just gonna go out there and have fun and not take things for granted.“
Trey Murphy would be massive for OKC they have so many first round picks they could throw at him too.
Lu Dort, Ousmane Deing and 2 firsts from this years draft.
They have 3 picks this year so they’d still have 1 to use, losing Dort sucks but I mean they have Cason and Caruso and it’s not like Murphy is a bad defender either.
New Orleans according to reports are desperate to add picks for this year’s draft.
SGA Murphy JDub Chet Hart
Mitchell Caruso/Wallace Joe/Wiggins JWill
Not to mention they have Topic and Sorber
Talk about being a future dynasty this team would be insane
I don’t see OKC moving Don’t he is too much of a homegrown talent.
Dieng and maybe Kenrich if anything.
In off season, if Wallace commands too much they may move him.
If Edwards and McDaniels are not available for Giannis, the third team would have to offer promising Young and high-value first round picks.
Pressure goes to the third team
Jaden McDaniels and Joan Beringer for Jrue Holiday.
Ehh
lol that’s a terrible trade for the Wolves.
Maybe if Portland threw in 3-4 FRPs.
If you see McDaniels play and his defensive and high offensives efficiency, and reliability….i would barely take Giannis straight up for him. Great contract vs a max player prone to injury.
3-4 FRP? You are smoking crack. He’s good but MIN needs a PG now. It is going to cost. I was leaving the draft capital or young player as sweetner, maybe. You come gunning with 3-4 FRP; what a terrible response.
He’s more right than you are. NO ONE is giving up ANYTHING of value for Jrue at this point. A few second rounders maybe. An expiring (Conley) and a second rounder maybe. But no one is trading someone from their rotation for Jrue. Five years ago? Of course, but that contract is a value killer. The Wolves would hang up and block the phone number if they got that call.
Jaden McDaniels is not worth more than 1 FRP. full stop. It is magical thinking to suggest anything more. MIN is desperate for a PG. Jrue brings championship experience to a team that has everything but championship experience. They may be able to get a young guy like Toumani Camara or a FRP, which I would add, but that is around the edges. The deal is Jrue for Jaden + some other stuff… it ain’t 3-4 picks…
You have already proven you don’t know what you’re talking about, but if we said “Hey NBA GMs make your best proposal for Jaden McDaniels who is young (25) improves every year and is already most efficient offensive player and ALL WORLD DEFENSE. Throw in he’s never hurt and he’s signed long term for a very team friendly deal” I GUARANTEE we get MANY proposals that include 2 FRP and a contender probably throws in extra one (that’s three) to WIN NOW. I wasn’t the one who said 3-4 firsts.
We can go get a young Bull pg for Conley or Dillingham and a few second round picks. Jrue is WAY TOO OLD AND EXPENSIVE. If you want Jaden it would start with Jrue, Camara and probably Sharpe.
You don’t need a young PG. You are trying to win a championship while Gobert is in his prime. Jrue is what this team needs (notice no caps, please keep it civil). Jrue cuts into the need for picks. I agree Jaden McDaniels is valuable, but if MIL gets Jrue, the rest is extra, I definitely agree a FRP is in order; 2 is a stretch in my mind, but I guess if it is 2028 or 2029 and POR has already traded the pick swaps with MIL, yeah ok maybe 2 FRP, , but 3 or 4 FRP and jumping out with “terrible ” is just trolling. Don’t caught up with this guy @Aircastle.
Yeah I think at most for a desperate team we could get 3 FRPs, but not 4. Unless it’s the Orlando Magic (Bane) or Nico Harrison found another job.
I would definitely like Jrue Holiday, but again with his age and contract it kills his value. He’s not getting anyone in our 8 man rotation (except Conley) and we’d be happy to throw in Dillingham. But we could also pick up Chris Paul at less price and less contract and possibly get the same sort of play we’d get from Jrue???