Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels has been diagnosed with left knee patella tendinopathy and a bone bruise, according to a team press release.
An MRI conducted at Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine determined the extent of his injury. McDaniels will be listed as week-to-week, the release adds.
McDaniels won’t require surgery and the timeline could still position him for a playoff return, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic tweets.
It’s a major development for a team currently tied with the Rockets for fifth place in the West standings. McDaniels had scored at least 16 points in his last five appearances, most recently on Wednesday. He sat out Saturday’s home loss to Detroit.
Overall, McDaniels has appeared in 71 games, averaging a career-high 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks in 31.9 minutes. He’s shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 42.1 on 3-point tries.
McDaniels has been one of the league’s most durable players over the past five seasons, never playing in fewer than 70 games. Without him, Minnesota will have to rely more on Terrence Shannon Jr., Ayo Dosunmu and Jaylen Clark at the wing position.
Dosunmu hasn’t played since last Sunday due to a calf injury but is listed as available for tonight’s game against the Mavericks. Star guard Anthony Edwards is listed as questionable due to right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. He’s been out since March 15
If he’s back in time for round 1 AND this forces the Wolves into the 6th seed, it’s a perfect situation. Avoid Denver in round 1 and avoid OKC in round 2 most likely.
Obviously if McDaniels is out it doesn’t really matter who they play, they aren’t going far. But hopefully it’s nothing too serious.
McDaniels is an enigma. D specialist, but not a true 3 and D. He has some of the tools to be an elite offensive player, but he seems content to be a star-stopper, and he is just a stone cold competitor. A little nuts in that way. He would be a plus plus on any team in the league, but he has all the physical tools to be a top-15/20 two way if he were in the right situation.
Hope he heals up. The league is better with him playing healthy.