The Minnesota Timberwolves value Jaden McDaniels highly. Not only is he a fan favorite, but the organization considers him to be one of their key players for years to come. Despite that, McDaniels remains undervalued nationally. There are a few things to consider when trying to understand why that’s the case.
Earlier in the week, old friend Jarred Vanderbilt spoke highly of McDaniels’ potential to be more than what he has shown. On the Run Your Race podcast, Vanderbilt said there’s more to McDaniels’ game, but the team’s structure hasn’t allowed him to show that.
“It’s all situational,” Vanderbilt said, “he can probably go to another team and average 15 or 20 points.”
He couldn’t have said it any better. Surrounded by four established contributors on the offense, McDaniels can only tap into so much of his skill set. Of those four, McDaniels had the lowest usage rate for the Timberwolves last season (15.6%). While the Wolves have indicated that McDaniels may not be ready for a more significant offensive role at this point, they understand the value he brings extends beyond statistics.
Vanderbilt also used Mikal Bridges as a common player comparison for McDaniels. Vanderbilt highlighted how Bridges’ role with the Brooklyn Nets changed compared to when he was with the Phoenix Suns. Bridges averaged nearly 10 points per game more in Brooklyn because he became their top option.
The Timberwolves understand McDaniels has to play a specific role in Minnesota. He’s mostly a defender and spot-up shooter. He’s still a significant part of the lineup as one of the best defenders in the league. The Wolves felt his absence in the 2023 playoffs when they couldn’t contain Jamal Murray in the first round. In an interview with Shams Charania, McDaniels revealed that Murray said, “Stop blocking my jumpers” during an on-court encounter. Guarding one of the best ball handlers in the league is no small feat.
McDaniels’ humble demeanor is another reason why the Timberwolves value him. It’s not often you see a player who isn’t an All-Star, held back from being involved in trade talks like the Wolves did during the Rudy Gobert deal. When the Utah Jazz asked for McDaniels, the Wolves expressed their unwillingness to involve him. Instead, they opted to include multiple first-round picks to meet Utah’s asking price.
While the Timberwolves value McDaniels’ impact, his discipline has held him back from taking on a larger role. McDaniels started the 2021-22 season in the starting lineup before a poor stretch of games moved him to the second unit. The switch ended up working for Minnesota and led to a playoff berth.
However, McDaniels’ inability to stay on the court due to foul trouble led to this lineup change. Since coming into the NBA, McDaniels has had a tendency to be an aggressive defender, which savvy players usually take advantage of. He’s improved this part of his game. But he still gets into occasional foul trouble with 3.4 fouls per game, second-highest on the team to Karl-Anthony Towns. As Minnesota’s best perimeter defender, the coaching staff might not trust McDaniels enough to give him a larger role while his fouling habits remain a concern.
Ultimately, Vanderbilt’s assessment is spot on. With more opportunity, McDaniels could easily turn into a much-improved player. But for the time being, that won’t be the case in Minnesota, given the surrounding cast. The Timberwolves believe their future is reliant on Anthony Edwards, McDaniels, and Naz Reid’s impact. Therefore, I’m a believer that when the time comes for McDaniels to take on a larger role, he’ll become the player we believe he can be. With Edwards and Reid already signing their contract extensions this offseason, McDaniels is next.
Tim Connelly told Jon Krawczynski that he’d love to get an extension done with McDaniels before the regular season starts. So while the 22-year-old forward remains undervalued, the clock is ticking before McDaniels becomes a player whose impact is better understood nationally.
