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Looks like Jaden is back. I do believe signing the new contract facilitated his healing.

JADEN MCDANIELS
10/27/2023 11:16:38 AM
McDaniels (calf) was a full participant in Friday’s practice, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports. McDaniels missed Minnesota's regular-season opener with a left calf strain he suffered in the preseason. However, his full practice participation is a good sign of his availability for Saturday's matchup with Miami. McDaniels will likely replace Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the starting lineup when he returns to action.

Jaden playing today.

Returning Monday
McDaniels (calf) is active for Monday's game against Atlanta, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.
Advice: McDaniels will make his season debut after being sidelined for Minnesota's first two contests. His return marks a boon for the Timberwolves' defense. Nickeil Alexander-Walker will head to the second unit.

As I mentioned before I think that McDaniels development is crucial for our offense. He fits well as big wing next to Gobert, because:

1) Jaden can score from wings, when opponent defense is collapsing because of Rudy's presence in the paint, combine this with that skip passes from Edwards, some back screen magic and McDaniels high release point + 6'11 height + 6'11' wingspan and Jaden can shot over defense

2) Jaden and Gobert plays well next to each other. You see in video first Rudy finds Jaden on perimeter (easy target when Jaden is 6'11 height + 6'11' wingspan), second Jaden drops off to Gobert under the rim



P.S. At some degree we can compare Anderson (and Towns) and McDaniels duo on the wings to UTA Ingles and Bogdanovic duo. I mean not players but, their roles. Obviously Ingles is a much better shooter than Anderson, while McDaniels is much more athletic as cutter than Bogdanovic. Two mobile wings was the best formula for success for UTA with Gobert, will see how MIN can adopt it as well.

Another storyline of this season. He is playing more and more as secondary option, attacking off the dribble when Edwards breaks defense and passes him the ball

I really like how McDaniels is trying to beat his opponent attacking closeouts. But I believe that he has even more potential as passer. But it should not be forced, so I expect organic growth into 3rd and then 2nd option in offense.

Very unfortunate news.

Domejandro wrote:

Read on Twitter

Very unfortunate news.

I actually didn’t think it originally looked “that bad” as far as sprains go. But better to get it 100% now than him playing on it being only 75% the rest of the season.

Domejandro wrote:

Read on Twitter

Very unfortunate news.

I called it. Minimum 2 weeks and possibly 6. This will test our depth.

Found this on NBA.Com. Good News IMO.

JADEN MCDANIELS
11/21/2023 12:53:22 PM
McDaniels (ankle) will be re-evaluated in one week with a 2-3 week recovery timeline, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. McDaniels has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 right lateral ankle sprain. McDaniels dealing with the lowest grade of sprains aligns with his initial recovery window and bodes well for his rest-of-season outlook. Kyle Anderson and Troy Brown will be tasked with additional usage, although it's unclear how Minnesota will address its starting lineup in McDaniels' absence.

Good news. 2-3 weeks is best case here.

McDaniels defense is the key for us to unlock new level. If I read these stats correctly McDaniels versatility allows us to defend against different schemes, coverages, different players. It means one day a shooter like Devin Booker, next game a slasher like Morant, next game Tatum or Brown.

Jaden showing more and more flashes on offense..his finishing at the rim is very good...he makes some really tough finishes in transition. He is doing a great job of attacking closeouts...also love the open midrange jumpers he takes when he finds an opportunity. Just need to get more consistent and also team needs to get him more consistent touches...we sometimes just totally ignore him during few phases of the game

Jaden going 2-4 3P last night has brought his 3P% for the season to 40%.

So far this season, his .567 FG% trails only Gobert (.607) on about the same volume (8 FGA’s). Towns, even with his volume, is third at a beautiful .515, Naz is at .494, Ant at .452.

Teams will continue to try to hide their worst defender on Jaden (last night it was DLo), so I hope that they give McDaniels lots of opportunities, especially with his height advantage.

shrink wrote:Jaden going 2-4 3P last night has brought his 3P% for the season to 40%.

So far this season, his .567 FG% trails only Gobert (.607) on about the same volume (8 FGA’s). Towns, even with his volume, is third at a beautiful .515, Naz is at .494, Ant at .452.

Teams will continue to try to hide their worst defender on Jaden (last night it was DLo), so I hope that they give McDaniels lots of opportunities, especially with his height advantage.

If I am Chris Finch I am going to Jaden and I am telling him, you dropped 19 in the first half on Wednesday, and 12 in the first half on Thursday. Both times your efficiency was excellent, your shot selection was excellent, and you a huge service for your team. Then in the second half in both games you went 1-1. That simply cannot happen. If you don’t engage in the offense in the second half you are doing a disservice to your team. You need to be a willing shooter, and it is okay to attack off the dribble.

He is simply too good to be this absent in the 2nd half. Especially on a team that struggles with its offense.

I hope Finch and the rest of the team have a serious conversation with Jaden; what happened yesterday is not acceptable. And, worse yet, he had a couple of reactions during the game that were predictable. It seems he hasn't learned from what happened last year.

moretins wrote:I hope Finch and the rest of the team have a serious conversation with Jaden; what happened yesterday is not acceptable. And, worse yet, he had a couple of reactions during the game that were predictable. It seems he hasn't learned from what happened last year.

He needs to control his temper. A bit of a hot head.

He had a rep in college as a hot head. One of the reasons he slipped.

Hopefully he just needs to grow up.

I know this is probably gonna be a bad take, but wait for his trade value to go up and trade him. That temper isn't going away. It should have gone away when he wasn't able to play in the playoffs last year because of what he did. It was still there during the warriors incident, and it's still there tonight.

Maybe he can get better, but before he's deemed like DeMarcus Cousins trade his ass before his value hits the toilet.

Note30 wrote:I know this is probably gonna be a bad take, but wait for his trade value to go up and trade him. That temper isn't going away. It should have gone away when he wasn't able to play in the playoffs last year because of what he did. It was still there during the warriors incident, and it's still there tonight.

Maybe he can get better, but before he's deemed like DeMarcus Cousins trade his ass before his value hits the toilet.

Should we trade Edwards since he cry's every time he drives as well?

We don't want cry babies either