The Official Jaden McDaniels Thread

[Klomp]

I'm really curious what the potential hold-up would be

Yeah there's only 1 week till the line closes right?

I believe the extension deadline is the day before the first regular season game, so there is still around a month to get a deal done.

This is correct, we're still a ways from desperate times.

[younggunsmn]

I want 50% of Rudy's touches from last year to go to Jaden this year.
I think that's the best path to growth for this team and for Jaden to take a step up on offense.
Also, a full season of a much lower volume shooting PG like Conley should help with that too.

[Klomp]

I want 50% of Rudy's touches from last year to go to Jaden this year.
I think that's the best path to growth for this team and for Jaden to take a step up on offense.
Also, a full season of a much lower volume shooting PG like Conley should help with that too.

I really think a majority of fans are underestimating this. From Russell to Conley, shots dropped from 13.5 to 9.8. Jaden did see his shots go up from 8.6 to 10.1 after the trade.

Though I think it's worth mentioning that Towns will be shooting more than the guys we had last year.

[TimberKat]

I want 50% of Rudy's touches from last year to go to Jaden this year.
I think that's the best path to growth for this team and for Jaden to take a step up on offense.
Also, a full season of a much lower volume shooting PG like Conley should help with that too.

I am like a few other readers, every time I see a post on this thread, I am thinking it's about we got the extension done. In terms of his touches next year, is he really ready for more? He is still young and maybe it's better to just let it increase naturally. I do feel we still lack one scorer and doesn't matter it's starting or off the bench. With DLo, Beasley and Nowell gone, who's going to fill that role? I think Naz will pick up some of it. Maybe it's Milton or JMcD. I won't add much more on Jaden's plate on the offense side than what he had last year after the Conley trade.

[Klomp]

MP: He still doesn’t have a new contract (laughing).

Finch: He’ll have a contract.

https://www.minnpost.com/sports/2023/09/defense-is-key-if-wolves-want-to-go-from-so-so-to-serious-contender/

[Klomp]

I thought this was an interesting discussion in regards to Jaden on the offensive end. Especially thinking about how he was affected by Karl's absence.

MP: Yet he was so much more prominent, but, like Mike (Conley), doing it in a stealthy way. As a pick-and-roll ball-handler, scoring off screens, and other play types, he was really efficient. Yet he can’t be featured in this lineup.

Finch: Very hard to. So, the key for him is to keep mining that shaft. Things that we didn’t see that I think will come back, is how well he plays off of KAT as a cutter. When I think about Jaden’s season last year, there are some things that are kind of wild about it. One is that he started the season shooting terribly (from three-point range) and wound up shooting 40%. Two is that he would make a living cutting when KAT had the ball. When KAT was out for 50 games, he didn’t know where to put himself for a while moving off the ball. He is so good off the ball. I mentioned about Jrue Holiday earlier. Jrue has never been a super high-usage player, but he is a super high-impact guy. So Jaden has to just keep mining that shaft.

Of course when we had a lot of injuries and Jaden was featured a little bit more, it was great, he really responded. But it is a tough balance, and a tough one for him.

MP: He did grade out really high on his cuts in terms of points per play.

Finch: He is an outstanding cutter. He anticipates spacing and cutting probably better than anyone on our team, really. We put a lot of emphasis on sharing the floor. We are big believers in that you cut for your teammates, it is almost a sacrificial thing; you don’t always benefit from it. But he has the ability to benefit from it because he can cut, catch and finish, which not everybody can do. Also, when you can see what is coming two passes ahead of time; that’s when you know you have these anticipatory skills. He has that. We didn’t teach him that. That is just in him.

I was talking to (assistant coach) Joe Boylan the other day, saying, “I don’t know how we increase his usage. I just don’t.”

https://www.minnpost.com/sports/2023/09/defense-is-key-if-wolves-want-to-go-from-so-so-to-serious-contender/

This probably isn't the thread for this, but I thought off-ball movement was a focal point for the team in the moves they made. Brown is really good at this. Miller is pretty good. Milton is solid. Even Clark is really good here.

[minimus]

Another heart attack! Give him already a damn contract! (Not too big though )

[frankenwolf]

:lol: Another heart attack! Give him already a damn contract! (Not too big though )

OK Minimus, you are the GM. How much do you give him? I would also like to hear your thought process on that. I'll hang up and listen.

[younggunsmn]

I was talking to (assistant coach) Joe Boylan the other day, saying, “I don’t know how we increase his usage. I just don’t.”[/i]

This is an UNBELIEVABLY DUMB thing for Finch to say in public in the midst of trying to sign Jaden to an extension.
Hey sign with us and take 10 shots per game for the next 5 years!

He should be saying. "He's incredibly talented and I'm running out of chalk trying to diagram all the different ways I can utilize his unique skillset".

What a doofus. Get on the same page braintrust.

You know how you increase his usage? Make Rudy Gobert wear boxing gloves when you are practicing half court offense and tell him he doesnt get to touch the ball until it comes off the rim.

[Mamba4Goat]

:lol: Another heart attack! Give him already a damn contract! (Not too big though )

OK Minimus, you are the GM. How much do you give him? I would also like to hear your thought process on that. I'll hang up and listen.

Anything under $30mil per year on average is a great deal for me.

[Mamba4Goat]

I was talking to (assistant coach) Joe Boylan the other day, saying, “I don’t know how we increase his usage. I just don’t.”[/i]

This is an UNBELIEVABLY DUMB thing for Finch to say in public in the midst of trying to sign Jaden to an extension.
Hey sign with us and take 10 shots per game for the next 5 years!

He should be saying. "He's incredibly talented and I'm running out of chalk trying to diagram all the different ways I can utilize his unique skillset".

What a doofus. Get on the same page braintrust.

You know how you increase his usage? Make Rudy Gobert wear boxing gloves when you are practicing half court offense and tell him he doesnt get to touch the ball until it comes off the rim.

That’s not how this works and is a great way to alienate a top player on the team and the fanbase. If Finch is out here gassing up Jaden McDaniels and a potential role he may have and then there isn’t a good/ideal role for him like he was saying you have a great reason for Jaden to ask for a trade. He knows how much the org values him and that they’ll definitely try to find him something.

[TimberKat]

I was talking to (assistant coach) Joe Boylan the other day, saying, “I don’t know how we increase his usage. I just don’t.”[/i]

This is an UNBELIEVABLY DUMB thing for Finch to say in public in the midst of trying to sign Jaden to an extension.
Hey sign with us and take 10 shots per game for the next 5 years!

He should be saying. "He's incredibly talented and I'm running out of chalk trying to diagram all the different ways I can utilize his unique skillset".

What a doofus. Get on the same page braintrust.

You know how you increase his usage? Make Rudy Gobert wear boxing gloves when you are practicing half court offense and tell him he doesnt get to touch the ball until it comes off the rim.

That’s not how this works and is a great way to alienate a top player on the team and the fanbase. If Finch is out here gassing up Jaden McDaniels and a potential role he may have and then there isn’t a good/ideal role for him like he was saying you have a great reason for Jaden to ask for a trade. He knows how much the org values him and that they’ll definitely try to find him something.

I think you guys are overreacting to his comment. I read it as JMcD is doing such great job and I don't know what else I would ask of him.

[younggunsmn]

I was talking to (assistant coach) Joe Boylan the other day, saying, “I don’t know how we increase his usage. I just don’t.”[/i]

This is an UNBELIEVABLY DUMB thing for Finch to say in public in the midst of trying to sign Jaden to an extension.
Hey sign with us and take 10 shots per game for the next 5 years!

He should be saying. "He's incredibly talented and I'm running out of chalk trying to diagram all the different ways I can utilize his unique skillset".

What a doofus. Get on the same page braintrust.

You know how you increase his usage? Make Rudy Gobert wear boxing gloves when you are practicing half court offense and tell him he doesnt get to touch the ball until it comes off the rim.

That’s not how this works and is a great way to alienate a top player on the team and the fanbase. If Finch is out here gassing up Jaden McDaniels and a potential role he may have and then there isn’t a good/ideal role for him like he was saying you have a great reason for Jaden to ask for a trade. He knows how much the org values him and that they’ll definitely try to find him something.

Because Finch SHOULD be running out of chalk trying to find ways to up Jaden's usage instead of wasting another entire season trying to fit in an aging expensive player with absolute hands of stone.

Jaden has sky high offensive potential with his unique size/athleticism/shooting combo with improving handles.

The usage disparity between those two players was absolute coaching malpractice and if we sign him to a big extension he can't just be standing in the corner and cutting off of KAT.

[TimberKat]

This is an UNBELIEVABLY DUMB thing for Finch to say in public in the midst of trying to sign Jaden to an extension.
Hey sign with us and take 10 shots per game for the next 5 years!

He should be saying. "He's incredibly talented and I'm running out of chalk trying to diagram all the different ways I can utilize his unique skillset".

What a doofus. Get on the same page braintrust.

You know how you increase his usage? Make Rudy Gobert wear boxing gloves when you are practicing half court offense and tell him he doesnt get to touch the ball until it comes off the rim.

That’s not how this works and is a great way to alienate a top player on the team and the fanbase. If Finch is out here gassing up Jaden McDaniels and a potential role he may have and then there isn’t a good/ideal role for him like he was saying you have a great reason for Jaden to ask for a trade. He knows how much the org values him and that they’ll definitely try to find him something.

Because Finch SHOULD be running out of chalk trying to find ways to up Jaden's usage instead of wasting another entire season trying to fit in an aging expensive player with absolute hands of stone.

Jaden has sky high offensive potential with his unique size/athleticism/shooting combo with improving handles.

The usage disparity between those two players was absolute coaching malpractice and if we sign him to a big extension he can't just be standing in the corner and cutting off of KAT.

I am not sure how JMcD's contract talk turn into Gobert bashing. They don't play the same position. What do you want JMcD do differently? He is going to run pick and roll with Ant, stands in dunker spot, post up to initiate offense, dribble the ball up court, put him in center? If JMcD is ready to be the offense focal point, don't you think they would had use him that way last year at time when the offense just completely stopped? What do you mean Gobert has higher usage? Are you talking about the usage stat which doesn't count touches or you mean just run more plays for JMcD?

[younggunsmn]

How many plays did we run for Jaden last year and how many did we run for Rudy?

Rudy was basically the 2nd focal point of the offense for most of the year last year and Jaden spent the entire season essentially standing in the corner waiting either for a pass or an opportunity to cut.

There is a ton of action you can run for Jaden (much of it using Rudy/KAT as a pick setter) that was not being utilized enough last year.
He's getting so good at attacking the basket downhill and finishing.

I think our best route to opening up the court more for KAT and Ant is to turn Jaden into an offensive threat.
We tried the "lets run 600 pick and rolls for Rudy and let him chase lobs" route and it was a disaster most of the time, especially late in games.
We need to try to better utilize our other lower usage frontcourt player.

Or teams will keep trying to hide their weak defender on him (for example Trae Young).
Jaden can be a matchup nightmare for teams if/when he takes that next step.

[Note30]

How many plays did we run for Jaden last year and how many did we run for Rudy?

Rudy was basically the 2nd focal point of the offense for most of the year last year and Jaden spent the entire season essentially standing in the corner waiting either for a pass or an opportunity to cut.

There is a ton of action you can run for Jaden (much of it using Rudy/KAT as a pick setter) that was not being utilized enough last year.
He's getting so good at attacking the basket downhill and finishing.

I think our best route to opening up the court more for KAT and Ant is to turn Jaden into an offensive threat.
We tried the "lets run 600 pick and rolls for Rudy and let him chase lobs" route and it was a disaster most of the time, especially late in games.
We need to try to better utilize our other lower usage frontcourt player.

Or teams will keep trying to hide their weak defender on him (for example Trae Young).
Jaden can be a matchup nightmare for teams if/when he takes that next step.

I hear what you're saying but realistically, that should have been done last year. I imagine most of the plays being set for Gobert last year may go to Towns this year, which is fair IMO.

I do think the number of last touches should go Ant, Towns, Jaden, Reid, Conley, Milton, Gobert, Anderson

[TimberKat]

How many plays did we run for Jaden last year and how many did we run for Rudy?

Rudy was basically the 2nd focal point of the offense for most of the year last year and Jaden spent the entire season essentially standing in the corner waiting either for a pass or an opportunity to cut.

There is a ton of action you can run for Jaden (much of it using Rudy/KAT as a pick setter) that was not being utilized enough last year.
He's getting so good at attacking the basket downhill and finishing.

I think our best route to opening up the court more for KAT and Ant is to turn Jaden into an offensive threat.
We tried the "lets run 600 pick and rolls for Rudy and let him chase lobs" route and it was a disaster most of the time, especially late in games.
We need to try to better utilize our other lower usage frontcourt player.

Or teams will keep trying to hide their weak defender on him (for example Trae Young).
Jaden can be a matchup nightmare for teams if/when he takes that next step.

I hear what you're saying but realistically, that should have been done last year. I imagine most of the plays being set for Gobert last year may go to Towns this year, which is fair IMO.

I do think the number of last touches should go Ant, Towns, Jaden, Reid, Conley, Milton, Gobert, Anderson

Looking at last touches point of view, I am not sure Jaden is ready to be the third guy and I don't think we should put the pressure on him this year. If he grows into it, that would be great. I think Reid that Conley makes sense. I would expect Gobert to be higher or equal to Conley/Milton. Gobert still has a very high conversion rate even though he is limited to certain plays. As a side note, Gobert is one player that could be benefit from the bank-in free throws. Most of his miss are long.

[Note30]

How many plays did we run for Jaden last year and how many did we run for Rudy?

Rudy was basically the 2nd focal point of the offense for most of the year last year and Jaden spent the entire season essentially standing in the corner waiting either for a pass or an opportunity to cut.

There is a ton of action you can run for Jaden (much of it using Rudy/KAT as a pick setter) that was not being utilized enough last year.
He's getting so good at attacking the basket downhill and finishing.

I think our best route to opening up the court more for KAT and Ant is to turn Jaden into an offensive threat.
We tried the "lets run 600 pick and rolls for Rudy and let him chase lobs" route and it was a disaster most of the time, especially late in games.
We need to try to better utilize our other lower usage frontcourt player.

Or teams will keep trying to hide their weak defender on him (for example Trae Young).
Jaden can be a matchup nightmare for teams if/when he takes that next step.

I hear what you're saying but realistically, that should have been done last year. I imagine most of the plays being set for Gobert last year may go to Towns this year, which is fair IMO.

I do think the number of last touches should go Ant, Towns, Jaden, Reid, Conley, Milton, Gobert, Anderson

Looking at last touches point of view, I am not sure Jaden is ready to be the third guy and I don't think we should put the pressure on him this year. If he grows into it, that would be great. I think Reid that Conley makes sense. I would expect Gobert to be higher or equal to Conley/Milton. Gobert still has a very high conversion rate even though he is limited to certain plays. As a side note, Gobert is one player that could be benefit from the bank-in free throws. Most of his miss are long.

This is it though. This is the year. If we're gonna pay him upwards of 25 mill he's gotta do it. Can't be soft.

I'm very much in the camp that our ceiling is as high as Ant and Jadens potential. We have a closing window. He has to make the jump or that's it for this version of the team. 3rd option is not a lot to ask.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[Klomp]

I hear what you're saying but realistically, that should have been done last year. I imagine most of the plays being set for Gobert last year may go to Towns this year, which is fair IMO.

I do think the number of last touches should go Ant, Towns, Jaden, Reid, Conley, Milton, Gobert, Anderson

Looking at last touches point of view, I am not sure Jaden is ready to be the third guy and I don't think we should put the pressure on him this year. If he grows into it, that would be great. I think Reid that Conley makes sense. I would expect Gobert to be higher or equal to Conley/Milton. Gobert still has a very high conversion rate even though he is limited to certain plays. As a side note, Gobert is one player that could be benefit from the bank-in free throws. Most of his miss are long.

This is it though. This is the year. If we're gonna pay him upwards of 25 mill he's gotta do it. Can't be soft.

I'm very much in the camp that our ceiling is as high as Ant and Jadens potential. We have a closing window. He has to make the jump or that's it for this version of the team. 3rd option is not a lot to ask.

No. The only way it has to be THIS YEAR for him to "earn" that amount of money is if it's a one-year deal.