The Official Jaden McDaniels Thread

[BlacJacMac]

McDaniels is an absolute non-starter in any trade talks involving Durant. IMO, he's the 2nd most important on the team. And damn near untouchable.

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Before January, 58.5% of McDaniels’ attempts were from inside the arc, while 41.5% were from outside. Edwards and Randle are ball-dominant, and Rudy Gobert is only a threat near the basket. Mike Conley shot 44.2% from deep last season and is shooting 39% from 3 this year. Still, the Wolves need all the floor spacing they could get this season. Therefore, it made sense that McDaniels prioritized his long-range shot, especially after he made nearly 43% of his 3s in the playoffs last year.

However, Jaden was shooting 30.3% from deep in the 32 games before the new year. Minnesota created good looks for McDaniels, but they weren’t falling. He showed frustration, probably because his offensive game was one-dimensional at the time. Finch had him usually posted up from 3, and Jaden was inconsistently involved in the offense.

Still, McDaniels continued to impact the game defensively. He guards the opposing team’s best player at an All-Defensive level. However, he’s not the typical 3-and-D wing. The NBA lists Jaden at 6’9”, but he is closer to seven feet, with a 6’11.5” wingspan. He isn’t necessarily strong, weighing 185 lbs., but Jaden has always had the tools to impose himself physically.

This year, he’s playing bigger than he has in the past.

“I be trying to not just shoot 3s,” McDaniels said after leading the Wolves with 27 points in a Jan. 22 win over the Dallas Mavericks. “I am forgetting how tall and athletic I am and just sometimes being stuck on the 3-point line. [It] takes your aggression away. Just continuing to drive, bump people, and do other things just to keep that aggression.”

McDaniels has reinvented his game in 24 games since the new year. He’s averaging 14 points and 6.9 rebounds on 51% from the floor (10.5 attempts) and 38.3% from deep (3.9 attempts).

His new-found success isn’t simply because his 3-point shots are falling. Instead, McDaniels is working to generate offense for himself, and the Wolves are putting him in more situations to be successful. Since Jan. 1, 37.2% of McDaniels’ attempts have come from behind the 3-point line, while 62.8% are inside the arc.

“It’s the most mature basketball that he’s played in every facet,” Finch told the media on Jan. 29. “He is fouling less, composed, rebounding, making all the small plays, playmaking, taking all the good shots, and not getting frustrated when his shot doesn’t go in. He is finding ways to contribute no matter what.”

Much more at the link:

https://zonecoverage.com/2025/timberwolves/jaden-mcdaniels-is-looking-like-ants-right-hand-man-again/?mc_cid=0b7b315c8c&mc_eid=ce7312704d

[life_saver]

Jaden's foul rate has gone down this season...he is averaging 3.4 fouls per 36 mins, which is his best foul rate so far in his career. His worst was his sophomore season where he averaged 4.5 fouls per 36 mins

[Loaf_of_bread]

Jaden is a guy a team wants on the roster in the playoffs.

[minimus]

Jaden's foul rate has gone down this season...he is averaging 3.4 fouls per 36 mins, which is his best foul rate so far in his career. His worst was his sophomore season where he averaged 4.5 fouls per 36 mins

I think part of this improvement lies on better matchups when Finch can assign NAW (and now Clark) as PoA defender. McDaniels is elite defender, but sometimes in certain matchups it feels like he is better as roamer, or simply needs to have a few minutes to reset his mindset after quick fouls etc.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

The current version of Jaden is the second best player in this team. He is young and need now just slight improvement (consistency) to become an All Star player level. Hope he stay here and ANT, him and Naz will be the core pcs of the next 5 years Wolves.
If i had to trade to guys as a GM, it will be Randle and NAW ( or if good return Rudy). But for me ANT, Jaden and NAZ are untouchable.

[Klomp]

Jaden's foul rate has gone down this season...he is averaging 3.4 fouls per 36 mins, which is his best foul rate so far in his career. His worst was his sophomore season where he averaged 4.5 fouls per 36 mins

I think part of this improvement lies on better matchups when Finch can assign NAW (and now Clark) as PoA defender. McDaniels is elite defender, but sometimes in certain matchups it feels like he is better as roamer, or simply needs to have a few minutes to reset his mindset after quick fouls etc.

I think this is probably where I'm at. Not only getting him off POA on defense, but I would also add getting him out of the corner on offense (smaller lineups with more time as the 4, which also in itself usually means he'll likely be the low man on defense.

I have believed for a while that the guy he physically reminds me of the most is actually KG. KG's intensity was a different level, and Jaden might not be a 1A or 1B on a contender as a result, but he's got that kind of defensive giftings.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

I think the key for Jaden is more about spots than touches. And honestly, that's why I'm personally not at all worried about a potential stifling if the franchise were to go after Kevin Durant. Durant is a guy who can go to work from anywhere on the floor. Jaden has spots. And when Towns was on the team, he was often set up in Jaden's spot. You could say the same thing for Julius Randle and probably even Rudy Gobert. That's why targeting someone like Durant doesn't really worry me. It isn't because I think a championship is a foregone conclusion or that I think Durant will give you another decade of 20 ppg performances. It's because while the main reason I target him is for Ant (giving him a co-star to take pressure off), I also think that pressure release valve would come at the expense of Jaden's development. In fact, I'm sure Jaden could probably pick up a few more tricks from a guy like Durant.

[Klomp]

Still the same spots...

Read on Twitter

[Loaf_of_bread]

Read on Twitter

I think the key for Jaden is more about spots than touches. And honestly, that's why I'm personally not at all worried about a potential stifling if the franchise were to go after Kevin Durant. Durant is a guy who can go to work from anywhere on the floor. Jaden has spots. And when Towns was on the team, he was often set up in Jaden's spot. You could say the same thing for Julius Randle and probably even Rudy Gobert. That's why targeting someone like Durant doesn't really worry me. It isn't because I think a championship is a foregone conclusion or that I think Durant will give you another decade of 20 ppg performances. It's because while the main reason I target him is for Ant (giving him a co-star to take pressure off), I also think that pressure release valve would come at the expense of Jaden's development. In fact, I'm sure Jaden could probably pick up a few more tricks from a guy like Durant.

Alright, klomp you seem to be heavily interested in aquiring kd.

Would you mind sharing what assets you would be willing to give up?

[Klomp]

Alright, klomp you seem to be heavily interested in aquiring kd.

Would you mind sharing what assets you would be willing to give up?

I went into it in a bit more detail in the positivity thread. This was the key part of that post that will answer your question:

And let me be clear: I don't think the team would include Naz Reid in any offers for Kevin Durant. They might not include Jaden McDaniels either (that's the point in the negotiations like where in the Gobert trade Utah took an extra 1st because Minnesota was unwilling). I'm starting offers with Randle, DiVincenzo and Conley, along with maybe the DET pick and possibly a young guy or two. And another point of clarification, since I know the second apron will be brought up: I would trade Gobert in a trade to duck the apron before trading McDaniels in such a move. Is that enough to get Durant? It might not be. But I'm fine using that as a jumping off point in trade negotiations.

[Loaf_of_bread]

Alright, klomp you seem to be heavily interested in aquiring kd.

Would you mind sharing what assets you would be willing to give up?

I went into it in a bit more detail in the positivity thread. This was the key part of that post that will answer your question:

And let me be clear: I don't think the team would include Naz Reid in any offers for Kevin Durant. They might not include Jaden McDaniels either (that's the point in the negotiations like where in the Gobert trade Utah took an extra 1st because Minnesota was unwilling). I'm starting offers with Randle, DiVincenzo and Conley, along with maybe the DET pick and possibly a young guy or two. And another point of clarification, since I know the second apron will be brought up: I would trade Gobert in a trade to duck the apron before trading McDaniels in such a move. Is that enough to get Durant? It might not be. But I'm fine using that as a jumping off point in trade negotiations.

What would we trade gobert for to duck the apron? Which other young guy or two?

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

I do believe that Jaden can be an elite defender not only in "classic" drop scheme as PoA defender, but also in smallball, switch everything, and zone defense. MIN still need a quality backup bigman, but foundation of future defensive and offensive core is there

[winforlose]

Read on Twitter

I do believe that Jaden can be an elite defender not only in "classic" drop scheme as PoA defender, but also in smallball, switch everything, and zone defense. MIN still need a quality backup bigman, but foundation of future defensive and offensive core is there

Jaden is not a traditional paint defender. He lacks the bulk to bang with the big Cs for 30+ minutes. At least 2 of the blocks were rear view one after getting blown by the other with Naz standing up Drummond. Jaden’s switch ability, lateral quickness, and high BB IQ are all weapons. That said, Jaden thrives in big ball being defended by smaller opponents who he can shoot over. In small ball he is playing undersized and while he may be able to do it, it is far from optimal.

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

I do believe that Jaden can be an elite defender not only in "classic" drop scheme as PoA defender, but also in smallball, switch everything, and zone defense. MIN still need a quality backup bigman, but foundation of future defensive and offensive core is there

Jaden is not a traditional paint defender. He lacks the bulk to bang with the big Cs for 30+ minutes. At least 2 of the blocks were rear view one after getting blown by the other with Naz standing up Drummond. Jaden’s switch ability, lateral quickness, and high BB IQ are all weapons.

Sure, Jaden can't defend a true bigman in post. Guys like Sabonis and JV will throw him out of boxout position without blinking. But it also is not his main job. As last playoff suggest MIN need to stop oversized wings such as Doncic and shifty, and physical guards such as Kyrie Irving. Jaden in switch, zone, high wall defenses is a guy who rotates, acts as backline of dense, brings doubles pressure bigs.

That said, Jaden thrives in big ball being defended by smaller opponents who he can shoot over. In small ball he is playing undersized and while he may be able to do it, it is far from optimal.

In smallball Jaden has been able to score off the dribble by using his quickness against slower opponents and by using length against smaller opponents.

That said ideally MIN should be able to play both traditional lineup and smallball lineup, keep in mind that last year Gobert-KAT-Reid-Anderson frontcourt is anomaly not a normal thing in NBA. This year we have only Gobert-Reid as bigmen, and recently only Reid. MIN need to find at least one more quality bigman to be able defend at high level against different matchups.

[Klomp]

Do you remember how years ago Jimmy Butler would always say that Andrew Wiggins was the team's most talented player. I'm starting to believe that guy might be Jaden McDaniels on this team. If he ever realizes that potential, that could be a major difference-maker!

[Baseline81]

Do you remember how years ago Jimmy Butler would always say that Andrew Wiggins was the team's most talented player. I'm starting to believe that guy might be Jaden McDaniels on this team. If he ever realizes that potential, that could be a major difference-maker!

Once again, there's a reason why several of us were adamant about not including McDaniels in a trade for Simmons. We saw the talent then. However, he's continued to take a back seat to others when he should have been forcing the issue. It's always been up to him as to whether he reaches his potential.

[TheZachAttack]

Jaden McDaniels stats over his last 22 games:

36mpg
18.1ppg (61% 2pt FGs - 33% 3 point FGs)
7.9rbds
2.8 assists
2.8 stocks

Pretty, pretty good. I'm very happy they have gotten more creative with Jaden's role (which many have been calling for awhile). Jaden is great when he's using his length, touch around the rim, and midrange game and playing out from that. He's also really great as a disruptor and weakside backline defender who can switch into the ball on defense. I like using him in that way and then throwing in stretches as the POA defender and a spacer.

What has amazed me is the consistency of his offensive game. Jaden playing like this is on a steal of a contract.

[Klomp]

I get that people have had doubts and concerns about the Randle/Reid pairing, but I would argue that the pairing helps accentuate some of the best parts of Jaden's game.

[TheZachAttack]

I get that people have had doubts and concerns about the Randle/Reid pairing, but I would argue that the pairing helps accentuate some of the best parts of Jaden's game.

I think Randle and Jaden are fine together. It's when you pair them with Gobert that it's a disaster.

[minimus]

I get that people have had doubts and concerns about the Randle/Reid pairing, but I would argue that the pairing helps accentuate some of the best parts of Jaden's game.

I think Randle and Jaden are fine together. It's when you pair them with Gobert that it's a disaster.

I'd put it this way: Jaden with the ball, attacking of the dribble is much better that Jaden sitting in corner and shooting C&S threes. It is easier to play him in this role with Reid and even Randle, but it is difficult to play him with Gobert and Randle. IMO Gobert + McDaniels as C-PF duo have been playing well, both are willing to pass to each other.

P.S. Plus I think a big reason why Jaden thrives is improved 3PT shooting in backcourt.