Minnesota Timberwolves: 4 players who benefit from Malik Beasley’s absence
By Ben Beecken
Timberwolves players who benefit from Malik Beasley’s absence: Jaden McDaniels
Rookie big man Jaden McDaniels has played the majority of minutes in his young NBA career at the 4, but he’s already seen time at the 3 in Finch’s two games as head coach.
McDaniels’ offensive skill set works at the 3. He can knock down perimeter jumpers (36.8 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and 42.4 percent overall from the corners), and can put the ball on the floor and score with a solid floater game and the length to get to the rim.
He also hasn’t been good as the screener in the pick-and-roll game, so playing him with a solid screener/roller such as Vanderbilt makes sense. To this point in the season, Vanderbilt’s Points Per Possession (PPP) as the roll-man is 0.92 — still not good, but much, much better than McDaniels’ unsightly 0.15 PPP as the roller.
Of course, those numbers will improve. McDaniels is a painfully skinny, 20-year-old rookie, and his NBA future is likely at the 4. But his offensive game is currently a better match for the 3.
Just as importantly, McDaniels has guarded opposing wings much more successfully than he’s defended against 4s and 5s. His length and quickness can be effective against 3s while his lack of strength is exposed more easily by opposing big men.
McDaniels block rate of 4.6 percent is the highest of any non-center who has played in at least 25 games so far this year. His length plays extremely well when guarding on drives and gives him the ability to recover if chasing wings around dribble-handoffs or if he’s trailing in transition.
Long-term, McDaniels profiles as a 4 on offense with the ability to guard at least three positions on the defensive end of the floor. This year, there may be something to the idea of playing him at the 3 more frequently with both Vanderbilt and Towns on the floor.
That means that there could very well be a direct correlation between Beasley’s extended absence and a potential increase in minutes for McDaniels.