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Minnesota Timberwolves: Predicting the Starting Five

By Dylan Jackson

Malik Beasley and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves both made SI's recent top 100 list. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Malik Beasley and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves both made SI's recent top 100 list. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MARCH 31: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MARCH 31: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Power Forward: Jaden McDaniels

The Minnesota Timberwolves nailed the pick when they decided to select Washington forward Jaden McDaniels with the 28th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. In 63 career games, McDaniels is averaging seven points, four rebounds, and one assist per game, with shooting splits of 45/36/60 – acting as the perfect low-volume role player for a team that has lots of scoring within their starting lineup already.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Predicting the starting five

Jaden McDaniels was one of the Timberwolves’ best defenders this past season. His weakside rim protection was elite, and his perimeter defense against forwards and bigger wings was also above average. He is the only player in this starting lineup so far to have a solid defensive impact – so it is very likely he will be guarding the opposing team’s best starting wing/forward every night.

Jaden McDaniels is the perfect role player from the stretch-four – assuming he continues to develop. The Timberwolves have been searching for the long-term complement to Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt for years – and it appears that they have found that player in McDaniels.

While I’m unsure of just how good Jaden McDaniels could become over the course of his career – he is already a value pick considering where he was taken in the 2020 NBA Draft, and general manager Gersson Rosas looks like he hit on two of the three picks, at the very least (Leandro Bolmaro TBD).

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