LaMelo Ball's ability to make his teammates better is a key reason why the Minnesota Timberwolves traded for him. One of his new Timberwolves teammates who will benefit most from his presence is Jaden McDaniels.
"He (Ball) can unlock Rudy to another level at the rim. We’ve got to find a way to generate more catch-and-shoot three-point shots for Anthony who is absolutely elite at that. He can help Jaden take the next step...Not just stabilizing, but bolstering," Finch said during LaMelo's introductory press conference.
Before the Timberwolves traded for Ball, I thought that a realistic offseason direction would be banking on improvement from McDaniels to fill the void of a second option. Seemingly every year, Wolves fans have been hoping for an offensive leap from McDaniels.
Thankfully, trading for Ball doesn't change the possibility of a leap from McDaniels. In fact, Ball's elite playmaking could help make this possibility more likely.
Jaden McDaniels can reach another level playing alongside LaMelo Ball
McDaniels' offensive upside was on full display last season, in which he averaged 14.8 points and upped his production to 16.3 ppg in the playoffs. Still, McDaniels wasn't empowered in the offense as a creator, nor did he have a high-end playmaker to feed him easy looks. Furthermore, McDaniels will turn 26 before the start of the season, so there's clearly time on his side for him to reach another level.
Ball's arrival will give him some easier shots, and his ability to play off the ball if needed could actually help McDaniels create for himself more. And in lineups with McDaniels, where either Ball or Anthony Edwards is off, it's fair to assume Jaden will have second-option-like duties.
McDaniels is a hyper-efficient scorer at 6-foot-9. Had he shot 6.5 percent higher at the free throw line, he would've had a 50/40/90 campaign last season. It's fair to expect this elite efficiency with Ball to continue at the very least.
He is also a highly versatile scorer capable of spotting up, finishing around the rim and creating for himself. In some ways, this makes McDaniels the ideal third option.
Realistically, McDaniels becoming a 20-point-per-game scorer will be challenging. However, I don't see why he can't average somewhere in the 16 to 18 ppg range, as he showcased in the playoffs.
Julius Randle's heavy isolation style of play, paired with a lack of top-tier playmaking, limited McDaniels' involvement in the offense. Now with LaMelo, the Wolves' offense will have a lot more ball movement and opportunities for complementary players to grow. While Ball will make everyone's life easier, McDaniels should be near the top of the list of players who should see a statistical leap.
The Timberwolves adopted a faster-paced identity last season; McDaniels, who has long excelled in transition, was a perfect match for this style of play. Ball will help the Timberwolves further lean into this run-and-gun style, which should suit McDaniels nicely.
Overall, Ball will help unlock more of McDaniels' offensive arsenal, and this could be the year we see him reach his full ceiling.
Add us as a preferred source on Google