Jaden McDaniels' raw talent has been on full display this Minnesota Timberwolves preseason, and it's not crazy at all to think that a major leap could be in store for him. In the three preseason games he's suited up in, he's averaging 15.7 points on 66.7/75/100 splits. Yes, you read that right.
Is he going to keep up the utterly absurd efficiency? Probably not. If he shot like that for a whole year, he would be the greatest player of all time. But this is an incredible sign of his development from just a few years ago, from being a 3&D wing with an inconsistent outside shot to a bona fide third option on a team with championship aspirations.
If this offensive jump continues to be the case, he could not only be a sleeper to make his first All-Star game, but also a candidate to win this year's Most Improved Player award.
Jaden McDaniels could be the second winner of the award in Wolves history
The only player so far in team history to win the MIP was Kevin Love in the 2010-11 season. With growth from McDaniels this year, he could put himself in a great position to follow suit. For reference, last season, McDaniels averaged 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on 51.5/41.2/83.5 splits.
For him to be in consideration for the award, he'll likely have to hover around 20 points per game, and at the lowest, likely around 18. Improved rebounding numbers will also help his case, and with the departures of Julius Randle and Naz Reid, the Wolves could certainly use all of the help they can get on the defensive glass.
Having a playmaker as talented as LaMelo Ball can also make unlocking this true 'third option' version of McDaniels a lot easier. Ball is a maestro at creating open looks for his teammates, whether it's generating 3-point shots or creating transition opportunities; there aren't many things on the playmaking side of basketball that Ball can't do.
We've also seen McDaniels be empowered as a self-creator more, and it's been a success. In the playoffs last season, when Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo were both injured, McDaniels took over the number-one option role and dropped 32 points and 10 rebounds in a closeout game to eliminate the Nuggets.
His days of being overlooked on offense are over. McDaniels has shown more than enough to become a vital member of the team's offense. He's always had the scoring talent, and now he has the opportunity to show it, which could lead to some major hardware coming his way.
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