Jaden McDaniels is proof to believe in the Wolves as title contenders

The Minnesota Timberwolves have made back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances and are on the brink of a championship. Anthony Edwards is a superstar, and Julius Randle is a quality second option. However, Jaden McDaniels is a crucial yet under-discussed part of the Wolves' title chances. All championship teams have some level of star power, but an elite supporting cast is just as important. McDaniels' two-way play and possible improvement could swing the Wolves’ title chances. 

McDaniels' elite defense

McDaniels’ defense has always been the most notable part of his impact. He has established himself as one of the league’s best defenders. Crucially, the 6-foot-9 forward can shut down opponents on the ball and can guard multiple positions. McDaniels is mostly used on perimeter or wing players, but he can guard bigs as well. Impressively, he ranked in the 89th percentile for defensive versatility and the 86th percentile for matchup difficulty via CraftedNBA. He earned a spot on the All-Defensive second team in the 2023-24 season.

McDaniels often guards the opponent's best guard or wing. Having an elite defensive stopper in McDaniels will be vital for the Wolves against other top teams in the West. Whether it’s the Thunder (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), Rockets (Kevin Durant), Warriors (Stephen Curry), Lakers (Luka Dončić), or Clippers (James Harden), JMAC is capable of containing opposing teams' stars. Every team needs a defensive stopper to limit opposing teams' best player, and McDaniels is just that. 

In addition to McDaniels’ impressive on-ball defense, he is highly disruptive off the ball. This past season, he averaged 2.2 stocks (1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks). McDaniels is an excellent help-side defender who plays the passing lanes or quickly rotates over to block shots or poke the ball loose from the ball handler. His ability to force turnovers leads to easy looks on the other end of the floor for Minnesota. 

McDaniels' growing offense

McDaniels’ offense is a highly intriguing part of his game. He is coming off a career-high season where he averaged 12.2 points. In the playoffs, McDaniels bumped up his average to 14.7 points while shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc. Similarly, McDaniels averaged 13.8 points after the All-Star break. Furthermore, 30.4 percent of McDaniels' made field goals were unassisted, which was a career high. If McDaniels’ improvement as a shot creator continues (which feels likely), it would bolster the Wolves' title chances. 

McDaniels especially thrives as a finisher at the rim; his 282 total attempts at the rim this past season were a career high, and he shot 68.4 percent on these shots. From both an aggression and production standpoint, McDaniels made a lot of positive strides. 

Currently, McDaniels and Naz Reid rotate between the Wolves' third option. However, if McDaniels can provide consistent offensive production like he did in the playoffs, he would be the clear third option for the Wolves. Developing a more consistent outside shot would also benefit McDaniels and the Wolves. Nevertheless, his already improved shot creation could be enough of a significant improvement. McDaniels turns 25 before the start of this upcoming season, thus he may improve further on offense. 

McDaniels still needs to improve as a playmaker and decision-maker. However, with his age and flashes of improvement, that seems highly possible. Given how McDaniels closed the season and even his improvement early on in the season, he feels poised for a career year. Expect McDaniels’ scoring average to be around his playoff numbers, perhaps even slightly higher. 

Ultimately, belief in McDaniels should be at an all-time high, and the possibility of an offensive jump moves the Wolves closer to a championship. Even if he doesn’t make another scoring jump, McDaniels is a highly impactful two-way forward who will be central to the Wolves' success.