The 2020 NBA Draft was a legendary one for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Of course, they drafted Anthony Edwards with the No. 1 pick. However, the Wolves also traded down with the Oklahoma City Thunder to draft Jaden McDaniels with the 28th overall pick. In doing so, Minnesota reunited with Ricky Rubio. The Wolves traded the 17th pick, allowing OKC to draft Aleksej Pokuševski.
OKC had previously landed the Los Angeles Lakers' 28th pick by trading Dennis Schröder. Regardless, McDaniels has blossomed into one of the league's best complementary wings, and he could still reach another level. On a recent episode of the Game Theory podcast, Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon re-drafted the 2020 draft, and they picked McDaniels with the No. 7 pick.
Undoubtedly, McDaniels has exceeded his draft day selection of the 28th pick and become a massive steal. Getting value outside of the lottery is a common thread with winning teams, and McDaniels is a prime example of that.
McDaniels is a high-impact player who could still reach another level
McDaniels is one of the league's best defenders. He thrives as an on-ball stopper, being able to contain elite opposing guards and wings. Additionally, McDaniels is highly disruptive off the ball, averaging 1.7 stocks (steals + blocks) for his career, including 2.2 stocks last year. Every team needs a versatile defense stopper like McDaniels.
The Washington product pairs this with a growing offensive game. Last season, McDaniels averaged a career-high 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2 assists. McDaniels showcased his upside in the playoffs, averaging 14.7 points.
Entering his age-25 season, it's not far-fetched to believe that McDaniels can reach another level offensively. 3-point shooting is one area where he could develop more consistency; he has averaged 34.8 percent from beyond the arc in the regular season, but this number has risen to 42 percent in the playoffs. Playmaking is another area of growth for McDaniels.
Still, McDaniels is an excellent finisher and an overall positive offensive player. This, along with his elite defense, makes him a top-tier role player and an ideal fit next to Edwards. Simply put, every elite team has a glue guy like McDaniels.
Getting a player who has been a key contributor on back-to-back Western Conference finals squads as a late first-round pick is amazing value. As the Wolves attempt to win their first-ever NBA title, McDaniels' ability to make a well-rounded impact and his winning traits will benefit the team.