At this year’s trade deadline, it was reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves would not include Jaden McDaniels in any talks involving Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now, the same thing has been reported as the offseason officially has kicked off for all 30 teams, and it is speculated that Giannis will be dealt before the NBA Draft.
To say a player is off limits when trying to work out a deal for a two-time MVP certainly shows that the Wolves see McDaniels in very high regard. It’s understandable why.
We just saw the New York Knicks win their first NBA title in 53 years. The vision was that OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges gave you multiple versatile two-way wings who can help contain the other team’s best scorers while getting some offense in of their own. That type of player is highly sought after, and the Timberwolves should view McDaniels as a keeper.
McDaniels’ value can be seen in a similar light as both Anuboby and Bridges
When the Knicks and Brooklyn Nets made their first trade with each other since 1983 in the 2024 offseason, many NBA fans saw the news with their mouths agape.Â
New York gave the Nets a whopping four unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps in exchange for Bridges. Giving up that type of draft capital is usually reserved for a bona fide superstar. While Bridges is certainly a good player, he’s never even been an All-Star.
Leon Rose and the rest of the Knicks front office had visions, though, of opposing perimeter players having difficulties every game going up against Anunoby and Bridges (as well as Josh Hart). The trio was nicknamed Wingstop, and their visions came to life on Saturday with New York winning its first title since 1973.
Tim Connelly and the Wolves front office were, in all likelihood, watching the NBA finals closely. It surely made them realize how important it is to keep a player like McDaniels, especially being he is still young.
Selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, McDaniels turns 26 on September 29. The six-year pro is coming off his best offensive season with a career-high scoring average of 14.8 points and also career-bests in 3-point (41.2 percent) and free-throw (83.5 percent) accuracy. He reached double figures in scoring in all 12 of Minnesota’s postseason outings.
The offensive growth has been noticeable, and McDaniels remains a top perimeter defender in the league. He’s also someone who takes great pride in that end and continues to exhibit the utmost confidence as a player, which became more noticeable in the series against the Denver Nuggets.
If you don’t understand why the Wolves do not want to include McDaniels in a trade for one of the game’s top talents, take a look at what the Knicks just did.
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