The Minnesota Timberwolves have committed to a new-look core around Anthony Edwards. This summer, they made a massive swing trade, sending Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets (alongside a bunch of picks) in exchange for LaMelo Ball. Unfortunately, that means Ball is going to be yet another guy who wants a max contract on his next deal, which could mean trouble for Jaden McDaniels’ future in Minnesota.
It’s not going to be an issue for a couple of seasons. Ball and McDaniels both have three years left on their current contracts and will need extensions. Both guys are going to want a ton of money, and that’s on top of the money the Wolves are going to have to pay Edwards.
The current CBA is set to be renegotiated in 2029, but those guys will definitely want extensions before their deals actually expire. So, with the current CBA and the second-apron concerns, the Wolves may not be able to bring back Edwards, Ball, and McDaniels on the deals they want.
LaMelo Ball could make keeping Jaden McDaniels too expensive eventually
Edwards is going to be back in Minnesota. There’s no world in which the Wolves let Edwards walk unless he decides to request a trade out of Minnesota. But even then, he’d probably sign an extension first.
When that time comes, the Wolves are going to give Edwards whatever he wants. At that point, he’ll probably be making the max $67.9 million in the first year of his next contract.
The most Ball can make in the first year of his next potential contract is that same $67.9 million. Perhaps the Wolves will be able to shave a little bit off that, but probably not by much.
Then, there’s McDaniels. He’s not necessarily a max-contract player, but guys like him are demanding more and more money. Just look at how much OG Anunoby got paid by the New York Knicks.
He can’t get as much as Edwards and Ball in the first year of his next contract, but he can still get a bag. The most he can get in Year 1 of his next contract is $44.7 million.
If the Wolves kept all three of those guys, it would be close to impossible to keep the rest of their pieces. Could they bring back Rudy Gobert? Would Ayo Dosunmu be too expensive at that point?
If they still had Reid, they would probably be able to keep him and McDaniels at whatever price. But the number that Ball will likely demand could make life difficult.
The problem isn’t going to present itself for a few years, but it could be tough for Minnesota to re-sign Edwards, Ball, and McDaniels.
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