The NBA season is just weeks away. With the start of the regular season nearing, we are far away from trade season being truly upon us. However, in the NBA, it's never too early to start thinking about some possible trades.
Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz recently released an article titled 1 Ambitious Trade Target for Every Team During 2025-26 NBA Season. Swartz listed Darius Garland as a dream target for the Minnesota Timberwolves. It's also worth noting that Jaden McDaniels was listed as the San Antonio Spurs' trade target.
While McDaniels would fit with the Spurs, the Wolves have no motivation to trade him. Of course, this is an ambitious trade target, so it will always seem a bit far-fetched. Regardless, the Wolves have no reason to trade McDaniels, and fans can rest assured that the beloved forward will stay in Minnesota.
Trading McDaniels wouldn't make sense for the Wolves
McDaniels is one of the NBA's most gifted defenders, capable of locking down both perimeter and wing stars. Notably, McDaniels ranked in the 86th percentile for matchup difficulty last season per CraftedNBA. He also held five All-Stars to below 40 percent shooting from the field.
The 6-foot-9 forward pairs his elite on-ball defense with impressive defensive playmaking. Impressively, last season, McDaniels ranked in at least the 80th percentile for block and steal percentage per Cleaning the Glass. The 25-year-old also has a growing offensive game, averaging a career high of 12.2 points in the regular season and 14.7 points in the playoffs last season.
Yes, the Spurs have a ton of trade assets, and he'd be an ideal fit there. However, for a team with title aspirations, that's not a player you can afford to trade, especially given the importance of wing play.
If McDaniels ends up with the Spurs, the Wolves would have to get De'Aaron Fox in return, as a pick-based package doesn't make sense. Minnesota desperately needs a perimeter player capable of creating shots for himself, and the Spurs could be willing to trade De'Aaron Fox if he doesn't mesh well with Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
Nevertheless, I don't view this as a likely scenario. Additionally, Fox's annual salary of $55 million makes things challenging for a Wolves team in danger of dipping into the second apron. The Wolves would have to make up an extra $13 million this year to match Fox's salary, but the long-term financial risks are the real concern.
Overall, a McDaniels-Spurs trade is highly unlikely, and he is set to remain a key part of a Wolves team with championship hopes.