It's become abundantly clear that Jaden McDaniels is more than just an elite role player -- he's a legitimate complementary star. Look, McDaniels may never make an All-Star team or anything, but he is a high-level third option. And if the Minnesota Timberwolves break through and make a championship run, McDaniels will be a key part of their success.
He gives the Timberwolves a unique advantage on both ends of the floor. Most notably, McDaniels can take opposing perimeter stars out of games with his elite on-ball defense. McDaniels' blend of size, length, and quickness makes him a defensive anomaly. Furthermore, he can wreak havoc as a defensive playmaker.
While McDaniels' defensive impact has long been his biggest strength, his growing offensive game fully completes the advantage that he provides.Â
Last season, McDaniels proved that he is a hyper-efficient three-level scorer. Notably, he averaged 14.8 points, with 51.5/41.2/83.5 shooting splits. Having a 6-foot-9 forward who can spot-up, attack the rim, score from the mid-range, and punish mismatches gives the Timberwolves' offense an extra layer. Likewise, this blend of size and skill makes McDaniels a matchup nightmare.
Remember: McDaniels is the third guy opposing defenses have to worry about, with Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, of course, being the priorities. Having a complementary star like McDaniels is something all championship teams need, and he gives the Timberwolves a distinct advantage in every matchup.
Jaden McDaniels is an incredibly impactful two-way player
The full effects of the Timberwolves' McDaniels advantage were on full display during their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets. McDaniels took Jamal Murray's lunch, holding him to 31.9 percent from the field when guarding him. The year before, he limited Luka Doncic in the first-round. Having a player who can take stars out of a series is an advantage that few teams can match, and in a perimeter-centric league, this is especially beneficial.
I fully believe McDaniels could switch up to a forward role, but it's more than understandable why Chris Finch and the Timberwolves want to keep him as a perimeter stopper where he's thrived.
Circling back to the Nuggets series, McDaniels punished Denver's weak defense by constantly attacking the rim. He averaged 17.8 points in this series, including a legendary 32-point performance in a closeout Game 6.
Whether it's exposing a team filled with bad defenders like Denver or going toe-to-toe with top-end defense, McDaniels can produce at a high level.
To be fair, McDaniels isn't a perfect player; at times, he can struggle with offensive consistency. However, the arrival of LaMelo should ensure that he's more consistently involved in the offense. As such, there's a strong chance we could see McDaniels reach another level on offense.
In any event, McDaniels' blend of size and skill makes him a difficult matchup for opposing teams, and having a player with this skill set as a third option is a massive advantage for the Timberwolves.
Players like McDaniels are vital to championship teams
Undoubtedly, McDaniels' impressive two-way impact is the perfect complement to Minnesota's offensively slanted stars, and he gives the team numerous advantages. He can cover up for the weaknesses of Edwards and Ball while amplifying their strengths. Yes, we have to see him play alongside LaMelo, but he should be an ideal fit.
When building a championship team, who complements your stars is almost as important as the stars themselves, and McDaniels is a top-tier complementary player. In turn, McDaniels' impact could help the Timberwolves reach the promised land.
The New York Knicks' championship run is a perfect example of this, and it's not a coincidence that they had two players (OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges) with clear similarities to McDaniels. Players who can take on star-level matchups and offer a well-rounded impact as scorers are infinitely valuable to winning basketball.
Amid all the understandable excitement about LaMelo's arrival, McDaniels' importance to the Timberwolves can't be forgotten.
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