After missing six games with a knee injury, Jaden McDaniels is on the verge of returning to the court. On Wednesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves issued a press release which noted that McDaniels has been cleared for full contact five-on-five activities and upgraded him to questionable ahead of tonight's game against the Orlando Magic.
The Wolves didn't fare well in the past six games without McDaniels, going just 2-4, with the two wins coming against the tanking Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks. Notably, the Wolves were also without Anthony Edwards in four of these games. In any event, McDaniels' presence was sorely missed, and his pending return is a welcome sight for the Wolves as we quickly approach the playoffs.
McDaniels' possible return on Wednesday night might seem early to some, given the initial week-to-week label. However, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic routinely noted that McDaniels will be ready to go for the playoffs and will likely play at some point in the regular season.
Jaden McDaniels' return is a promising sign ahead of the playoffs
With the Wolves virtually locked into the No. 6 seed, some fans might want to see McDaniels continue to rest before the playoffs. While I can understand this perspective, I also believe that building some momentum and live game reps before the playoffs is beneficial. Likewise, if he feels ready to go and the medical staff clears him, by all means, he should play before the regular season ends.
It will be nice to see McDaniels back on the court, and he should give the Wolves a sizable boost on both sides of the ball. Of course, though, the true significance of his return is connected to the playoffs.
In all likelihood, the Timberwolves will face off against the Denver Nuggets in the first-round. During this series, McDaniels will be tasked with guarding Jamal Murray, something he's done at a high level over the past few years. Furthermore, his 3-point shooting and secondary shot creation are vital wrinkles to the Wolves' offense.
McDaniels is having a career-best season, averaging 14.8 points while netting 42.1 percent of his 3-point attempts. His growth as a self-creator and dependable spot-up shooter has given the Wolves' offense a new element that they've desperately lacked in past years. With teams trying to sell out on Edwards (and Julius Randle) in a playoff setting, this aspect of McDaniels' impact will become even more vital.
Frankly, without McDaniels, the Wolves' path to winning in the first-round would be slim, but with him back on the court, they can't be counted out.
It's fair to wonder if McDaniels' injury will affect his production on both ends of the floor. Nevertheless, with the playoffs nearly upon us, it's a promising sign that Jaden McDaniels seems to be on the verge of returning.