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Timberwolves are primed to double down on long-time Jaden McDaniels belief

Jaden McDaniels is a core guy, and he's not going anywhere, despite his high trade value.
ByEamon Cassels|
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Mar 5, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) dribbles the ball against the Toronto Raptors in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Mar 5, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) dribbles the ball against the Toronto Raptors in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

While Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert are the Minnesota Timberwolves primary trade targets heading into the offseason, some fans are wondering if Jaden McDaniels could also be on the move. To be clear, most Wolves fans don't want McDaniels to be traded. Rather, they're wondering if he is 100 percent safe, especially given his high trade value. 

The logic behind a McDaniels trade is understandable to some extent. Of McDaniels, Randle, and Gobert, there's no doubt that McDaniels' trade value is the highest. Frankly, trading him might be the Wolves' best path to landing a true No. 2 option next to Anthony Edwards. 

With that being said, I would not trade McDaniels unless it's for an elite star like Giannis Antetokounmpo, and even then, I'd be hesitant to move off the 25-year-old forward.

Furthermore, I don't see the Wolves trading McDaniels this offseason, who the team has long viewed as untouchable. After the Wolves were eliminated, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic wrote that the Wolves view Edwards, McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Joan Beringer as their core moving forward. 

"As disappointing as the finish to this season was, the Timberwolves do feel good about the core of Edwards, McDaniels, Reid and Beringer going forward. They will have some big decisions to make, but were encouraged by how the team did pull together to play for one another in the playoffs," Krawczynski wrote. 

The Timberwolves rightfully view McDaniels as a key part of their core

I can understand the aforementioned logic of trading McDaniels. Nevertheless, I'm not moving off of a player who fits this smoothly next to Ant and has continued to grow offensively. Thankfully, the Wolves don't seem like they're keen on moving him either.

The days of slapping together big names and winning a title are over. In the modern NBA, fit has never been more important. To this end, you don't trade players who fit perfectly alongside your superstar. It's also worth noting that McDaniels and Ant are best friends. 

There's a reason the Wolves have viewed McDaniels "as virtually untouchable" for years. 

McDaniels' elite point-of-attack defense is infinitely valuable. Even if you are trading for a star, this is a hard skill to replicate. Additionally, McDaniels has continued to level up offensively. In the regular season, he averaged 14.8 points, and in the playoffs, he averaged 16.3 points. 

Yes, right now McDaniels still isn't a second option on a championship team, but he's a damn good third option and one of the best rim finishers in the league, bar none. Plus, at 25, are you really going to put a ceiling on a player who continues to exceed expectations? I, for one, am not.

Truly, the only scenario where I see McDaniels being moved is in a deal for Giannis. Even still, I'm dubious that the Wolves will have enough assets to trade for Giannis. Frankly, given Giannis' injury history and age, I wouldn't even be all-in on a trade for him. 

In any event, the most likely scenario is that Minnesota retains McDaniels, which is great news for Timberwolves fans. 

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