One of the biggest themes of the Minnesota Timberwolves' offseason has been their belief in Jaden McDaniels. First, it started with keeping him out of trade talks, even for Giannis Antetokounmpo. By salary-dumping Julius Randle, the Wolves further backed up their belief in McDaniels. With a Rudy Gobert trade sounding unlikely, McDaniels could be ready to slide into a de facto second option role.
Recently, Timberwolves president of basketball operations discussed McDaniels' ability to reach another level.
"I think consistency across the board. I think we gotta unlock some of his playmaking. Really, offensively, there's not much he can't do, as we saw in that closeout game versus Denver... We know he can be a special, special player. It's gotta be consistent. It can't be some nights 20, some nights 4 or 5. So it's not just a physical approach, it's a mental approach. The willingness to accept the added responsibility. We think he's ready for that," Connelly said.
Jaden McDaniels should thrive with a bigger role
Listen, it's a high bar for McDaniels to be a second option on a team with championship aspirations. However, the Wolves clearly believe that this type of leap is possible. Furthermore, while McDaniels might be the closest player to a true second option, it's going to be more of a second-option-by-committee than anything else.
Given that McDaniels will turn 26 during the offseason, he's coming off a career-best season, has shown signs of scaling up, all while never being empowered as a creator, I think the Wolves are vindicated in their belief in McDaniels.
For years, it's been clear that McDaniels is a skilled offensive player, yet he's primarily been used in a spot-up role. McDaniels averaged 14.8 points this past season, but once again scaled up in the playoffs, averaging 16.3 points, including the stellar 32-point outing in Game 6 of the first-round, which Connelly referenced.
He can score at all three levels, though he especially thrives as a finisher. With McDaniels' blend of size and comfort level on the ball, he should be ready to scale up into a bigger role.
He'll need to be more consistent, but being given a more consistent role will likely be paired with more consistency from Jaden. For the last two seasons, McDaniels' ability to create for himself was overshadowed by Randle's heavy isolation diet.
Now, with Randle in Brooklyn and the Wolves committing to McDaniels earning a bigger role, I'm super bullish on what he can accomplish.
Assuming they don't make any big moves for the rest of the summer, some people will likely criticize the Wolves for heavily banking on McDaniels as the team's second creator.
Sure, it's fair to have some level of doubt. Regardless, as noted, McDaniels has routinely improved in a limited role -- that has to count for something, right? Plus again, not everything will be on McDaniels' shoulders, with Ayo Dosunmu, Naz Reid and Terrence Shannon Jr. all set to earn bigger roles.
Remember, the Timberwolves were once mocked for holding McDaniels out of Rudy Gobert trade talks, instead trading away even more draft capital. It's safe to say the Wolves' belief in McDaniels paid off four years ago and I think it will pay off again.
