One by one, the core members of the Minnesota Timberwolves have been paid off. Anthony Edwards signed his longest contract in July. Naz Reid got a nice extension last June. Karl-Anthony Towns will start his five-year max this season.
A Wolf stood alone waiting for his deal, and he slightly higher than he did last season. The Timberwolves have been negotiating with Jaden McDaniels on a contract extension for much of the summer, but training camp opens Friday with talks continuing. It’s the last piece of business that Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly wants to wrap up before the season starts, locking up one of the league’s most promising two-way players under 25 for a long time.
“I think we want to be an organization that rewards our players,” Connelly said at the team’s media day Thursday. “Super proud of Jaden’s development, both as a player and person. So we had some very useful conversations with his agents. Fingers crossed, something gets done. “
McDaniels emerged last season as a top-flight perimeter defender, capable of shutting down point guards, shooting guards and small forwards. Coach Chris Finch called him the second best rim protector on the team behind Rudy Gobert. Oh, and he shot 40 percent from 3-point range, making him the kind of versatile defender/shooter that has become a hot commodity in the league.
This is McDaniels’ first time on NBA business, and he’s doing his best to keep it separate as he prepares for his fourth season. Each season, he comes back with a little more to his game, and the Timberwolves will count on him to take another step in their pursuit of a playoff run.
“Honestly, I’m just focused on basketball,” McDaniels said. “I’m working out. I know the contract is there, but I’m trying to let my agents handle it and continue to get better as a player.
The negotiations weren’t as straightforward as some of the other recent big-money deals handed out to Wolves. Towns and Edwards are both faces of the franchise with All-Star appearances on their résumés. Edwards is coming off a terrible playoff series against Denver as well, making his max contract a no-brainer. Reid is a backup big who understands he’s playing behind Towns and Gobert, so the three-year, $42 million deal he got, while a significant investment in a bright young player, not at the level of dollars without a doubt in McDaniels. order
McDaniels, 23, represents another starter closer to Edwards’ development timeline. He has yet to post the All-Star appearance or monster playoff performance typically associated with max contracts. Last season, he averaged 12.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. But he also showed a reliable outside shot, a good handling and a competitive defense that points to a bright future.
“Jaden is the most important guy on the team, for sure, because he has the most potential,” Edwards said. “I think the world knows we wouldn’t be the Minnesota Timberwolves without Jaden McDaniels. So yeah, I’m looking forward to having an amazing season.
There is no greater endorsement of the organization than a more glowing statement from Edwards. Both were drafted in 2020, Edwards at No. 1 and McDaniels at N0. 28. McDaniels had questions about his attitude and production coming out of Washington, but they were quickly dismissed by his impressive play.
“We both want to see each other succeed,” McDaniels said. “We both love each other’s game. The ant can do whatever he wants in the court at any time. That’s something I’d like to get and be a team with Ant and Jaden. Just keep working and getting better. “
McDaniels said he spent a lot of time this summer working on his ballhandling and shot creation. Those areas that are emphasized speak to a player who has plans to expand his impact. He has long played a supporting role to players like Towns, Edwards, Gobert and D’Angelo Russell. While he doesn’t expect to rise to star status right away, McDaniels clearly wants to be great.
“I feel like I could be a (No.) 1 or 2 guy on an NBA team,” McDaniels said. “I have that confidence, I feel like I can go out and score 25 points every night if I want to.”
Right now, the Wolves don’t need him to score every night. But they will need his length and agility as the season begins. He is their best perimeter defender and one of the team’s best cutters, using his ability to read the offense within the flow of the game to make quick buckets for himself and open things up. for teammates.
He still has a lot to improve on. McDaniels was fouled in six games last season and averaged a career-high 3.4 personal fouls per game. His expressionless face sometimes hides a hot temper that sometimes overcomes him with frustration fouls committed in the heat of the moment. He missed the playoffs last season after accidentally punching the wall behind the curtain at the Target Center.
Even if the two sides do not agree on the extension, the position of the Timberwolves is still strong. McDaniels will be a restricted free agent next summer, meaning the Wolves have the right to match any offer made to him.
“The cool thing about any extension talk is that it’s completely positive,” Connelly said. “It’s a year before you…
There are always risks in any financial situation like this. Not making a deal before the season starts could cost McDaniels away. This could bring trade rumors. The Phoenix Suns let Deandre Ayton reach restricted free agency in the summer of 2022, fully expecting other teams to avoid him like most RFAs do. But Ayton’s agents, Nima Namakian and Bill Duffy, actually got an offer sheet from Indiana that forced the Suns to match. Namakian also happens to represent McDaniels.
Next summer is still a long way off for the Timberwolves and McDaniels. It remains unclear exactly what the Timberwolves are offering and how far McDaniels’ question is. Currently the two sides are dealing directly and openly, Connelly said.
“Anytime you have extension talks, it’s a wonderful sign that the organization and the player want to further strengthen the relationship,” Connelly said. “It should be a fun year. Sometimes contractual negotiations can be contentious, but certainly not with a one-year extension.
Connelly is big on communication and said he pulled McDaniels recently to make sure the player knew where the Wolves were.
“It can’t really be that weird,” Connelly said. “We are the luckiest men in the world. We are only talking about how much a player can get. And he got it and he’s a great guy. “
So the two sides are still in good talks to get something done before the season starts. Connelly said he is optimistic. McDaniels is harder to read but has said in the past how much he enjoys playing with the guys in this locker room. The Wolves placed him under team control for this season and next. They want to make sure he stays longer than that.
(Photo by Jaden McDaniels: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)