Jaden McDaniels is a key piece in the Wolves’ rotation and started 79 games last season.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels has agreed to a contract extension, the team announced.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, the deal is a five-year, $136 million extension
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels has agreed to a five-year, $136M contract extension, his agents Nima Namakian of @InnovateSports and Bill Duffy of @WME_Sports tell me and @JonKrawczynski.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2023
McDaniels has become a steady 3-and-D player for the Wolves during his three seasons there. He posted a career-best 12.1 points per game last season in 79 games along with 3.9 rpg, 1.9 apg and 1.0 bpg in 30.6 mpg. His deal makes him the second young player the Wolves have reached a pact with in the offseason. In July, the Wolves inked All-Star swingman Anthony Edwards to a five-year, $260 million extension.
How we got here: The Wolves selected McDaniels with the 28th pick in 2020 and he has steadily made an impact on Minnesota’s rotation since then. His play took a step forward initially in 2021-22, when he posted 9.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 1.1 apg as a rotation player, then blossomed further in the playoffs (9.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg) for Minnesota.
His playoff run in 2023 never materialized after his solid season as a right hand injury toward the season’s end kept him out for Minnesota’s first-round series vs. the Denver Nuggets. The 6-foot-9 McDaniels is Minnesota’s best defender and part of a formidable tandem with the three-time former Kia Defensive Player of the Year award winner Rudy Gobert and his rim-protecting prowess.
The Timberwolves believe McDaniels has untapped offensive potential to pair with his defensive ability against some of the best wings in the league.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
