Jaden McDaniels is giving the Timberwolves something to think about this preseason, and the numbers jump off the page. In three games, he’s averaging 15.7 points while shooting 66.7/75/100. That kind of efficiency won’t last forever, but it does point to real progress from where he was a few years ago.
McDaniels has gone from being viewed as a 3&D wing with an unreliable outside shot to looking like a legitimate third scoring option on a team with championship aspirations. If that offensive growth sticks, he could push himself into the conversation for his first All-Star appearance and even become a serious Most Improved Player candidate.
That would put him in rare company in Minnesota. Kevin Love is still the only Timberwolves player to win the award, taking it in the 2010-11 season.
McDaniels already had a strong baseline last year, when he posted 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists on 51.5/41.2/83.5 shooting splits. The next step is clear: he probably needs to live around 20 points per game to get real traction for MIP, and at the very least stay near 18.
Rebounding could also matter in that race, especially with Julius Randle and Naz Reid gone. The Wolves are going to need help on the defensive glass, and any bump there would strengthen McDaniels’ case.
The pieces are there for more offense, too. Having a playmaker as skilled as LaMelo Ball can make life easier for a player trying to expand into a true third option, since Ball can manufacture open 3s and spark transition chances. And McDaniels has already shown he can do more than just finish plays.
Last postseason, with Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo both sidelined, McDaniels stepped into a bigger self-creation role and delivered 32 points and 10 rebounds in a closeout win over the Nuggets. That was a reminder that the scoring ability has always been there - he just hasn’t always had the chance to show it.
Now he does. If this preseason version of McDaniels carries over, the conversation around him is going to change fast.
In Other News...
Wolves Already Have A LaMelo Problem Teams Will Try To Exploit
LaMelo Ball has already been getting a taste of what awaits once the games start counting, and it has not been especially gentle. In recent preseason action, Mikal Bridges and Ausar Thompson both leaned into the kind of physical, on-ball pressure that can make a gifted playmaker work for every inch, and the early returns have been modest enough to keep the conversation going. For Minnesota, it is the sort of matchup detail worth watching closely because Balls touch and creativity are obvious, but so is the challenge that comes when defenders crowd him before he can get comfortable.
His slight frame and occasional trouble finishing through contact are the parts opponents will circle on the scouting report, and there are teams equipped to do something about it. San Antonio and Oklahoma City, in particular, have the kind of length and athleticism that can turn aggressive defense into a night-long problem, and the Wolves know how quickly a talented ballhandler can be pushed off rhythm when pressure keeps coming. The question now is not whether teams will try it, but how often Ball can answer once the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Dress Rehearsal Exposed A Problem Fans Cant Ignore
The Timberwolves got most of their regular rotation work in Tuesday nights preseason loss to Detroit, and the early returns offered both encouragement and a few familiar warning signs. Minnesota came out with some offensive rhythm before things unraveled, as turnovers piled up and the Pistons repeatedly found clean looks on the perimeter and in the paint.
For a team trying to sharpen its identity before the games start counting, the defensive slippage was hard to ignore. Detroit shot 57% from the field and dictated too much of the action inside, while Minnesotas core pieces, including Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, had uneven stretches on both ends. It was the sort of dress rehearsal that can still be useful, but it also left a problem the Wolves will need to clean up fast. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kuminga Gave The Timberwolves Something To Feel Better About
The Timberwolves left a preseason loss to Detroit with more questions than answers on the scoreboard, but Jonathan Kuminga gave them a reason to feel better about where this group can go. In his first stretch with Minnesota after signing a two-year deal, Kuminga scored 16 points on efficient shooting and showed the kind of pace and directness the team wants from him on both ends.
Chris Finch singled out Kumingas quick decision-making, a promising sign for a player still settling into a new role with a new club. Minnesota will need that adjustment to keep moving in the right direction, especially with Kuminga expected to be one of the key starters, and the preseason is already offering an early look at how much his blend of speed and simplicity can matter. [Read more 🡒]