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10/20 16:40 CDT Timberwolves agree to 1-year, $40M contract extension with
two-way standout Jaden McDaniels
Timberwolves agree to 1-year, $40M contract extension with two-way standout
Jaden McDaniels
By DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) --- The Minnesota Timberwolves have long viewed Jaden
McDaniels as a vital part of their long-term core, and they furthered their
commitment by signing the two-way standout on Tuesday to a one-year, $40
million contract extension that goes through the 2029-30 season.
The seventh-year small forward has three seasons left on a five-year, $136
million contract he signed right before the 2023-24 season. The new deal gives
the Timberwolves another year of cost certainty in managing future salary caps
around the next maximum contracts anticipated for star guards Anthony Edwards
and LaMelo Ball. The extension also makes McDaniels eligible for another one in
two years at a higher rate, thanks to the hefty raise he'll get from about
$29.8 million in 2028-29 to the $40 million in 2029-30.
The 6-foot-9 McDaniels had an excellent season in 2025-26, posting career bests
with an average of 14.8 points per game, 41.2% shooting from 3-point range and
83.5% from the free-throw line. The Timberwolves are confident the arrival of
Ball and his keen passing ability can help unlock even more offensive potential.
Asked about McDaniels after practice on Monday, before this deal was done, Ball
raved about his lanky teammate's capability and compared him to a video game
creation.
"Can move, long, play defense, cut backdoor, shoot the 3. I mean, really
anything you need," Ball said.
Last week, McDaniels similarly praised his new point guard's passing skills.
"It's crazy. If you're not paying attention, it might go right past you, go out
of bounds or something, and then that's on you because you're open," McDaniels
said. "So I just learned every time I cut just to make sure my head's on a
swivel when he's got the ball."
McDaniels, who was drafted with the 28th pick in 2020 out of Washington, has
long been the team's best perimeter defender. He was an NBA All-Defensive
second-team selection in 2023-24. The addition of the 6-foot-7 Ball should
allow McDaniels more opportunities to defend off the ball, a potentially less
taxing but still impactful role for his quick step and long arms.
"Just all of us flying around, helping each other out," McDaniels said.
McDaniels has appeared in 49 career playoff games, the second-most in franchise
history behind Edwards, and just ahead of Kevin Garnett. His defining
performance in the postseason to date came in the series-clinching Game 6 win
over Denver in the first round last spring, when he stifled Nuggets point guard
Jamal Murray on defense and finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds.
His combination of athleticism, size and instinct has long given the
Timberwolves belief he can become more of an impact scorer, an opportunity that
has clearly increased with the departures of Julius Randle and Naz Reid in the
trade to obtain Ball. Sinking those corner 3-pointers will continue to be an
important source of offense for the Timberwolves, as are his signature
high-rising shots from the paint, a midrange game that he has maintained amid
the league-wide trend away from it.
"Incredible touch, off the bank shots or the little runners, floaters or the
little fadeaway. That's all inherent, you know?" coach Chris Finch said. "He
was really an outstanding 3-point shooter last year. I think we can up that
rate a little bit even. But he's got a gift, and it's not just to have that
size but also that touch at that size. It feels like he can kind of get that
shot off on anybody."
___
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