The Wolves infuse more length into the rotation with Jaden McDaniels. Once heralded as a top-10, maybe even top-five prospect, McDaniels hasn’t quite lived up to expectations this season. Still, his physical gifts and two-way upside are enough to warrant eyeballs from Minnesota.
This season has developed into a rollercoaster for McDaniels. His maturity has come into question, his shooting percentages have plummeted, and his defensive flashes are interspersed with mental lapses and poor efforts. He hasn’t embodied the consistency some evaluators covet.
McDaniels is still a long, fluid 6-foot-10 athlete who can create on dribble drives, hit the open three, and fluidly run the court. The best case scenario involves McDaniels and Towns operating as one of the NBA’s most versatile two-way frontcourts, but the defense has a long way to go.