An idea of how much the Timberwolves have to pay Jaden McDaniels
The Minnesota Timberwolves are entering the summer with plenty of questions but it appears that Jaden McDaniels's future with the franchise isn't going to be one of them.
The 22-year-old took another step forward last season, becoming the Timberwolves' best perimeter defender while averaging career highs in points per game (12.1), field-goal percentage (51.7%) and 3-point percentage (39.8%). Entering the final year of his rookie deal, an extension appears imminent, but it's unclear just how much that contract will be.
ESPN NBA insider Bobby Marks tried to shed some light on that subject during a conversation with KSTP's Darren Wolfson on "The Scoop w/ Doogie" podcast, and while it looks like the two sides will agree on the deal, there are some factors that need to be worked out.
The first is the cost of the contract. Marks estimated that McDaniels could command a little more than the four-year, $95 million contract that DeAndre Hunter signed with the Atlanta Hawks last October. He also mentioned a similar deal to the four-year, $90.9 million contract Mikal Bridges signed with the Phoenix Suns in Oct. 2021.
"I think...it could be for [$100 million,]" Marks said. "The interesting thing is that the rules change with rookie extensions, where now you could do five years if they're not a [max contract] guy. So...you could do it for five years...and $120 million for example. ...So I think at the minimum, you're looking at at least $20 million per year because he's one of the elite wings out there."
While the new collective bargaining agreement allows teams to dish out longer extensions it also complicates things from a team-building standpoint in the likely event Anthony Edwards signs a max extension this summer..
If Edwards signs, there will be three max players – along with Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert – on the roster. Those contracts along with a lucrative extension for McDaniels could push the Timberwolves into the second salary apron beginning in the 2024-25 season which would limit their options in free agency.
Tim Connelly has also been adamant that the Wolves will give Naz Reid a new deal.
"You've got three guys making [$120 to $130 million]," Marks said. "You can do it right...but then when you don't have the draft picks [to build] that young foundation, you are relying on those veteran minimum guys. Let's say we add $20 million for McDaniels and it starts to add up. They're not [to the second apron] yet, but they could be. ...Looking at [the 2024-25 season] when the extensions kick in for McDaneils and Edwards, you're limited as far as signing a player to [a] mid-level exception that goes away."
While McDaniels's ability warrants those types of hurdles, his maturity is another thing the Timberwolves have to question. McDaniels averaged a career-high 3.4 fouls per game last season and missed the play-in tournament and the playoff series with the Nuggets with a fractured hand after punching a wall during the Wolves' season finale win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Apr. 9.
"I think the big thing is from a maturity standpoint," Marks said. "That was a knock coming out of Washington...as far as how he handled himself off the court. How much does [Tim Connelly] in the front office weigh that incident? I'd rather him punch a wall than a teammate, I guess, right? ...I think it's all part of his growth. I think he's certainly learned a lot about it but at the end of the day what he's done on the court will probably overshadow...in a good way...a lot of things."
With Marks's assessment, it appears that an extension for McDaniels is on the way. But how it affects the Timberwolves going forward is something that remains to be seen.
