Jaden McDaniels will remain part of Minnesota’s long-term core after agreeing to a one-year, $40 million extension that keeps the All-Defensive forward under contract through the 2029-30 season.
The deal arrives after McDaniels delivered the strongest offensive season of his seven-year NBA career while continuing to take the toughest perimeter defensive assignments for the Timberwolves. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 14.8 points in 73 appearances, shooting 51.5% overall and 41.2% from beyond the arc.
A two-way staple beside Edwards
McDaniels also posted 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, along with 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks. He was one of eight NBA players last season to average at least one steal and one block per game, a snapshot of the range that has made him central to Minnesota’s rotation.
His improved shooting gave the Timberwolves another reliable floor-spacer around Anthony Edwards while preserving the defensive versatility that has defined McDaniels’ role. Minnesota can use him across multiple matchups, from bigger wings to smaller scoring guards, without sacrificing much on the offensive end.
Draft-night route to Minnesota
McDaniels entered the league as the No. 28 selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Los Angeles Lakers made the pick, then moved him to the Oklahoma City Thunder on draft night. Two days later, Oklahoma City sent him to Minnesota.
He has not played for another franchise since arriving with the Timberwolves, developing alongside Edwards, the No. 1 overall selection from that same 2020 draft class. The extension gives Minnesota another contract marker around its Edwards-led core and secures McDaniels through the end of the 2029-30 campaign.
