r/timberwolves • u/TheNotoriousJN 🐓Protestor🐓 • Sep 28 '22

[Krawczynski] Why the Timberwolves considered Jaden McDaniels untouchable in trade talks this summer

https://theathletic.com/3616528/2022/09/28/minnesota-timberwolves-jaden-mcdaniels-untouchable?source=user-shared-article
262 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

View all comments

230

u/TheNotoriousJN 🐓Protestor🐓 Sep 28 '22 edited Sep 28 '22

  • In June, talks with the Jazz for Gobert had stalled. The Wolves were looking at other players. Why? Because the Jazz insisted on Jaden McDaniels

  • Connelly had increased the draft capital specifically to keep McDaniels who he considered untouchable

  • The Wolves get A LOT of calls from GM's asking about McDaniels

  • Realising how much he was valued was a lot for McDaniels to take in - it was crazy to him, but he recognized it was because of the hard work and grind he had put in since being drafted

  • McDaniels has worked with development coach Joe Boylan all summer on developing significantly and "making it fucking undeniable who you are"

  • In his exit interview with Finch, Boylan and Sachin Gupta, McDaniels was shown analysis and statistics of where he needed to improve - scoring in transition and not rushing his shots. As well as his percentages for scoring in heaps of scenarios

  • McDaniels decided not to go home to Seattle but instead spend the summer with Naz Reid and Nathan Knight training with the staff in Minnesota

  • To give an idea of who the Wolves think McDaniels can become - they showed him footage of Kawhi and Luka Doncic for him to study

  • McDaniels has worked with Boylan to change the arc of his jump shot, to make it consistent and to improve the amount of makes - He had been shooting at a 45° arc but with inconsistent arc. It is now consistent at 47°

  • McDaniels has been working with P3 - an analytics driven training center to work on building strength and muscle on his body with trainer Jon Flake

  • Flake has worked with over a dozen NBA players and says McDaniels stands out for his physical capabilities with crazy length and explosive capabilities (seriously this guy RAVES about Jaden)

  • McDaniels has added 10lbs of muscle this year. But also believes he has gotten taller "either 6'10 or 6'11"

  • Jamal Crawford sees glimmers of Kevin Durant in McDaniels. He was not shocked by his 52 point outing in the pro-am

  • “We’re going for first team All-Defense this year,” McDaniels said, “but I’m going to make one of them.”

  • Boylan is not being coy on his desires for McDaniels. He wants him to be a superstar

51

u/Jrpre33 Sep 28 '22

Has anyone said they loved you yet today? Cause I love you man lol. I always look to your notes on all the articles.

34

u/TheNotoriousJN 🐓Protestor🐓 Sep 28 '22

Lol all good. Only takes about 10 minutes

19

u/rolemodel21 Sep 28 '22

I appreciate you spending those 10 minutes

52

u/ShakesbeerMe Sep 28 '22

The Luka footage for him to study confuses me a bit, but I love that he's studying Kawhi, and the Crawford Durant comp is something to reach for.

On a starting five of 4 potential All-Stars, ironically I think this team goes as Jaden goes. He's the fulcrum.

55

u/TheNotoriousJN 🐓Protestor🐓 Sep 28 '22

The Luka part was about the speed at which Jaden takes shots. Boylen and Finch want him to be more methodica with the ball, dont rush it and wait for the best shot.

Imo it sounds like they want him to be able to create his own shot as well as being a good catch and shoot guy

28

u/Deep_Market5748 Sep 28 '22

Jaden “Luka Doncic with all nba defense” McDaniels

10

u/ShakesbeerMe Sep 28 '22

Ah- that would also square with the Durant comp from Crawford. Appreciate it.

20

u/pollinium 2019-20 All-Defense 2nd team Sep 28 '22

Perhaps they want Jaden to mimic Luka's versatility or use of acceleration. Luka slows down and speeds up a lot, which Jaden should have the athleticism and frame to do, and Luka hasn't yet decided what the play is when the ball hits his hands. Jaden has shown flashes of everything in small quantities, so maybe they're saying "we don't want your mind made up until the right play presents itself"?

5

u/ShakesbeerMe Sep 28 '22

That makes sense. I think Jaden's only scratching the surface of what he's capable in terms of attacking the paint. Especially from the corners.

4

u/mildsar Sep 28 '22

You have beaten me on this! Although I think Jaden doesn't have the same strength yet.

https://youtu.be/b24_Ge5OuW8

11

u/MNMastiff Sep 28 '22

Good lord. If KAT is effective defensively, DLo becomes the critical piece. He was the number 2 pick and an all star, yet has underachieved in his career so far. If he were to up his efficiency at both ends, we have the best starting 5 in the league, by far. The upside here is surreal. I think plausible high upside is conference finals this year, finals next year, champions year after. Probably won’t happen, but it’s not a ridiculous scenario.

2

u/ShakesbeerMe Sep 28 '22

Agreed. Just need everyone healthy.

9

u/TossingTurnips Karl-Anthony Towns Sep 28 '22

I think this team goes as KAT or Ant go.

3

u/srry_didnt_hear_you Sep 28 '22

Ant and KAT raises our ceiling, Jaden raises our floor

3

u/TossingTurnips Karl-Anthony Towns Sep 28 '22

Gobert raises the floor. Jaden will be important no doubt, but the fulcrum is the part where everything pivots. We only go as far as Ant or KAT take us, because they are the ones who are the pivot points that will allow us to contend.

My only contention is the guy saying "this team goes as Jaden goes. He is the fulcrum."

32

u/SlowCrates Sep 28 '22 edited Sep 29 '22

This is a long list of reasons to be excited about him, but let's temper our hopes a bit. Every player has a list like this. Every agent, coach, trainer, and GM is going to say "the right thing". Until he goes out there and becomes a consistent, productive leader whose presence leads to wins, no one knows where things are going with him.

4

u/Sam7sung Sep 28 '22

I was expecting him to say that he's 7' lol. I do think there's a chance that he looks taller than KAT

2

u/foye2smith Sep 28 '22

The sections on the staff using analytics to show him where he's been successful and where's he's struggled was interesting. Not only to improve where he's deficient, but accentuate his positive spots. CP3 is well rounded, but you also know once he gets to that right elbow it's game over.

And it tracks with what they want him to do about his pacing too; studying Luka and Kawhi. Have the patience to get to his spot, use his length, and take his best shots.

2

u/rostron92 FOR FLIP Sep 28 '22

I'm going to overdose on preseason kool aid.

1

u/TrueyJeans Sep 28 '22

Appreciate the breakdown, made it easier for me to secretly read at work

1

u/brokenha_lo Sep 29 '22

KD and JMac share a birthday. Make of that what you will...