NBA teams were apparently lighting up the phone lines at Timberwolves headquarters during the NBA Draft Thursday, but they weren’t calling about Karl-Anthony Towns. According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Minnesota “received a ton of interest in Jaden McDaniels” as “teams all over the draft board” inquired about his availability.
All of the teams got the same answer: He’s not available.
“The Wolves rebuffed every offer, viewing McDaniels as a huge piece of the team’s long-term future,” Krawczysnki wrote Friday.
McDaniels being off limits is another sign that Minnesota plans to sign the 22-year-old forward to a lucrative contract extension. A month ago, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said McDaniels and Anthony Edwards will be presented “really, really nice” contract offers this summer.
Edwards will likely be offered a max deal that pays him upwards of $35 million annually, while McDaniels could be staring at a four-year extension worth up to $100 million.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks, who specializes in contract negotiations, believes McDaniels will command a deal similar to those signed in recent years by Atlanta’s DeAndre Hunter (four years, $95 million) and Brooklyn’s Mikael Bridges (four years, $91 million), who signed his deal with the Suns before being traded to the Nets.
McDaniels, taken 28th overall in the same 2020 draft that Edwards went No. 1 to Minnesota, took a big step in 2022-23, becoming the Timberwolves’ best perimeter defender while averaging career highs in points (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 and rebuffing trade inquiries during the draft is a sure sign that a deal is imminent.
