Report: Timberwolves received 'a ton of interest' in Jaden McDaniels
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.
