Jaden

McDaniels

After attempting just six shots in Friday’s win over the Clippers, Kuminga got up 19 on Saturday. His percentage wasn’t great, but the shot volume should be there while the Timberwolves await Anthony Edwards’ return from knee surgery. The same goes for Jaden McDaniels, who finished Saturday’s defeat with 19 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and two three-pointers.

In the two games Minnesota has played since losing Anthony Edwards (knee), McDaniels has shot 19-of-33 from the field. The Timberwolves will be without their star for a while, so they’ll need more production from McDaniels. For some players, the opportunity could negatively impact their efficiency, but that wasn’t the case for McDaniels against the Clippers.

There has been hope that McDaniels can grow his offensive game and he will have an opportunity to do so with Anthony Edwards out for at least two months. If he hit a couple more threes instead of going 1/8 from 3, this stat line would’ve looked even better than it already does. These next two months will be critical for Jaden’s development.

So much for Edwards being listed as questionable on the Timberwolves’ initial injury report for Wednesday’s game against the Warriors. He’ll reportedly need to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee and could miss up to two months. While the timeline isn’t guaranteed, fantasy managers can stash Edwards on the IL until he’s cleared to return. As alternatives, Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. should see more opportunities, and starters Jaden McDaniels and Jonathan Kuminga should too.

While McDaniels had a good offensive night, he recorded no defensive stats and fouled out with 1:12 left in overtime. Given how well he played in Minnesota’s first three games, fantasy managers currently rostering McDaniels have nothing to worry about. He’ll look to be more productive when the Timberwolves host the Warriors on Wednesday.

While Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball will take the most shots most nights, McDaniels should benefit from Julius Randle and Naz Reid’s departures. He took 11 shots, the third most among Timberwolves starters on Wednesday, and the 6-foot-9 forward was highly efficient. Add in the rebounds and steals, and this was a good night for those rostering McDaniels.

McDaniels’ contract now runs through the 2029-30 season, with the ability to negotiate another extension as soon as 2028. With the Timberwolves trading Julius Randle and Naz Reid this offseason, McDaniels has a higher offensive ceiling than in previous seasons. He could be one of the steals of the upcoming fantasy basketball season.

With Julius Randle and Naz Reid out of the picture in Minnesota, McDaniels should have more room to operate as a scorer. He was very effective against the Knicks, shooting nearly 67 percent from the field overall and going 4-of-5 from deep. With an ADP in the nineties, McDaniels could be a steal in fantasy basketball this season.

Like many of his teammates, McDaniels struggled in Game 6. And finishing proved to be particularly problematic, especially when Victor Wembanyama was on the floor. A 44.4 percent shooter from two in the first five games of the series, McDaniels shot 2-of-9 in Game 6. However, his overall postseason production was positive for the Timberwolves, especially in the series against Denver. Looking ahead to next season, McDaniels has usually been underrated in category leagues. With Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) expected to miss most of next season, McDaniels will possess a higher fantasy ceiling.

McDaniels shot the ball better in Game 5 than he did in Games 3 and 4, when he combined to make 11 of 32 attempts. However, his performance on Tuesday wasn’t good enough, especially considering Victor Wembanyama’s return from his second-quarter ejection in Game 4. McDaniels won’t be Minnesota’s first or second scoring option, but the Timberwolves will need an aggressive version of the wing in Game 6 on Friday. Minnesota is looking to force a decisive Game 7 with a victory.