Minnesota Sports Forum

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Carlos Danger wrote:

WildWolf2813 wrote:I've soured on McDaniels big time. He plays the way the other bigs on this team play: as if they're ashamed of their height. If he could trade bodies with McLaughlin, he'd think about it. He's big on intangibles, I get it, but he's a major contributor to why we're God awful on the boards (and to a lesser extent why management felt they needed to move Vanderbilt): has height, but will forever get pushed around more skilled players who have a better knack for the ball.

I don't completely disagree with what you wrote. We all certainly want more. But if you squint a little you can find year over year improvement from McDaniels. And as a 22 year old, I'm ok with him at least continuing to trend upwards albeit slowly. All of the key Advanced Stats I follow improved each season:

[table]
[tr]
[th]Age[/th]
[th]PER[/th]
[th]WS/48[/th]
[th]VORP[/th]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]20[/td]
[td]8.9[/td]
[td].046[/td]
[td](.06)[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]21[/td]
[td]10.3[/td]
[td].065[/td]
[td](.04)[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]


[td]22[/td]
[td]11.7[/td]
[td].076[/td]
[td]0.1[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

So he's still a negative offensive player... and slightly better than an average player overall?

I think McDaniels is a key cog for the Timberwolves. But for a guy to be lauded as untouchable in a big trade designed to bring the team to the next level... I'd have hoped he was ready to reach the next level, too.

There have been a lot of players like Jaden McDaniels in the league over the years... some keep improving and are essential players. Others drift and lag and show flashes amid wildly inconsistent efforts that eventually get them moved from one team to the next.

No idea which path McDaniels is on. There's simply not enough evidence to make a legit case either way.

Q-was-here wrote:Just bumping this thread as a shout-out to Jaden for his game last night.

I always use Mikal Bridges as the player Jaden should become when he's reached his full potential. With each game that passes, he's inching his way in that direction.

(one note on Bridges is that he was 22 as a rookie and had three years of college experience at Villanova, which is basically a factory in churning out smart, gritty players).

monsterpile wrote:On interesting stat about McDaniels this season. He already has 41 dunks this year in 1130 minutes and in 1803 minutes last year he had 46. For whatever reason he is getting more of those looks and it's a positive for a team that's not hit on all cylinders.

Meanwhile the games I have seen he continues to show some flashes of being more than just a 3 and D guy. It's pretty unique some of the things he is able to do on both ends at his height and length.

lipoli390 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:On interesting stat about McDaniels this season. He already has 41 dunks this year in 1130 minutes and in 1803 minutes last year he had 46. For whatever reason he is getting more of those looks and it's a positive for a team that's not hit on all cylinders.

Meanwhile the games I have seen he continues to show some flashes of being more than just a 3 and D guy. It's pretty unique some of the things he is able to do on both ends at his height and length.

Ant has clearly broken through to take that 3rd-season leap we were hoping for. Watching Jaden this season has left me with the impression that he's right on the cusp of having his own breakthrough. Maybe it won't happen until next season, but I have a feeling it's coming.