Rookie Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, the No. 28 pick out of Washington in the 2020 draft, has emerged as a potential keeper for Minnesota, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Though his counting stats are currently modest, the 6’9″ McDaniels’ defensive upside and corner three-point shooting have earned him a spot on the Timberwolves depth chart. He is averaging 19.1 MPG across 30 contests.
“Just trying to help them out as many ways as I can, rebounding as hard as I can, playing defense, just I feel like that does help a lot,” McDaniels said of his first NBA season. “You can come in fresh and nobody knows who I am and they don’t know what I can do.”
There’s more out of the Northwest:
- There have been some minor updates on the health status of key Trail Blazers starters CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic. Shooting guard McCollum continues to rehabilitate the left foot he broke in January, and has been cleared to participate in contact practices, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic (Twitter link). Center Nurkic, who underwent a right wrist surgery earlier this season, is gradually progressing in his on-court workouts, Quick noted in a separate tweet. Both players will be re-evaluated next week.
- Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN assesses All-Star Nuggets center Nikola Jokic‘s atypical path to MVP candidacy. Youngmisuk tracks Jokic’s rise from overlooked No. 41 pick in the 2014 draft to one of the best-passing big men in the history of the NBA. Fellow MVP contender LeBron James recently praised the center’s court vision. “The guy has an unbelievable talent of seeing the floor and seeing plays happen before they happen,” James said.
- In an extensive Nuggets mailbag, Mike Singer of the Denver Post examines a variety of trade options for Denver ahead of the March 25 deadline. The fits of Rockets vets Victor Oladipo and P.J. Tucker, plus Kings forward Nemanja Bjelica, are assessed.
Is McDaniels one of the dudes the Thunder drafted but traded for Puku? That guy sucks.
Nuggets article makes good points about PJ Tucker and Porter. Not getting much for PJ unless it’s a contender who thinks he’s the missing piece. At 35 his chance at a new contract is over. Rockets did him wrong after promising him that. Harden mess blew all that up. Nets could be team to pick him up. He fits them well in a small ball lineup. Knick can help here In a 3way Knicks get Dinwiddie…. we’ll take him
Rockets get — Knox, salary filler
Nets get —- Noel, PJ Tucker, future #1 pick
The Rockets will probably get a much better offer for PJ than Kevin Knox.
From who ?? 35 yr old FA. Nets cause of Harden and a chance at Title. PJ contract is 8 mill. Good luck. Cheaper to wait on buyout players than trade for one.
Why do want to trade Noel? He seems to be doing quality work filling in for Robinson. Not a Knicks fan so I defer to you. At guard, Dinwiddie is good but how would be play with Barrett? Well?
Dinwiddie is a real PG with size. Knows NY so can step right in and start. He is 27 so can lead. He’s capable of 20 n 8 as a team player. Is just a solid talent who is ready for prime time imo. Noel is playing well. But he’s a FA and is really a small ball C, PF mostly to me. Finding a backup C is not difficult. Noel has value now so he can help us add talent, like Dinwiddie. Mitch will avg 34-38 mins as starting C. Even rumors now that Knicks are going for Drummond.
link to cavaliersnation.com
I can see this. Cause it would mean they are serious about playoffs this yr. With Mitch coming off injury. You want depth and we need more scoring. So with Thibs it makes sense.
Jokic as of now is a lock to the MVP!
Dude is having the best season any player has had in the last 40 years… so unless he falls off a cliff the MVP is his, ya know what I mean, right?