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The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to a one-year, $40 million contract extension with forward Jaden McDaniels, keeping one of their key defensive players under contract through the 2029-30 NBA season.
McDaniels’ agents, Bill Duffy of WME Basketball and Nima Namakian of Innovate Sports, confirmed the agreement, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The extension adds another season to the five-year contract McDaniels signed in October 2023.
The 26-year-old is entering the third season of that original deal. The new agreement gives Minnesota additional long-term security with a forward who has developed into a central part of its roster.
The extension also provides McDaniels with another opportunity to negotiate a new contract in 2028. Alternatively, he could enter free agency in the summer of 2030 as a 10-year NBA veteran.
McDaniels Builds on Career-Best Season
McDaniels is coming off a career-best regular season in 2025-26, averaging 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He shot 51.5% from the field and approximately 41% from three-point range, setting career highs in scoring and shooting efficiency.
His contributions increased during the playoffs, when he averaged 16.3 points per game. McDaniels also delivered a 32-point performance in Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets, helping Minnesota eliminate Denver in the first round.
The forward’s offensive development has added another dimension to his game. While he initially established himself through his perimeter defense, his improved scoring has made him a more valuable contributor alongside Minnesota’s leading players.
Timberwolves Secure Key Defensive Piece
Minnesota selected McDaniels with the 28th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He has since become one of the team’s most dependable defenders and earned a place on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the 2023-24 season.
His ability to guard opposing perimeter players has made him an important part of the Timberwolves’ postseason success. Minnesota has advanced beyond the first round in each of the last three postseasons, with McDaniels contributing on both ends of the court.
He remains part of a core that includes Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, as well as LaMelo Ball, whom Minnesota acquired from the Charlotte Hornets in the offseason.
Edwards has also expressed confidence in McDaniels’ offensive potential, suggesting before the season that his teammate could earn an All-Star selection.
The new extension gives Minnesota continuity with a player whose defensive impact and offensive improvement have strengthened his role within the franchise.
