Timberwolves, Jaden McDaniel agree to 5-year, $136M deal - ESPN

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels has agreed on a five-year, $136 million contract extension, agents Nima Namakian and Bill Duffy told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday.

The deal includes no options.

McDaniels, who turned 23 last month, enjoyed a breakout year last season, averaging 12.1 points while shooting 51.7% from the field and nearly 40% from 3 while becoming a fulltime starter.

Jaden McDaniels ranked among the league's elite defenders last season and routinely guarded the opposing team's best player.

One of the NBA's best defenders last season, McDaniels held opposing shooters to below 44% shooting as the closest defender. He also held opponents to 52.9% shooting at the rim, which ranked in the top 10 among players to defend 200 shots.

The 6-foot-9 wing did this against mostly elite competition as he logged the third-most matchups defending 2023 All-Stars last season, trailing only Mikal Bridges and O.G. Anunoby.

Adjusted for the projected $142 million salary cap in 2024-25, McDaniels' deal is in a similar range to the four-year, $90 million extension Bridges signed with Phoenix in 2021.

ESPN's Bobby Marks contributed to this report.