Timberwolves agree to $40 million extension with Jaden McDaniels

As the 2026/27 NBA season begins on Tuesday (October 20), the deadline for players with multi-year contracts to sign extensions passed on Monday. At the last moment, the Minnesota Timberwolves reached a one-year, $40 million agreement with forward Jaden McDaniels.

McDaniels had $84 million remaining on his contract, which ran through the 2028/29 season. With the new deal, his total commitment rises to $124 million. The amount is about $1.7 million below the 140 percent extension cap. The player could also have signed a two-year extension containing $86.8 million in new money.

The contract will end in 2029/30. At that point McDaniels will be an unrestricted free agent with 10 years of experience and will be eligible for a maximum salary equal to 35 percent of the salary cap, initially projected at $74.8 million. If he signs another extension in two years, the new deal could start at $56 million.

The team's defensive leader averaged a career-high 14.8 points per game last season and shot 41.2 percent on three-pointers. In the summer, the Timberwolves sent Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets and Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets, bringing LaMelo Ball into the lineup.

Eric Pincus, a longtime NBA observer, notes that the deal benefits both sides. The team's core consists of Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu, Ball and McDaniels. How much of the defensive load 34-year-old Rudy Gobert can carry remains an open question. 19-year-old French center Joan Beringer is expected to get an opportunity in a backup role.