The Los Angeles Lakers selected Jaden McDaniels out of Federal Way, Washington with the No. 28 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, yet after only a few hours the 2020 NBA champs dealt the one-and-done star to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Dennis Schroder.
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And then McDaniels officially was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves a couple days later in exchange for Aleksej Pokusevski.
That is, following Minnesota's recent Round 1 series win (3-1) over the Lakers, the Timberwolves are now showing their appreciation.
"Thank you, @Lakers," the team wrote in a social media post highlighting the moment McDaniels was drafted.
thank you, @Lakers pic.twitter.com/ah7ZPKqLRs
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 1, 2025
Notably, in the 2024-25 NBA playoffs, McDaniels proved to be the difference-maker, putting up some dominant performances vs. his former team: 25 points in Game 1 and a playoff career-high 30 points in Game 3.
Not to mention, his main contribution comes on the defensive side. At 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot wingspan, McDaniels is ranked as a top perimeter defender when guarding the highest usage % players on opposing teams.
With this in mind, throughout the Lakers series in particular, he was giving Luka Doncic fits on both sides of the court.
“GET YO A$$ UP”
Jaden McDaniels to Luka after he flopped 😭 pic.twitter.com/DOcZaJgl11
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) April 27, 2025
Only one can imagine how the series would have played out, if the two-way 24-year-old budding star was on the Lakers roster, rather than guarding their best player throughout the series.
Anthony Edwards on Jaden McDaniels’ incredible physical conditioning to score 30 PTS on offense and guard Luka Doncic on defense pic.twitter.com/m8xZPx70kU
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) April 26, 2025
In view of J-Mac's career-high year in his fifth season, he put up 12.2 points (47.7% FG; 33% 3pT), 5.7 rebounds, 2 assists, to go with 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks, while starting all 82 games for the Timberwolves, earning his well-deserved five-year/$136 million contract extension.
Anthony Edwards: “I got two words for you: Jaden McDaniels.” pic.twitter.com/VbOfwMzXLe
— John Meyer (@meyerNBA) April 26, 2025
Since the No. 6 Timberwolves have now advanced, they will get ready to play the winner of the Warriors/Rockets matchup in hopes of making a deep run in the playoffs, led by their core: Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and former Lakers players, Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels.
Related: NBA Player Jalen McDaniels Caught On Video Reacting To News He'd Been Traded
