Timberwolves sign key player to surprising new deal

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Timberwolves sign key player to surprising new deal

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Oct 19, 2026 10:11 PM ET

The Minnesota Timberwolves are covering their bases when it comes to Jaden McDaniels.

McDaniels was set to enter the season with three more years on his current contract and over $84 million in guaranteed money. On Monday, the Timberwolves reportedly wanted to add another year and much more money to that deal.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that McDaniels has agreed to a one-year, $40 million contract extension. The new deal keeps the 26-year-old under contract through the 2029-30 season.

Minnesota Timberwolves All-Defense forward Jaden McDaniels has agreed to a one-year, $40 million extension that will keep him under contract through the 2029-30 season, agents Nima Namakian of Innovate Sports and Bill Duffy of WME Basketball tell ESPN. https://t.co/PYtDRrLves
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 20, 2026

The deal is significant for McDaniels for multiple reasons. It raises the ceiling on the dollar value he can sign his next extension in 2028. Should he not sign an extension, Jaden could enter free agency in 2030 with the ideal 10 years of NBA service time.

The news was somewhat surprising, considering McDaniels is from the same 2020 draft class as the Timberwolves’ star backcourt of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball. All three were already under contract through 2029 until McDaniels landed his extension.

McDaniels, known as a standout defender, improved as a scorer last season. He averaged a career-high 14.8 points in Year 6 on a 51.5 percent shooting clip and shot over 40 percent from the three-point arc.

With new money coming in, McDaniels probably feels a bit better after having his car stolen from his home earlier in the offseason.

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