Jaden McDaniels has grown leaps and bounds as a two-way threat

Jaden McDaniels is the perfect example of an evolving player. 

Not too long ago, the 6-foot-9 wing was viewed as an elite perimeter defender but an offensive liability. He would often be left wide open by defenses that dared him to shoot from three. Slowly but surely, he turned into a respectable long-range sniper, making 43% of his threes en route to the Timberwolves' run to the Conference Finals last year.

This year, McDaniels has taken another giant leap. The southpaw can now put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim with a deft touch while blowing past defenders with euro steps and other crafty moves. 

In Friday's Game 3 win over the Lakers, he registered a playoff career-high 30 points with the aggressive mindset of attacking the rim. The southpaw imposed his will with physicality and was a big reason the Timberwolves dominated the Lakers with 56 paint points.

After his career night, McDaniels, who scored 24 of his 30 points in the restricted area, said he wasn't willing to settle for jumpers and smelled blood every time he blew past Lakers defenders on the perimeter.

"Just staying relentless," McDaniels told "SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt" of his mindset. "They don't have any shot blockers or rim protectors in the game most of the time, so just knowing I can get to my spots. If Jaxson Hayes or one of their centers isn't playing, I'm one of the tallest out there, so I'm just going to continue being relentless and getting on the glass and finishing the layups and stuff."

According to ESPN Stats & Info, McDaniels' 24 paint points are the most by any Timberwolves player in franchise history. That's a remarkable achievement considering that the likes of Kevin Garnett, Karl-Anthony Towns and Kevin Love never achieved the feat.

In McDaniels, Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, the Timberwolves may have unearthed a legitimate Big 3. All three are averaging over 20 points in the playoffs, but one may argue McDaniels has been the team's MVP due to his ability to guard the opponent's best player. 

If McDaniels continues on his current trajectory, it shouldn't come as a surprise if he vies for Most Improved Player honors next season. Still only 24, he has a lot of room to grow, a scary proposition for the rest of the Western Conference.