No Anthony Edwards, no problem: Jaden McDaniels is the Timberwolves' man

If the series against the Nuggets is any indication, McDaniels has what it takes to play at a high level on a consistent basis. Among the six Minnesota players who played every game in that first-round matchup, McDaniels ranked first in minutes (36.2), second in points (17.8 behind only Julius Randle's 19.2) and second in field-goal percentage (49.4% from the field).

In other words, the 6-foot-9 forward is no one-hit wonder who just happened to have a good night in Minneapolis. For what it’s worth, McDaniels’ 17.8 PPG in six games is not that far from Edwards’ 18.5 PPG in four outings.

The same consistency can be seen in McDaniels’ defense. As a primary defender against the Nuggets’ offensive weapons, J-Mac allowed his opponents to score just 37.3% from the field in that series. When the Wolves closed out the Nuggets in Game 6, McDaniels made life miserable for Jamal Murray all night long, bothering the All-Star guard with his wingspan and his fundamentally sound footwork.

It’s this same level of two-way proficiency that McDaniels will have to bring as the Wolves face their second-round opponent. The San Antonio Spurs were a top-three team in both offense and defense during the regular season, and McDaniels will have his hands full with dynamic scorers like Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, and Devin Vassell.

That's not to say, of course, that he'll be alone in this fight. Young studs like Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaylen Clark have followed McDaniels' example by staying ready and coming up big when the chips are down. Mike Conley, the 19-year veteran, is still making heady plays and helping his teammates maintain their composure.

And then, there's their main man. If Edwards can fully recover from his injuries in two weeks (the minimum reported by ESPN's Shams Charania), Minnesota has a better chance of keeping up with the Spurs' firepower. But, if Ant-Man won't be able to suit up in time for Game 4, the Timberwolves will just roll up their sleeves and go to work. 

After all, they know that they can count on another hardcourt leader who won't shrink. Until further notice, McDaniels is him.