Minnesota’s best perimeter defender is staying put for the long haul.
Jaden McDaniels agreed Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, to a contract extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves worth $40 million for one additional season, keeping him under contract through the 2029 to 2030 season, according to his representatives.
What are the terms of the Jaden McDaniels extension?
The deal adds one year to the contract McDaniels already had. He signed a deal worth $136 million over five years in 2023. That earlier contract began with the 2024 to 2025 season and runs through the 2028 to 2029 season.
With the extension, Minnesota has $124 million committed to McDaniels, who is 26, over the next four years. His new salary of $40 million will kick in for the final year of the deal.
The structure gives him flexibility. Jaden McDaniels could negotiate another extension as early as 2028, starting at up to 140% of his $40 million salary. He could also become a free agent in the summer of 2030 after his 10th season. Adding just one year keeps his options open while giving Minnesota cost certainty in the short term.
Why did the Timberwolves pay Jaden McDaniels?
He is coming off the best season of his career. McDaniels averaged 14.8 points while shooting 51.5% from the field and 41% on shots from beyond the arc. All three marks were career highs.
He added 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
His scoring rose in the playoffs to 16.3 points per game on 44% shooting. He scored 32 points in Game 6 of the first round to help eliminate the Denver Nuggets. Denver features Nikola Jokic, one of the league’s best players, making the series win especially meaningful.
What makes Jaden McDaniels valuable on defense?
He is Minnesota’s top perimeter defender. Jaden McDaniels earned All-Defensive honors and regularly draws the toughest assignments. He has long been known for his length and versatility, allowing him to guard players at several positions.
Only three players faced more matchups against 2026 All-Star players last season, according to data from GeniusIQ.
Defenders who can guard multiple positions have become especially valuable in today’s NBA, where teams rely on switching to slow star scorers. Minnesota has built one of the league’s top defenses in recent seasons around Gobert and McDaniels.
Who else is part of Minnesota’s core?
McDaniels has grown into a key piece next to Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and newly acquired guard LaMelo Ball. Ball, a former All-Star, gives Minnesota another creator on offense.
Minnesota drafted McDaniels with the No. 28 pick in 2020, making him a steal near the end of the first round. Few players picked that late develop into reliable starters.
His improvement on offense has raised expectations. Before the season, the team’s star guard said he expects McDaniels to make the All-Star team this year. The guard has become one of the league’s biggest stars and the face of the franchise.
What does the extension mean for the Timberwolves?
Stability. Locking up Jaden McDaniels keeps a proven defender in place as Minnesota builds around Edwards and Ball. The deal also gives the front office flexibility as it manages a payroll filled with large contracts.
NBA general managers gave Edwards some votes for MVP in their annual preseason survey. The survey projected Victor Wembanyama as the MVP favorite and picked San Antonio to win the title.
If McDaniels keeps improving on offense, the extension could look like a bargain. For now, Jaden McDaniels has secured his future in Minnesota. His next contract talks, possibly as soon as 2028, could be even bigger if his growth continues.
