The Los Angeles Lakers, in their quest to get more support for their aging core, made a surprising 2020 trade, parting ways with Danny Green and the No. 28 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. This deal has come back to bite Los Angeles in ways they could not have possibly imagined.
In their hurry to acquire Dennis Schroder, LA parted ways with the pick that would eventually become Jaden McDaniels. The Washington product ended up with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he is starting to show that he is one of the best players in his draft class.
McDaniels is averaging 11.0 points and 3.5 points per game despite names like Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards taking shots away. McDaniels earned the starting power forward spot for this new contender, and Minnesota hasn’t looked back since.
The Lakers gave up those assets to acquire Schroder, who has had two of the worst seasons of his career (one of which was with Boston) and isn’t even healthy right now. This is another move that volatile GM Rob Pelinka probably wants to have back, as having someone with his gifts on this roster would put LA in a much better spot.
Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves tonight in minutes (36) and +/- (+14) as he finished with 19 points (50% FG), 6 rebounds, 3 assist, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, and just 1 personal foul.
— Kyle Theige (@KyleTheige) October 20, 2022
Worth every damn pick.
The Los Angeles Lakers missed out on Jaden McDaniels.
While the Lakers haven’t had the best young talent over the last few years, thanks to their desire to build a winner around LeBron James, the cupboards have been very bare for the previous two years. Remember how they kept trying to pump up Talen Horton-Tucker in trade talks?
While McDaniels would not help the lack of 3-point shooting that is plaguing this team, he would give them a major kick in the rear on the defensive end. A 6-9 forward who can switch and defend multiple positions well, McDaniels’ traits are becoming more valuable than ever in the NBA.
McDaniels would give LA a 22-year-old switchblade with athleticism for days, while the Lakers would’ve provided him with an opportunity to study arguably the greatest to ever do it in James. This roster clearly doesn’t suit Darvin Ham’s style, and McDaniels would have fit like a glove.
big night for @Jmcdaniels7.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 20, 2022
19 PTS / 6 REB / 3 AST / 2 BLK / 3 STL pic.twitter.com/JUDEYleuPH
Minnesota may not be a no-doubt title contender, but they have their big three locked in for the next decade with players like McDaniels to support. The Lakers, meanwhile, are leaking coolant while trying to unload the worst contract in the NBA. Who would have thought we’d ever see the day when these franchises’ roles were reversed?
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