After winning the NBA championship in a chaotic 2019-20 season, Rob Pelinka decided his Los Angeles Lakers needed more to repeat. Instead of running it back, the Lakers general manager went all-in on reinforcements. That led to a Dennis Schroder trade that still haunts the Lakers today.
The Lakers dealt Danny Green and the draft rights of Jaden McDaniels to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the services of Schroder. The well-traveled guard was coming off a season in which he was the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up. Pelinka thought he landed a difference-maker.
After famously turning down a big contract extension, Schroder only stuck around in Los Angeles for one season during that stint. The former Lakers guard averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
A mediocre, and short, playoff run had him on the Boston Celtics to start 2021-22. The Lakers were left with nothing to show for the trade. Actually, it was worse than nothing. McDaniels, who ended up with the Minnesota Timberwolves, turned out to be the type of player the Lakers desperately need now.
Jaden McDaniels' rise is a painful reminder of what the Lakers lost
The Lakers got a close look at what they gave up in last year's NBA Playoffs. Their first round matchup against the Timberwolves in 2025 reminded them just how good of a player McDaniels is.
The former first-round pick averaged 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.0 steal in 33.0 minutes per game, shooting 57.4 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc, in the five-game series against the Lakers. McDaniels played a huge role in eliminating Los Angeles from the postseason.
Not only did the Timberwolves forward take advantage of the weak interior defense of the Lakers, but McDaniels also provided plenty of perimeter defense to slow down Los Angeles on the other end. It made the first postseason run with Luka Doncic a massive disappointment.
McDaniels has returned for 2025-26 with a start to the campaign that further exceeds the quality of player the Lakers saw in the first round. Thus far, the young Timberwolves core member looks the part of someone who has taken an offensive leap.
McDaniels is averaging career highs in points (18.6) and assists (2.1) per game. The Timberwolves starter is also shooting the best field goal percentage (55.9), 3-point percentage (54.1), and true shooting percentage (66.5) of his time in the NBA.
That type of two-way play at the swingman spots is exactly what the Lakers were rumored to be searching for during the offseason. They have yet to plug that hole. Had they never given up McDaniels, they would not be searching for someone of his mold in the first place.