The NBA season is just weeks away. As the start of the regular season approaches, we are still a long way from the point where the trading season is actually upon us. In the NBA, however, it’s never too early to start thinking about some potential trades.
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report recently released an article entitled 1 Ambitious trade target for each team during the 2025-26 NBA season. Swartz called Darius Garland a dream target for the Minnesota Timberwolves. It’s also worth noting that Jaden McDaniels was listed as a trade target for the San Antonio Spurs.
While McDaniels would be a good fit for the Spurs, the Wolves have no motivation to trade him. This is obviously an ambitious trade target and will therefore always seem a bit far-fetched. Either way, the Wolves have no incentive to trade McDaniels, and fans can rest assured that the beloved forward will remain in Minnesota.
Trading McDaniels wouldn’t make sense for the Wolves
McDaniels is one of the NBA’s most talented defenders, capable of shutting down both perimeter and wing stars. Notably, McDaniels ranked in the 86th percentile for matchup difficulty last season, according to CraftedNBA. He also had five All-Stars shoot below 40 percent from the field.
The 6-foot-4 forward combines his elite ball defense with impressive defensive play. Impressively, McDaniels ranked at least in the 80th percentile for block and steal percentage last season per Cleaning the Glass. The 25-year-old also has a growing offensive game, averaging 12.2 points in the regular season and 14.7 points in the playoffs last season.
Yes, the Spurs have a ton of trade assets, and he would be an ideal fit. However, for a team with title aspirations, that’s not a player you can trade, especially given the importance of wing play.
If McDaniels ends up with the Spurs, the Wolves would have to get De’Aaron Fox in return because a pick-based package doesn’t make sense. Minnesota is in desperate need of a perimeter player who can score for himself, and the Spurs could be willing to trade De’Aaron Fox if he doesn’t fit well with Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
Still, I don’t think this is a likely scenario. Additionally, Fox’s annual salary of $55 million makes it a challenge for a Wolves team in danger of dipping into the second apron. The Wolves would need to earn an additional $13 million this year to match Fox’s salary, but the long-term financial risks are the real concern.
Overall, a trade between McDaniels and Spurs is highly unlikely, and he will remain an important part of a Wolves team with championship hopes.
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