Timberwolves again promise that Jaden McDaniels will be more of an offensive force

For the past few seasons, the Timberwolves have always talked a big game about unlocking the potential in the offensive game for Jaden McDaniels.

But in the end, McDaniels would have about the same amount of usage in each season. His scoring even went down last season from 12.1 to 10.5 points per game.

“I believe every time they tell me. I don’t think anyone’s a liar or anything like that,” McDaniels said with a smile Monday at media day. “I for sure believe my coaches and stuff are thinking about me and making sure that I get involved.”

This season, that talk might be for real. Or not. But one thing that is different is how coach Chris Finch is talking about McDaniels’ involvement. Previously, Finch would say McDaniels had to get his touches in the offense as a product of the team’s ball movement. If the team was moving it well, McDaniels’ numbers would look good.

But coming into this season, Finch said it is on him to make room for McDaniels in the offense.

“I got to call his number,” Finch said. “I gotta put the ball in his hands. I do think there’s some situations where I could see him as a playmaker for us now.”

Preseason talk can be filled with hyperbole — how many times have coaches or players said so-and-so had a great offseason or was in the best shape of their lives?

But Finch isn’t one to dole out faint praise, and mentioned that McDaniels had perhaps his best offseason as a Wolves player. This was a smoother offseason for McDaniels, who didn’t have to worry about looming contract negotiations as he did a year ago. He is starting a new deal, which will pay him $23 million. The Wolves are hoping the exit of Karl-Anthony Towns paves the way for more usage for McDaniels, even with the addition of Julius Randle and the shots he will command.

“We all are anticipating a big year from Jaden,” Finch said.

Finch said a primary way McDaniels can find room to score is in transition, and that the Wolves need to do a better job converting the turnovers they generate into easy points. That comes even after a season in which the Wolves finished fifth in points off turnovers with 14.9 per game.

But McDaniels prepared this summer for more half-court responsibilities, and Finch said they are looking to involve him in pick-and-roll actions more with center Rudy Gobert, with whom McDaniels has flashed good chemistry at times.

“Staying [in Minnesota] this summer, I feel like, helped me out. Just ‘locking in’ in the gym, working on handling the ball, playing actually with the ball,” McDaniels said. “So Finch and them, they always tell me the opportunities and stuff will come. I just thank them for thinking about me in the offseason.”

There were times McDaniels’ offense was a big boost to the Wolves last postseason. He scored 25 points in a playoff game victory over the Suns. He had 23 points on 7-for-10 shooting in the Game 7 victory over the Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals and provided offense when most of the team was struggling early in the game.

“Coming out of that last series, the last playoffs, my confidence is super high” McDaniels said. “I feel like even going into it, it was still high, but just doing them things in the playoffs, I feel like it just shows yourself what you can do, and then just the work that you put in.”

McDaniels has put in the work, but will he get the chance to show it?

“We feel like his length, his ability to get to the heart of the defense, make plays is an advantage,” Finch said. “Maybe something that was underutilized by us.”