Detroit Pistons: Free agent who could replace Bogdanovic after next season

Jaden McDaniels should be a free-agent target for the Detroit Pistons

If the Detroit Pistons do trade Bojan Bogdanovic or simply buy him out after next season, Jaden McDaniels would be a great replacement.

The 22-year-old McDaniels had a mini-breakout season last year when he averaged 12 points, four rebounds a block and just under a steal in 30 minutes per game for the Timberwolves. McDaniels, who narrowly missed the NBA All-Defensive team last season, takes pride in his defense and has potential on the perimeter as well as protecting the rim.

He also shot just under 40 percent from 3-point range last season, so really checks all of the boxes for the type of player you’d want to pair with Jalen Duren in the frontcourt. The best part is that he is still very young, so is likely to keep improving.

Jaden McDaniels’ contract

The challenge would be acquiring him, as McDaniels will only be a restricted free agent at the end of next season, so Minnesota will have a chance to match any deal.

And they will up to a point, as they see McDaniels as a budding star. But the Timberwolves will have over $129 million invested in three guys for the 2024-25 season, so filling out the rest of the roster won’t be easy.

They could certainly try to move Karl-Anthony Towns next season, which would potentially open up more cap space, but given his contract, he won’t be that easy to trade and get equal value. Same for Rudy Gobert, who has one of the worst contracts in the league.

So if the Detroit Pistons were to swoop in with a big offer for McDaniels, they might be able to steal him away, as Minnesota is not likely to go that deep into the luxury tax (the new CBA makes it more punitive) to keep their 4th or 5th best player.

He could be available and the Detroit Pistons could certainly use a guy like him, so Jaden McDaniels is a name to watch over the course of next season.