Minnesota Timberwolves to open season without Jaden McDaniels

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels will miss the team's season opener Wednesday at the Toronto Raptors due to a left calf strain, the team said Tuesday.

McDaniels strained his calf while Minnesota was overseas playing in the NBA Abu Dhabi Games during the preseason.

The news comes one day after McDaniels signed a five-year, $136 million contract extension with the Timberwolves, per his agents.

McDaniels, 23, averaged 12.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists and shot 39.8 percent from 3-point distance in 79 games (all starts) for the Timberwolves in 2022-23.

He has career averages of 9.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 212 games (137 starts) for Minnesota, who acquired him from the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team trade after the 2020 NBA Draft.