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In every era of basketball, some players become completely off-limits. They are the kind of superstars that a franchise wouldn’t trade for anything. For example, in the 1990s, the Chicago Bulls treated Michael Jordan as an untouchable icon. In the 2000s, the Los Angeles Lakers protected Kobe Bryant at all costs.
Now, a new era has arrived, and a new franchise has stamped its own list of non-negotiable centerpieces.
Minnesota Timberwolves Have Not One but Two Untouchable Players
According to a recent report from “HoopsHype” by insider Michael Scotto, the Minnesota Timberwolves have not one but two untouchable stars. They are Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.
“Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards is considered untouchable by the franchise, while forward Jaden McDaniels is viewed as close to untouchable as well, league sources told HoopsHype,” wrote Scotto in his report.
Edwards being labeled untouchable is hardly a surprise. He was selected first in the 2020 NBA Draft. He made his debut as a teenager during the 2020-21 campaign and immediately signaled that the Timberwolves had found their future.
Now in his sixth professional season, Edwards has fully stepped into superstardom. If we examine the first 13 games of the 2025-26 season, he has averaged 27.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, while also shooting 47.5% from the field and 38.2% from three-point range.
His season already includes one of the most elite performances of the year, as on Nov. 24 in the game against the Sacramento Kings, Edwards scored 43 points. It was a reminder to the league that Edwards isn’t just Minnesota’s offensive engine, but he’s a generational player. So yes, calling him untouchable is a no-brainer.
What has raised more eyebrows is McDaniels joining Edwards in that untouchable tier, but the reasoning becomes obvious once his overall impact is put under the microscope.
McDaniels entered the league in 2020 as the 28th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers before being traded to Minnesota. Now in his sixth year with the team, he has become one of the best two-way forwards. This season, till now, he has averaged 16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 32.1 minutes per game.
What makes him even more untouchable? Reliability. McDaniels didn’t miss a single one of the 82 games last season, which is a rarity in the modern NBA. His consistency and elite defensive presence helped earn him a five-year, $131 million contract extension in 2023, which was fully guaranteed and worth $26.2 million annually.
Last season, the Timberwolves ended in heartbreak after they were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals by the Oklahoma City Thunder. But this year feels different as the team has opened the 2025-26 season with a (10-7) record, which is fueled by the performances of Edwards and McDaniels.
If these two untouchable cornerstones continue performing at this level, the Timberwolves won’t just be playoff threats. But they could very well be a championship contender ready to break through finally.
