The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off their second straight season making the Western Conference Finals. Even with their recent success, punching their way through the West seems highly unlikely.
The Timberwolves lost backup guard and defensive hound Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free agency to the Atlanta Hawks, depleting their depth. Rob Dllingham is poised to step up, although his defense is expected to remain subpar.
In an effort to maximize starter Anthony Edwards and second-unit wing scorer Donte DiVincenzo, the Wolves will need to bolster their second unit’s defense. Luckily, the perfect answer might already be on the roster.
Jaylen Clark Can Step Up For Minnesota Timberwolves
Jaylen Clark played in 40 games in his rookie season, averaging only 4.1 points. In three seasons at UCLA, he was not much of an outside shooting threat but was a pesky on-ball defender. He is a solid rebounder for a guard and doesn’t seem to mind doing the dirty work.
Between Edwards, DiVincenzo, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle, the Wolves have their fair share of scoring options. Clark can do what Alexander-Walker did: all of the little things.
“I don’t know if he’s going to play, but I think he’s one of those super high-IQ guys,” predicted Adam Mares on the All-NBA podcast. “That is a ball hawk on defense. And I think if he does play this year, I actually think he’s going to play really well and might even replace what they had in Nickeil Alexander-Walker.”
Clark can start and finish fast breaks with his defense and athletic finishing ability. For a team that wants to play more in the open court, Clark is a perfect fit.
Clark Will Have to Beat Another Youngster
Clark and Dillingam aren’t the only two young players on the roster looking for an expanded role. Terrence Shannon Jr., like Clark, wasn’t used in a full capacity last season, although he will likely be given more responsibility.
Shannon Jr. is a solid floor-spacer and is just as athletic as Clark. He can defend larger players than Clark can, although he doesn’t have the instincts to disrupt passing lanes with the same regularity.
For a team with massive money committed to Edwards, Reid, Randle, and Rudy Gobert, having impact players on rookie contracts is especially important. The Wolves will be looking to maximize their limited youth next season as they prep for a deep playoff run in the stacked Western Conference.
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