Minnesota Timberwolves: Jake Layman impressing and could start

The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t make a ton of big-name signings this offseason, but it sounds like they’ve found a good bargain in Jake Layman.

Gersson Rosas didn’t have a ton of cap space to work with in his first offseason as president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he did manage to add a good amount of talent in free agency.

One of those free agent moves included brining in Jake Layman on a sign-and-trade with a three-year deal worth about $11.28 million as he was the only one of Minnesota’s signings to get a multiyear deal.

The 25-year-old forward out of Maryland spent the first three years of his career in Portland before becoming a free agent this summer.

Layman’s playing time took a huge leap last season resulting in career-highs across the board.

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Now he’s been thrust into a wide open competition for the fifth starting spot on this team to play alongside Jeff Teague, Andrew Wiggins, Robert Covington, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

The six-foot-nine-inch forward could slide in at the three while Covington plays the four giving the Wolves three starters who can theoretically defend multiple positions.

Layman’s cutting ability has been praised by Rosas, and that’s where he scored a lot of his points in Portland playing off of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.

According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Layman says he’s already put those skills to use in Minnesota:

"“For me, I’m a kind of player that plays well off of other players, so I think cutting off the ball, I’ve been doing it so far in the preseason and guys have been finding me, so it’s been going well.”"

Former Trail Blazer teammate Shabazz Napier is a big fan of Layman’s game and is excited to play with him once again with the Wolves:

"“He’s able to slash, he’s able to shoot the ball, he’s a high-flier,” said Napier. “He’s really athletic, really athletic. He has an IQ for the game. He understands what to do, what not to do.”"

New head coach Ryan Saunders’ expounded on that basketball IQ that Napier mentioned:

"“The thing about Jake is that he can fit in wherever because he’s so smart,” said Saunders. “He’s good reading defenses. He understands the point we make of giving yourself up for the team. He understands that if he sets a screen or does a loose switch and he’s a guy that slips to the basket, it might not be for him to score, it might be for the guy to screen for him. He’s very good. He’s very cerebral.”"

Layman’s ability to run the floor will be important in Ryan Saunders’ gameplan to get out on the fast break more often than they did during the Tom Thibodeau era.

Layman will be competing with Josh Okogie and Jarrett Culver for that fifth starting spot when the Wolves decide to play with a smaller lineup, but there will also be nights where Saunders is forced to start two big men depending on the matchup.

Wherever Layman fits into the rotation, the Wolves are expecting him to have an impact on this team after making a fairly significant investment in him this offseason. It’s good to hear that everyone likes what they’ve seen from their new signing thus far and hopefully that continues into a breakout season for the young forward.