What is the Minnesota Timberwolves’ plan at backup point guard?

Minnesota Timberwolves’ plan at backup point guard: Jordan McLaughlin

Option No. 1: Stick with McLaughlin

The easiest answer to this question is to stick with McLaughlin. But it’s only the answer if the Wolves buy what they saw from the rookie in the final weeks of the 2019-20 campaign.

McLaughlin started the year slowly when he was first recalled from the Iowa Wolves of the G League.

In his first six games, which were spread out between a four-game stint from Nov. 6 to Nov. 11 and a couple of one-off appearances on Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, McLaughlin averaged 5.0 points and 2.7 assists in 15.7 minutes per game. He shot just 34.4 percent from the field and 26.7 percent on 3-point attempts.

After the Wolves traded Jeff Teague to the Atlanta Hawks in mid-January, McLaughlin was installed as the backup point guard. He came off the bench in the final game before the trade deadline and scored 15 points with seven assists and three steals in 31 minutes.

Then, in a start against the LA Clippers that was also the first game with Beasley and Hernangomez in Wolves uniforms, McLaughlin dropped 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting and dished out 11 assists while committing zero turnovers.

From that point on, McLaughlin was Russell’s primary backup. In the final 15 games of the season, he averaged 10.0 points and 5.1 assists per game with a shooting line of .552/.415/.680 while playing solid defense on a unit that struggled mightily all season long.

If McLaughlin’s final shooting line of .489/.382/.667 is real, then McLaughlin’s above-average feel, solid defense, and surprisingly quick first-step and athleticism can play in a backup point guard role.

And not only that, but McLaughlin could play spot minutes alongside Russell, as we touched on previously.

"Perhaps most encouraging was McLaughlin’s ability to beat his defenders off the dribble and actually score at the rim with efficiency. More than 36 percent of McLaughlin’s shot attempts came at the rim, and he shot 64.6 percent within three feet of the basket. His free throw rate was just .219, but he was impressive in finishing around and through contact. McLaughlin was solid defensively, too, which just might be his ticket to finding some minutes alongside the Wolves first unit and increasing his playing time. … Russell shot 39.1 percent on catch-and-shoot threes last season. McLaughlin shot 45.5 percent, albeit on a relatively small sample size."

A Russell-McLaughlin pairing would not work for long stretches, but in small doses and against the right opponents, it could be a dynamic backcourt with a decent defensive floor.

But again, in order to play out this scenario, the Wolves would be assuming that the 15 or so games in which McLaughlin was truly impressive are not just a blip on the radar.

So, what’s the alternative?