Minnesota Timberwolves: What will Jordan McLaughlin’s role be this year?

The Minnesota Timberwolves are bringing back both of their restricted free agents.

Jarred Vanderbilt seems to have a shot at starting. Jordan McLaughlin is a different story, as he plays a position that is much deeper on the depth chart.

So, what will McLaughlin’s role be this season?

Minnesota Timberwolves: What will Jordan McLaughlin’s role be this year?

As an undrafted first-year player in 2019-20, McLaughlin impressed in Las Vegas Summer League and earned a two-way contract with the Timberwolves. Late in his rookie campaign, McLaughlin surprised with above-average long-range shooting, surprising athleticism, and adequate defense.

As a two-way restricted free agent during the 2020 offseason, McLaughlin struggled to find a home. After training camp started, J-Mac found his way back with the Wolves on a second consecutive two-way pact.

McLaughlin’s second season was slowed down due to a lack of playing time early, followed by a positive COVID-19 diagnosis around the All-Star break. No matter how we slice it, his sophomore year in the NBA was not as good as his rookie campaign.

McLaughlin faced a similar issue in restricted free agency once again, with few teams having enough cap space to offer McLaughlin any more money than the Wolves were prepared to offer him.

Sure enough, McLaughlin ended up back in Minnesota after Vanderbilt re-signed. That left $6.5 million for McLaughlin, with two guaranteed years and a non-guaranteed third season.

But while Vanderbilt will certainly be a part of the rotation and could even have a shot at starting at the 4 alongside Towns, McLaughlin has a pair of veterans that he’s clearly behind on the depth chart.

D’Angelo Russell will be the starter, and Patrick Beverley was acquired to be the primary backup. There’s also rookie McKinley Wright IV, who signed a two-way deal and played well in summer league.

What McLaughlin has going for him is that both Russell and Beverley can play off the ball. In fact, Beverley’s status as the best defensive guard on the roster makes it likely that he’ll be on the floor frequently down the stretch of close games. That would imply that McLaughlin will get regular opportunities in the middle stages of the game, either to operate the offense as the lone lead guard or to share the backcourt with either Russell or Beverley, giving the other one a chance to rest before crunch time.

McLaughlin’s two-man numbers with Russell last year weren’t good, but it was also a small sample size. In 220 minutes over 25 games, the duo had a net rating of -11.9. (McLaughlin only played 21 minutes with Rubio, but their net rating was somehow a horrific -45.)

McLaughlin is unlikely to play every night; think of him more like the 10th or 11th man, playing depending on matchups, game flow, and foul trouble. But he’s arguably the best third point guard in the league, and the Wolves know that they have insurance for when Beverley — who has played in just 244 of 390 possible games over the last five seasons, or 62.5 percent — inevitably misses time.

This is a bargain signing for the Wolves, and while McLaughlin deserved to get more money and a more clearly defined role on the open market, it’s a great story that an undrafted, four-year guard who toiled for a full season in the G League now has a partially guaranteed deal in the NBA.