Amid all of the excitement about the Minnesota Timberwolves' offseason, it's easy to overlook some returning bench players. Jaylen Clark is someone who could see a bigger role than many are anticipating. Clark's tenacious defense and low-usage offensive style have long caught my eye for his chances of earning a regular rotation role.
Still, with Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr., Joan Beringer, and Bones Hyland off the bench, it's easy to wonder how Clark earns minutes. Likewise, while he did have a role early in the season, Clark eventually fell out of the Wolves' rotation last season. Given this, many feel uncertain about Clark earning minutes this season.
During a recent interview with Britt Robson, Chris Finch had a ton of praise for Clark.
"And Jaylen, there’s nothing. I’m a huge Jaylen fan. Always have been. And we know what the numbers say when he plays," Finch said when asked what Clark needs to do to improve his standing in camp.
That sure sounds like Clark has a secure rotation role ahead of training camp.
Jaylen Clark can be an impactful player in the Timberwolves' rotation
Finch undoubtedly values defense. It's a prerequisite for anyone to see the court. At this point, we should all know that Clark provides quality defense. He is a high-level perimeter stopper who can also be disruptive off the ball and has the strength to guard up. Per Basketball Index, Clark ranked in the 91st percentile for matchup difficulty and the 85th percentile for perimeter isolation defense.
You can never have enough high-level defenders in your rotation, especially if you're the Timberwolves; this alone gives Clark a chance to earn minutes.
Offensively, Clark is a perfect low-usage player who doesn't take away from stars. Given how many on-ball creators the Wolves have, Clark's skill set could be especially valuable. Now, the elephant in the room is that Clark's shooting isn't up to par. He shot just 32.7 percent from beyond the arc last season.
Finch isn't concerned about Clark's jump shot, though.
"His offensive development: He goes through periods where he doesn’t trust his three-point shot, but I trust it. And he probably relied a little too much on his floater," Finch said.
Look, there's no denying that Clark's outside shot needs to improve for him to earn a role in the Wolves' playoff rotation. However, if Finch trusts Clark's shot, that will allow him to have a role early on. And if Clark can simply knock down open shots, then he'll be an immensely valuable role player.
After Finch's comments, all signs point to Clark getting a rotation opportunity to start the season, and he may never look back.
The ripple effects of playing Clark regular minutes
What does Clark earning minutes mean functionally for the Timberwolves' rotation, and who could get bumped out? To me, the clear odd man out is Hyland. Dosunmu, Shannon, and Beringer are locked into the rotation. In turn, this slates Clark into the ninth-man spot, where he'd play roughly 15 minutes a game.
Hyland had a surprisingly large role in the rotation last season. He provided a massive spark off the bench with his scoring and pace. While Hyland can still fit into the rotation from a pace perspective, the Wolves no longer need his perimeter creation as much.
Outside of frontcourt depth, the Wolves' biggest need is players who can do more with less and complement stars. Hyland is a solid off-ball player and shooter, so in some ways he can fit this role. Still, he often has the ball in his hands.
Plus, while Hyland took strides on defense last season, he is still a huntable player due to his slight frame. He should still play occasionally but likely won't be a mainstay in the rotation.
Finch noted that Hyland needs to improve on defense to solidify his role.
"Well, for me Bones has to continue to lean into defense as best he can. With him it is about him establishing as much of a physical presence as he can. What we see now in the West is physical guards who just put their shoulder down and it doesn’t matter who or how, somebody gets that matchup and you have to show more resilience there. You just have to," Finch said.
This, in contrast to his Clark quote, indicates that Clark has the edge over Hyland in the rotation. Given the Timberwolves' rotation and needs, it makes perfect sense to me that Clark would get the nod over Hyland despite his offensive concerns.
Shannon will start the season earning a bigger role than Clark, and maybe this trend continues throughout the season. Regardless, it's worth noting that Shannon thrives on the ball and isn't great off the ball. As such, Clark could jump him and become the team's eighth man. While that will require improved shooting, there's a clear chance for him to get even more minutes.
All in all, Clark's skill set and Finch's comments indicate he'll be a consistent part of the Timberwolves' rotation, which is something people aren't fully expecting.
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