With Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker all being free agents, the Minnesota Timberwolves have some diffcult decisions ahead of them this offseason. Considering their high payroll, many are speculating that they will be unable to re-sign Alexander-Walker. One well-discussed replacement for NAW is Terrence Shannon Jr. However, the Wolves have another young wing who could play a similar role to Alexander-Walker. Let's dive into Jaylen Clark's game and how he could be in line for a bigger role if the Wolves lose Alexander-Walker.
Clark's underrated impact
Clark was a late second-round pick in 2023. However, the UCLA product missed the entire 2023-24 season due to an Achilles injury. In the 2024-25 campaign, Clark showcased his upside as a quintessential 3-and-D wing. Clark posted averages of 13.1 minutes, 4.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals while shooting 43.1 percent from beyond the arc.
In the regular season against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Clark had a signature moment. He earned a rare start, pouring in 14 points and four steals. Clark played excellent defense on Shai-Gilgeous Alexander. Across three regular-season games, Clark held SGA to 29.4 percent shooting from the field. Clark is already one of the Wolves' best point-of-attack defenders and impacts the game at a high level.
Despite solid flashes in the regular season and some strong performances against OKC, Clark couldn't crack the Wolves' loaded wing rotation in the playoffs, averaging just 5.6 minutes. Clark became somewhat forgotten about with Terrence Shannon Jr.'s flashes of brilliance against the Thunder in the Conference Finals. Nevertheless, with some possible wing minutes open, both players could have sizable roles next season.
Clark offers a different skill set than Shannon
When discussing the two young wings, their different skill sets are worth noting. While both players make positive defensive impacts, Clark is more polished on defense, especially on the perimeter. Shannon brings defensive energy and intensity, but he can't shut down opponents like Clark can.
Offensively, Shannon is a gifted shot-creator and three-level scorer. However, Clark is a better spot-up shooter. Notably, Clark shot 44.9 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s while Shannon shot 34.6 percent. It's unclear what the Wolves will value off the bench, a more capable creator or a spot-up shooter. In some ways, Clark's catch-and-shoot abilities make him more similar to Alexander-Walker.
Assuming Alexander-Walker leaves, Clark's and Shannon's minutes could fluctuate based on the matchup. Ultimately, having two young wings who could play a similar role to Alexander-Walker is a luxury for the Timberwolves as they navigate a diffcult offseason.