Based on what we've seen so far in preseason, Jaylen Clark looks to be the odd man out of the Minnesota Timberwolves' rotation. In games where the starters have played, Finch has played other fringe rotation players, including Bones Hyland and Trey Lyles over Clark. Cody Williams has also steadily seen an increased role. He even started in place of an injured Jonathan Kuminga during Monday's game.
Clark's offensive limitations are clearly holding him back from earning a rotation spot. In four preseason games, Clark is averaging just 1.5 points, while shooting 28.6 percent from the field. Essentially playing four-on-five on offense isn't worth the defensive advantages that Clark provides.
Still, Clark is the Timberwolves' best point-of-attack defender outside of Jaden McDaniels, which is why he's long intrigued me as a consistent rotation player. If he's out of the rotation, it remains to be seen who will fill this secondary POA defense void.
Honestly, this isn't the biggest problem in the world. Clark fell out of the rotation last season, and the Wolves' on-ball defense was fine. McDaniels is one of the league's best on-ball stoppers. He also has absurd stamina, so you can match his minutes with opposing stars.
Regardless, McDaniels is equally gifted in an off-ball roamer role. Ideally, the Wolves could utilize this skill set more, while making McDaniels' defensive role a bit less taxing as he takes on more offensive duties. This is something the Wolves openly discussed ahead of the season.
But if Clark is out of the rotation, who will take over this role and help free up McDaniels?
Anthony Edwards and/or Ayo Dosunmu will have to take on tough matchups
Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu stand out as the most logical options to take on a secondary POA defender role if the Timberwolves want to move McDaniels around a bit more. Jonathan Kuminga is a clear option to guard opposing forwards and bigger stars. He quietly thrived in this role last year and should be able to continue this trend if needed.
However, with McDaniels' role (and what Clark's role would've been) mostly being defending guards, I want to focus on what Edwards and Dosunmu may look like adjusting to this role.
The Wolves' organization has long hyped up Edwards as the league's best two-way star. He has shown this ability in flashes, and with LaMelo Ball alleviating the pressure off Ant on offense, it's fair to expect him to reach another gear on defense. Even so, will Ball alleviate enough pressure for Ant to regularly defend elite on-ball creators?
Admittedly, Edwards' best defensive trait is being tenacious on the ball. Edwards has shown to be a great high-leverage defender, but can he consistently lock up opposing star guards if asked to?
Despite the Wolves' confidence in Ant as a defender, Dosunmu seems to have the edge for this secondary on-ball stopper role right now, since he's taken on tougher matchups in preseason. Dosunmu is a feisty perimeter defender. He excels at navigating screens and chasing shooters. In fact, he ranked in the 100th percentile for screen navigation according to Basketball Index.
Ayo also has the length, strength, and quickness needed to hold his own against the league's best players. Furthermore, Dosunmu served as the Bulls' primary on-ball defender, which bodes well for his ability to adjust to this role if needed.
Realistically, though, there will be some drop-off between McDaniels and Ayo or Edwards. Still, both players can be positive on-ball defenders, and it could be worth it to free McDaniels up off the ball and add another wrinkle to Minnesota's defense.
If they can't defend star guards in consistent spurts, the Wolves will have to commit to McDaniels remaining on-ball at nearly all times. While McDaniels thrives in this role, it would be ideal for the Timberwolves to utilize his full defensive skill set.
In any event, with Clark seemingly out of the Timberwolves' rotation, Dosunmu's and Edwards' on-ball defense becomes more important.
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