Currently, Jaylen Clark finds himself on the bubble of the Minnesota Timberwolves' rotation. He is already a high-level defender, especially at the point of attack. Plus, Clark's low-usage playstyle on offense could make him an ideal complement alongside the Wolves' established talent.
Still, the question remains: Can he knock down open 3-pointers? This rather simple question will be the number one factor that will determine Clark's minutes. Last season, Clark shot just 32.7 percent from beyond the arc, which is not nearly good enough.
Thankfully, there is some positive buzz around Clark improving as a 3-point shooter. Earlier this month, Chris Finch noted that he's confident in Clark's outside shot, and at media day, Clark opened up about his increased confidence in his shot.
"It's crazy how much the brain can do. Obviously, I changed a few things. I think it (my shot) looks a lot better than it had last year. But that's just really from being in the gym consistently. As I found out last year, life goes. You can't allow outside stuff to affect your basketball world, and last year definitely was a part of that," Clark said candidly.
If Clark can knock down shots at a respectable rate, then he'll go from a fringe rotation player to a clear mainstay. The proof will obviously be in the pudding, but there are some promising early signs.
Why Jaylen Clark can become a mainstay of the Timberwolves' rotation
Right now, Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Joan Beringer are all poised to have sizable bench roles for the Timberwolves. Beyond that, it's unclear who will play regular minutes off the Wolves' bench.
Alongside Clark, Bones Hyland and Trey Lyles are two other fringe players vying for minutes. If Clark's shooting stays the same, I'd expect Finch to use these three players situationally. However, if Clark's shooting improves, that could help him earn a permanent rotation spot.
One could argue the Wolves need Lyles' size and spacing, but I think Clark's defensive tenacity and low-maintenance style fill a bigger need.
On a team with stars, you need players like Clark who are okay simply spotting up on offense and being disruptive on defense. Likewise, with ample shooting improvement, Clark can be a coveted 3-and-D player. Fortunately, shooting is a reasonable skill to develop. Clark working on his form, the security of being on a new contract, and simply believing in himself can all lead to a shooting leap.
As mentioned, Clark's defense is already super impressive. Notably, he ranked in the 91st percentile for matchup difficulty and the 85th percentile for perimeter isolation defense per Basketball Index. Ranking in the 91st percentile for steals per 100 possessions and the 84th percentile for deflections per 100 possessions, according to Databallr, Clark's impact as a defensive playmaker is also clear. Plus, at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, he is big enough to guard up if needed.
Considering this, he could help free up Jaden McDaniels by guarding at the POA, take on this role when McDaniels needs a break, or help the Timberwolves guard forwards, which is a concern. The point is that Clark can provide a massive boost to the Timberwolves' defense.
Despite how impactful his defense is, it won't matter if he can't improve as a shooter. Simply put, you can't have a shooter who defenses can completely disrespect and one who can't make them pay for this treatment.
The good news is that it seems like Clark's shot has genuinely improved and could ultimately make him an indispensable part of the Timberwolves' rotation.
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