The Minnesota Timberwolves re-signing young wing Jaylen Clark to a three-year, $10 million contract earlier this offseason was quite a vote of confidence. Sure, they paid just above the minimum, so it's not a lucrative deal, but locking up a fringe rotation player for three years isn't nothing.
Clark could feasibly earn a bigger role after this deal. If he can add a consistent outside shot, the Timberwolves will have an elite role player on their hands. That's a big if, though, as Clark shot just 32.7 percent from beyond the arc last season on mostly open attempts.
Currently, Clark's tenacious defense is what gets him on the court. He is a borderline elite point-of-attack defender who gives opposing players no space to operate. At 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, Clark is also big enough to guard up if needed.
While he offers clear positive traits on defense, Clark's lack of shooting is a glaring flaw, one that makes it tough to justify playing him regular minutes.
Once the Wolves traded for Ayo Dosunmu, Clark found himself outside of the Wolves' rotation for this exact reason. Clark isn't going to add some crazy playmaking or self-creation chops to his bag, but if he can simply knock down open 3-pointers at a respectable rate, he could be a high-quality role player.
Clark's 3-point shooting needs to improve for him to earn a sizable role with the Timberwolves
In all likelihood, the Wolves will have some available minutes for Clark. He could even be part of their makeshift forward rotation (barring a sizable roster addition). Regardless, whether Clark ends up as a mainstay of the rotation will hinge on his shooting ability.
No matter how good Clark's defense is, it's not worth playing him big minutes when opposing teams sag off of him to double other threats, and he can't make them pay. With LaMelo Ball in the mix, the importance of having dependable spot-up shooters increases.
After last season (and considering that Clark shot just 30.2 percent from 3-point range in college), you might think a shooting leap is wishful thinking. However, it's worth noting that Clark netted 43.1 percent of his 3-pointers in the 2024-25 season. Furthermore, shooting is a skill that can be developed fairly easily.
It will be a while until defenses truly respect Clark's shot. This, along with the playmaking boost that Ball provides, can ensure that Clark will simply be asked to hit open 3-pointers. Clark is already a massive positive on defense, and with ample improvement as a shooter, he could be a high-end role player.
By default, Clark's offensive role is destined to be a spot-up shooter, and he needs to add a jumper to fulfill his potential as a fantastic role player. Still, it's worth noting that Clark does provide some solid offensive connectivity, is a great cutter, and crashes the glass with a ton of force. This, paired with his stellar defense, helps factor into the equation of his upside as a great role player.
Ultimately, much of Clark's role depends on his shooting, but if he can add a solid jumper to his game, he will be a crucial part of the Timberwolves' rotation and success.
Add us as a preferred source on Google