One player who can earn way into Timberwolves rotation no one is talking about

The upcoming season will be one with massive implications for the Minnesota Timberwolves. If they fail to live up to expectations, many will cast off their wildly impressive 2023-24 season where they earned 56 wins as simply a fluke. But if they can carry over that success from last year into next, the NBA world will have no choice but to respect Minnesota for the perennial Western Conference powerhouse they truly are.

For them to do that, the Wolves will need all the help they can get. The front office already prepared for the loss of veterans like Kyle Anderson and Jordan McLaughlin by going out and getting proven players in the draft that can end up playing a real role on this team. The next step will be internal improvement, with the coaching staff recognizing which young players are ready to take a leap.

One who could certainly fit in that category is Jaylen Clark. After a devastating Achilles injury in his junior season at UCLA in 2022-23, Clark was left to figure out what his next steps would be. After all, an Achilles tear remains one of the most degrading and impactful injuries any athlete can experience.

Jaylen Clark missed last season due to injury

But despite his extremely unfortunate circumstance, the Timberwolves took a chance on Jaylen with the 53rd overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. Realizing that just getting him back on the floor would take some time, Minnesota invested in his potential, trusting that it would all be worth it in due time.

Now, the vision of drafting Clark is finally beginning to come to light. After over a year of injury rehab, Jaylen finally played in a real game again at the Las Vegas Summer League. Against the Pacers on July 14, Clark showcased his monstrous defensive upside, logging six steals and a block in the team's win over Indiana.

It was a momentous occasion for a guy who underwent the challenge of taking an entire year off. "I think the thing that’s made it the hardest is that no one has seen my progress," Clark said after the game. "I don’t regret anything that happened – if I don’t tear my Achilles, I don’t think I’m in Minnesota currently at this moment. So everything happens for a reason."

Jaylen expressed his gratitude for Tim Connelly and the organization for believing in him. He acknowledged that the initial feeling of being back was riveting, but tried to quickly shift back into his normal mindset.

Clark's defensive potential is phenomenal

"(The first game) was like a surreal feeling," he said. "I was telling all the coaches that even though I didn’t do much, it took like three quarters to realize that I’m really out there playing. I was just out there smiling and running up and down and then I was like, 'OK bro, now you gotta do something now.'"

Now, Clark will have a chance to realize his remarkable potential for the Timberwolves in the upcoming season. With all the talent in Minnesota's locker room, it can be easy to forget that Jaylen comes in with a stacked resume. He earned multiple national defensive player of the year awards during his third year at UCLA, averaging 2.6 steals per game while also significantly growing as an offensive player.

These talents will give him the chance to be a true impact player on a team full of defensive studs. Should he continue progressing and get anywhere close to being the player he used to be, Jaylen Clark can easily find a spot in Finch's rotation in the 2024-25 season.