Terrence Shannon Jr. is quickly making the Timberwolves look genius

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest questions heading into the Minnesota Timberwolves' season was whether Terrence Shannon Jr. (and Jaylen Clark) would be enough to fill the void left behind by Nickeil Alexander-Walker. One game in, and Shannon looks even better than anticipated. While overacting to one game is foolish, I don't think it's an overreaction to say that Shannon is already proving to be an ideal replacement for NAW.

In 25 minutes of play, Shannon recorded 10 points, five rebounds, five assists, and a steal. The Wolves edged out the Portland Trail Blazers 118-114, and Shannon played a key role in this win.

Sure, these might not look like All-Star numbers, but Shannon was undoubtedly impressive and made a crucial all-around impact. Shannon even closed the game for Minnesota, proving just how much Chris Finch trusts the second-year wing. Likewise, his 25 minutes ranked fifth on the team.

Shannon's all-around impact was reminiscent of NAW, and his stellar performance should have Wolves fans feeling amazing about the 25-year-old. I was always pretty high on Shannon, but my confidence level is reaching new levels.

Shannon is a gifted scorer

It's always been clear that TSJ can score. The 6-foot-6 wing averaged a ridiculous 23 points per game during his final season at Illinois. Shannon has a rare blend of size and speed, which makes him a relentless finisher. Plus, he's a gifted, difficult shot-maker. During Wednesday's game, Shannon netted both his 3s. Spot-up shooting was a key area of Alexander-Walker's impact.

Shannon's ability to push the pace is a skill set that was always clear would benefit the Wolves, and it was on display during the Wolves' opening game.

While Shannon played limited minutes in his rookie season, he poured in 35 points after being called upon in the Western Conference finals. He also averaged 14.7 points per 100 possessions last year.

Shannon offers so much more outside of scoring

Nevertheless, it was fair to question if Shannon was ready to take on some of the playmaking duties left behind by Alexander-Walker. He averaged just 1.9 assists to 1.8 turnovers in college. So far, though, he's answered the call.

During Wednesday's game, Shannon made some stellar reads, especially on drive-and-kick plays. Furthermore, he initiated the offense at various points throughout the game. Shannon's decision-making as both a playmaker and scorer really stood out to me.

Another part of NAW's role that people questioned whether Shannon could replicate was his defense. However, you guessed it, he shut these concerns down as well.

Shannon's versatility and energy were clear positives during Wednesday's game. He was disruptive off the ball and constantly roamed around the court. His activity on the glass was yet another positive.

While this article is centered around Shannon, I must also mention Jaylen Clark's tenacious on-ball defense, which shifted the energy of the game. The Wolves were priced out of re-signing Alexander-Walker.

Regardless, Tim Connelly's belief in Shannon and Clark dictated the Wolves' decision not to fill this void with an external signing. So far, Connelly looks like a genius, and Shannon looks like he will be a linchpin of the Wolves' success this season.