The Minnesota Timberwolves will be looking to reinvent themselves once again as the 2025 NBA offseason arrives. Ideally, this time that won't involve trading a starter 72 hours before training camp. What it will likely be more centered around is more heavily emphasizing the young guys and the impact they can make on this squad's performance. And while guys like Terrence Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham are talented, the biggest key for Minnesota to keep evolving might just be Jaylen Clark.
After not playing in the 2023-24 season due to injury, Clark really made waves with his play as this past season went on. Midway through the year, he hadn't gotten much opportunity for court time at all. But that changed in a big way in the Wolves' late January game with the Phoenix Suns, in which Clark stepped into action and immediately made his mark, frustrating Bradley Beal and showing just the kind of unique impact he can make defensively.
After a campaign where he proved himself more than worthy of being a rotation player going forward, the Timberwolves couldn't have hoped for better timing. With Nickeil Alexander-Walker's future in Minnesota being uncertain, the Wolves may soon have a need for another perimeter disrupter off the bench.
Should NAW end up leaving town in free agency, it could be the perfect opportunity for Clark to step in. With his high basketball IQ, quick feet and active hands, I believe he's someone who could quickly rise to a level that would make fans wonder why he wasn't playing 30 minutes a night earlier.
Jaylen Clark can change the Timberwolves' equation
It's obvious that Shannon and Dillingham both bring tremendous contributions on the offensive end. Between Terrence's power and Rob's finesse, there's an exciting future there for those guys. But when it comes to defensive playmaking, Clark is the man of the future on this team.
Number 22 doesn't need the ball in his hands to leave his fingerprints all over the game, and he can be the ideal defensive stopper for Chris Finch to bring off the bench moving forward. It's not often you have a meaningful contributor on the verge of leaving in free agency and then you look right down your bench and have a perfect replacement, but that's the kind of luxury Minnesota has on their hands right now.
Sure, much of the Timberwolves' offseason talk is going to be centered around Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert, and on how the Wolves will handle bringing those guys back. But when it comes to the backcourt, Jaylen Clark will likely prove to be an underrated part of why Minnesota can move forward as one of the deepest teams in the Western Conference even if Alexander-Walker leaves.