Jaylen Clark Is Demanding Playing Time

Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-Imagn Images By Logan Harlow - 57 minutes ago Jaylen Clark wasn't supposed to be playing this much this early in the season. When the Minnesota Timberwolves entered the year, the 24-year-old guard looked more like a player waiting for an opportunity than someone who would become a regular part of Chris Finch's rotation. However, that changed when the Timberwolves started losing perimeter players. Anthony Edwards is back at the facility, but on crutches. Donte DiVincenzo is still going through his Achilles rehab , and Minnesota has needed to find different ways to fill those minutes. Clark has stepped into a role off the bench with aplomb. While he hasn't suddenly turned into an elite offensive player, he's done enough to make his increased role worth watching. The best example came against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 30. Clark played only 17 minutes that night and scored five points, but his impact went far beyond his scoring total. He finished with two steals and a block while posting a team-best plus-23 in Minnesota's 127-101 win. More importantly, Finch used him to take some of the defensive responsibility off Jaden McDaniels and put Clark on Darius Garland . The Clippers guard still finished with 24 points, but he also committed five turnovers because Clark made his night harder. That’s the kind of game Clark can be useful to this team. Minnesota knows it doesn't need the ball in his hands and can play off-ball guards like LaMelo Ball , Ayo Dosunmu , and Bones Hyland , so it doesn’t have to run plays for him to affect the game. Clark can cover a guard 94 feet, fight through screens, and stay attached to a player who might otherwise force McDaniels or another bigger wing to spend the entire night chasing him around the floor. His defensive tenacity and effort give Finch another option when the Timberwolves need somebody to make an opposing perimeter scorer uncomfortable. However, his offensive fit has always been uncertain. The night after the Clippers game, Clark scored 10 points against San Antonio, shooting 3-of-6 from the field and 2-of-4 from three while adding two rebounds, one assist and a block. Three nights later against Milwaukee, he scored only four points and made only one of his six shots, but he still played 21 minutes and got a couple steals. However, he had his best offensive performance of the regular season in Houston. Clark played his season-high 25 minutes against the Houston Rockets and had probably his most impactful all-around game with 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, and two steals. He shot a very efficient 4-of-6 from the field and made two of his three shots from beyond the arc, both huge, timely ones in the fourth quarter. It was a relatively small offensive workload. Still, Clark made the opportunities count, which is exactly what Minnesota needs from him when he's sharing the floor with players such as LaMelo Ball and Jaden McDaniels. There have been other times Clark has stepped up. He scored eight points in 21 minutes against New Orleans, then played 19 minutes against the Utah Jazz and finished with two steals despite scoring only three points. His scoring will predictably vary from game to game, but his defensive activity has remained the same every night. Clark barely played at the beginning of the season. He got three minutes against the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic before playing five against the Toronto Raptors. He then played seven minutes against Golden State. Since Edwards went down, his role has grown considerably, with 17 minutes against the Clippers followed by 20, 21, 25, 21, and 19 minutes over his next five games. After the Clippers game, Jaden McDaniels talked about Clark's persistence defensively. "Shoot, he relentless,” said McDaniels. “He's super strong and like, you see, no matter what, he get hit by a screen, he's always pursuing, like he never gives up. And I mean, I don't like when he guard me, so I know they really hate him. I ain't going to give him that much respect." That kind of effort is particularly valuable on a team that already asks McDaniels to take on difficult wing assignments. Clark is another player who can absorb some of those defensive responsibilities. Jaylen Clark has stepped up when the Wolves have needed him most, but what happens when the roster gets healthier? Edwards should return in the first half of the season. DiVincenzo has a longer recovery time but will eventually return. When that happens, there will be fewer minutes for him to step in, and Clark won't be able to rely on injuries to create a spot. He'll have to show over these next couple of weeks that what he provides is useful enough to keep around when Minnesota has more of its preferred rotation available. Clark's defense is the main reason to want him on the floor. His shooting and ability to make simple plays could determine how long he stays there. If he can continue taking open threes without hesitation, attack closeouts when defenders run at him, and avoid forcing things, Minnesota has less reason to worry about what it gives up offensively when he enters the game. The Timberwolves aren't asking Clark to become something he's not. They don't need him to create an offense or carry a scoring load. They need him to defend, play with energy, and take advantage of the opportunities that come his way. He's doing enough to keep getting those opportunities. That doesn't mean Clark has suddenly secured a permanent spot in Minnesota's rotation. Plenty of questions remain about how the minutes will look once the team gets healthier, and his offensive production is still inconsistent. But the difference between where he was in October and where he is now is noticeable. The opportunity came because Minnesota needed another perimeter defender. Jaylen Clark has taken it and given Finch a little more to work with. His defense can already help the Timberwolves in specific matchups. If the shooting continues to come along, it will be easier to see how those defensive minutes remain valuable even when the roster is closer to full strength. Tonight against the Dallas Mavericks is another chance to prove himself. By Logan Harlow Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form . minnesota timberwolves nba jaylen clark