The Timberwolves are faced with a painfully obvious decision from Jaylen Clark

Jaylen Clark is by far the most effective young player on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Don’t let his 4.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game fool you; Clark is a player with a big impact. In fact, the Wolves are 14-0 when Clark plays 14 or more minutes per game. Conversely, they are just 3-8 when he plays less than 14 minutes.

However, he still doesn’t have a consistent role. Clark has more games in which he has played less than 10 minutes than he has played games of 20 minutes or more. Honestly, I understand why Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. having inconsistent roles; they weren’t great in their limited minutes, but with Clark I can’t think of any real explanation for his fluctuating role.

During Wednesday’s 116-110 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Clark played just 8:58 minutes. Sure, offense was a bigger problem for the Wolves, but Clark’s energy is contagious and his defense leads to offense. Here’s an example of him doing just that.

If the Wolves want to reach their ceiling, Clark will need to be a linchpin in the team’s rotation.

Jaylen Clark is a key part of the Wolves’ success

Clark’s value lies largely on the defensive end of the floor. He is a swarming defender on the ball. The UCLA product shadows opponents’ movements at an elite level, and he can contain opponents with his imposing strength. Opponents only shoot 40.5 percent when under Clark’s guard or, more accurately, when in the Clark County Jail.

In addition to his defense on the ball, Clark is also an impressive defensive playmaker. Clark ranks in the 87th percentile in both steals and deflections per 100 possessions. This often leads to big plays on the other side of the field. Clark can change the energy of the team with his relentless motor, and that’s evident considering the Wolves win when he plays big minutes.

The non-Rudy Gobert minutes have been a huge problem for the Wolves this season. According to Cleaning the Glass, with Gobert off the field, the Wolves have a defensive rating of 123.3, which translates to the second-worst defense in the league – their 108.8 DRTG translates to the best defense in the league. To me, simply playing Clark more (ideally alongside Jaden McDaniels) is an obvious solution for the non-Rudy minutes.

With Clark but without Gobert, the Wolves’ DRTG improves slightly to 119.9. Same with McDaniels but without Gobert, the Wolves have a DRTG of 119.7. However, with Clark and McDaniels in non-Rudy minutes, Minnesota has an impressive 111 DRTG, which translates to third in the league. To maintain a quality defense while Gobert is off the field, it is simply necessary to play Clark more.

Offensively, Clark is more up and down. Most of his role is as a spot-up shooter, but he only makes 31.9 percent of his three-pointers. Yet Clark has had thirteen or more games in which he shot 50 percent or better from three-point range. Clark is also a connecting playmaker and cutter at a high level, and he crashes the glass at a rapid pace.

Ultimately, if the Wolves want to maximize their lead, playing Clark more is a vital step. Make it happen, Chris Finch.