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5 Timberwolves With the Most at Stake This Preseason

With Minnesota's regular season opener in Miami inching closer on the horizon, here are the five players who have the most to prove before that time comes.
Charlie Walton|
Jaylen Clark, the Minnesota Timberwolves' most rugged point-of-attack defender, could further grow his importance to this team if he proves himself during Minnesota's training camp.
Jaylen Clark, the Minnesota Timberwolves' most rugged point-of-attack defender, could further grow his importance to this team if he proves himself during Minnesota's training camp. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves are less than two months away from opening up their six-game preseason slate against the Milwaukee Bucks on the road.

Entering training camp this year, the Wolves have answered their most glaring question from last season by acquiring their point guard of the future and a long-term All-Star partner next to Anthony Edwards.

With LaMelo Ball under center, quarterbacking Minnesota’s offense, I believe the Wolves will finish third in the Western Conference this season. But much must go right before they can claim home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

That journey will begin with training camp and the preseason, a multi-week stretch where NBA teams lock in on offensive and defensive schemes and build necessary chemistry before the regular season.

For some players, such as Ball and Edwards, training camp is relatively low stakes. It is important for them, no doubt. However, they aren’t competing for a spot in the rotation or trying to prove to the organization that they have taken a step toward being ready for that role.

But for others, training camp is an important show-us-what-you-got period. So, here are the five Timberwolves players with the most to prove before the regular season tips off Oct. 21 in Miami:

Trey Lyles

Trey Lyles is a 10-year NBA veteran. And at 30 years old, he is the second-oldest player on Minnesota’s roster. He could retire now and be remembered as a rock-solid NBA veteran. Still, Lyles enters his 11th training camp in the league with something to prove because he has an opportunity to earn a starting job with the Timberwolves.

At least, that is what the Timberwolves supposedly told Lyles before he signed a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract with the team.

At a live podcast with Jon Krawczynski over the weekend, while talking about the Wolves’ power forward void, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly said that his team will need a player who can do “more with less” because of Minnesota’s surplus of volume scorers between Edwards, Ball, Jaden McDaniels, and Ayo Dosunmu.

For whoever emerges as Minnesota’s fifth starter, I believe that player being able, willing, and best suited to play in a complementary off-ball role will be vital. That is why Lyles could be a good fit in the starting lineup.

Lyles played in 67 regular-season and European competition games for Real Madrid, averaging 12.8 points (more than he ever averaged in an NBA season), 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 49.8% from the floor and 43.5% from deep in 20.9 minutes. He is a relatively agile defender and a solid rebounder, and he can space the floor with his 3-point shot. Minnesota could use all of that in its starting lineup this season, especially when it faces off against bigger front courts.

There is competition right now for Minnesota’s power forward spot. That competition won’t be as documented as the Minnesota Vikings’ QB battle was. Still, it is important, as a starting role is potentially up for grabs and a certain type of player would be best suited for that spot.

Lyles could earn it if he proves himself during training camp. He won't be proving who he is as a player at this stage of his career. Instead, Lyles should aim to prove that the results he had with Real Madrid can transfer back into the NBA, and that he can operate at a high enough level on both ends to be rewarded with Minnesota's starting power forward job.

Jaylen Clark

Minnesota extended Jaylen Clark to a three-year, $10 million contract this summer. Clark’s game-wreaking point-of-attack defense, packaged into his stocky 6’3” frame, will be very valuable for the Wolves this season. They can deploy him as their point-of-attack defender, but he also has the strength to tango with certain forwards.

But before Clark can further expand his role—potentially into being a consistent starter—he must develop a consistent three-point shot. Two years ago, Clark shot 43.1% on 1.3 threes over 40 games. But last season, he shot 32.7% on 1.5 threes over 68 games.

Clark has proven he can be that consistent shooter, and he has been working on his catch-and-shoot 3-point jumper this summer. It would be very beneficial for him and the Wolves if he could showcase that work during this year's preseason.

Isaiah Evans

Minnesota’s 33rd draft pick will have no pressure to be NBA-ready immediately during his rookie year. The Wolves have a stockpile of scoring guards, and it has always been a challenge for rookies to earn a consistent role under Chris Finch unless the need for that player is unavoidable.

Still, training camp and the preseason will be a great opportunity for Isaiah Evans to prove that he is adapting to the NBA’s physicality, speed, and 3-point line distance after he averaged 12.7 points on 32.5% from the floor and 10% from deep over three games at Las Vegas Summer League.

Evans displayed a consistent commitment on defense in Las Vegas, and it will be important for that to continue during his run in the preseason. If Evans can connect from deep at a better rate during the preseason and locks in on defense as he did during the Summer League, a meaningful, short-term role could emerge for him during his rookie year should the Wolves face injury trouble in their backcourt.

Enrique Freeman

The Timberwolves re-signed Enrique Freeman to a one-year, two-way contract this offseason. Last year, under the same deal, Freeman played in four contests with Minnesota and 39 games with its G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves, where he averaged 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds on 54.6% from the floor and 32.3% from deep.

Enriquee Freeman Timberwolves NBA
Enrique Freeman's athleticism and competitiveness could help the Minnesota Timberwolves, who lack power forward depth, this season. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Freeman possesses noticeable athleticism around the rim. He runs the floor well and competes at a very high level. He showed all of that in this year’s Summer League.

However, Freeman didn’t combine those physical tools and his athleticism with the level of statistical production that players who are NBA-ready talent do during the Summer League. Freeman averaged 7.4 points and 7.0 rebounds on 44.8% from the floor and 11.1% from deep in 21.9 minutes over five games.

But at 6’8”, his frame and competitive intangibles could help provide the Wolves with some needed size in short stints this season. Being on a 2-way contract allows him to be active for 50 regular-season games and no playoff games.

Chris Finch told KFAN’s Paul Allen on Wednesday the Wolves could be looking for someone to earn a standard contract. Freeman, if his athleticism pops and he can combine that with more productive offense than he showed in Las Vegas, could have a shot at the Wolves’ 15th roster spot, which they must fill before the regular season begins.

Or maybe they will look to convert his contract to a standard deal later in the regular season, which they could do in addition to the 15th spot that they must fill before the season. Regardless, Freeman has the physical tools that could help the Wolves this season.

During training camp and in the preseason, Freeman will have the opportunity to prove that he is deserving of a standard NBA contract. Although right now, I would say it is far more likely he begins the season on his previously signed two-way deal.

Rocco Zikarsky

The Wolves selected the 7’3” Rocco Zikarsky No. 45 out of Australia in last year's draft, and since then, he has already shown some intriguing upside for that late of a pick.

Zikarsky spent most of his rookie season in Iowa, where he averaged 14.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks on 53.3% from the floor and 30.8% from deep over 42 games. He swatted shots well at the rim, showed off pretty decent mobility for a player his size, and had a repeatable and fluid 3-point jumper.

Zikarsky’s 3-point efficiency was not great, but his ability to space the floor at his size is encouraging for his future in the NBA.

Zikarsky, who is on a two-way contract, will once again likely play heavy minutes in Iowa this season. The only chance he sees meaningful minutes this season is probably if both Gobert and Joan Beringer go down with injuries. Still, I would like to see Zikarsky play better during the preseason than he did in the Summer League, where he proved to still be a ways out from being NBA-ready.

Primarily, I will be looking for improved defense by Zikarsky. His overall defense against Summer League competition was underwhelming. He was scored on repeatedly both in space and at the rim, despite his 2.5 blocks per game last season tying him for the second most in the G League.

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Charlie Walton
CHARLIE WALTON

Charlie Walton has covered the Minnesota Timberwolves for over four years. He got his start writing for Zone Coverage as a junior in high school. Since then, he has written for SB Nation's Canis Hoopus and built a personal social media brand that blends interactive graphics with unique long-form analysis. Charlie is currently a senior at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where he is majoring in journalism. His work has been featured on ESPN, WCCO, and Bleacher Report.

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