The Jaylen Nowell Thread

[minimus]

Nowell is last four games since JMac is back:

18 ppg, 3rpg, 3apg, 59%FG, 50% 3PT in 23 mpg. No defense though.

[Klomp]

I thought this was a really interesting take from Britt...

But Nowell personifies the good things that can happen when the Wolves play at a rapid, fly-around pace without turning the ball over very often. Only two players in the Wolves 10-player rotation play at a higher pace – Jordan McLaughlin and Taurean Prince – but their combined minutes (367 and 787 minutes, respectively) don’t match the 1,201 minutes Nowell has logged thus far this season. He has been the primary accelerant.

The results are illuminating. Nowell has been paired with Ant for 636 minutes, more than any other teammate. Overall, Ant plays at a pace of 102.02 possessions per game and has a net rating of plus 1.5. But with Nowell beside him, the pace skyrockets to 106.91 and the net rating climbs to plus 7.7. Ditto McDaniels, who is a plus 2.7 at a pace of 101.43 overall, but a plus 8.5 at a pace of 105.33 in his 473 minutes alongside Nowell. KAT’s net rating jumps from minus 0.9 overall to plus-9.3 playing with Nowell, albeit in only 160 minutes together.

When Nowell is paired with any teammate on the roster, that player’s pace goes up. That doesn’t necessarily help some players – Gobert’s net rating drops to minus 2.9 with Nowell compared to plus 0.1 overall, and Slo Mo is a nifty plus 3.0 with Nowell but an even better plus 3.4 overall. Ditto J-Mac, the king of high-pace: He’s plus 8.2 in a team-fastest 110.06 possessions for a two-player pairing alongside Nowell, but an even better plus 9.8 in a team-fastest 108.35 overall individual pace.

So, in answer to the above questions, I believe the fly-around catalyst the Nowell provides is undervalued because we judge him on performance alone rather than acceleration – and his performance should continue to improve with J-Mac and Prince now both healthy and back in the rotation. I also believe it was not a missed opportunity to deal him at the deadline – if the Wolves can re-sign him relatively inexpensively, they should.

https://www.minnpost.com/sports/2023/02/timberwolves-mailbag/

[minimus]

Nowell is last four games since JMac is back:

18 ppg, 3rpg, 3apg, 59%FG, 50% 3PT in 23 mpg. No defense though.

Last seven games since McLaughlin is back: 12.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 2apg, 51%FG, 43% 3PT in 18 mpg.

When Nowell is fully healthy I see why Finch will try to use him to get instant offense. Maybe not over NAW, maybe in expense of some Rivers, Edwards or McLaughlin minutes. Our bench unit is moving the ball in offense right now, hustling in defense, but they definitely could use Nowell's ability to create scoring opportunities. It was tough to see when they had multiple empty offensive possession after showing so much heart in defense. I hope Finch will find balance.

[life_saver]

Worst efficiency so far in playoffs

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[Krapinsky]

I haven't heard anything on Jaylen. Lots of talk about Naz (and for good reason), but seems not a whisper on Jaylen recently. I wonder if he could still be a candidate to return on a cheap 'prove it' deal.

[Klomp]

I haven't heard anything on Jaylen. Lots of talk about Naz (and for good reason), but seems not a whisper on Jaylen recently. I wonder if he could still be a candidate to return on a cheap 'prove it' deal.

The reports during the season were that Jaylen essentially was ready to move on.

[TimberKat]

I haven't heard anything on Jaylen. Lots of talk about Naz (and for good reason), but seems not a whisper on Jaylen recently. I wonder if he could still be a candidate to return on a cheap 'prove it' deal.

The reports during the season were that Jaylen essentially was ready to move on.

This thread should be closed and move to former player thread. I was thinking he would take a step forward with Beasley gone but really regressed in 3pt shooting, no improvement on D, and mid range drop off too.