The Official Jaylen Clark Thread

BlacJacMac · Post #121 » by **BlacJacMac** » Fri Feb 14, 2025 8:47 pm

Klomp wrote:One thing that's been nice to see is that they trust him enough to move Jaden off-ball, which gives us a low man in the defense when they run out smaller lineups. Just opens up the number of things we can do with the lineup

Yeah.

Jaden is such a weapon off ball with his help and rim protecting. And it seems to help keep his fouls down and his energy levels higher.

Clark is just a monster. I don't think we've had a defender like him that can just do everything. His footwork and positioning are impeccable. He flips his hips like a CB and he's extremely strong and physical. And he's so smart. He's always in position and rarely gambles.

He's not the screen navigator that NAW is, but he's not far off and closing the gap.

I think he's a lot more disciplined than Okogie was. Josh gambled a lot more and was caught out of position much more often. I think his block on Harden inflated his reputation considerably.

frankenwolf · Post #122 » by **frankenwolf** » Fri Feb 14, 2025 10:12 pm

winforlose wrote:All of this is to ask, would you convert him now paying Millions to do so with the tax and losing the roster spot (playoff depth at PG or C,) to simply have Clark for the playoffs?

I'm not sure I do this year, but it also depends on how healthy everyone is come PO Time. If everyone is healthy, is the possibility there that Jaylen could help us win a series to the championship? I don't know when the contract has to be converted or if you can do it the last week of the season. I am leaning hard to not convert him.

BlacJacMac · Post #123 » by **BlacJacMac** » Fri Feb 14, 2025 10:20 pm

frankenwolf wrote:
winforlose wrote:All of this is to ask, would you convert him now paying Millions to do so with the tax and losing the roster spot (playoff depth at PG or C,) to simply have Clark for the playoffs?

I'm not sure I do this year, but it also depends on how healthy everyone is come PO Time. If everyone is healthy, is the possibility there that Jaylen could help us win a series to the championship? I don't know when the contract has to be converted or if you can do it the last week of the season. I am leaning hard to not convert him.

You can do it up until the last day of the season.

BlacJacMac · Post #124 » by **BlacJacMac** » Fri Feb 14, 2025 10:44 pm

Canis post:

fishgutzombies
Never done this before, but rewatched the entire game. Thought I saw some things last night, but also had a beer or two, and the young kids popping was distracting fun.

I wanted to see if it looked like SGA and the Thunder were just tired, or if the Wolves defense was the difference. And specifically, I watched the defense on SGA.

No question in my mind anymore. It was the Wolves defense that shut down SGA. SGA didn't look like his jumper was off because of tired legs. It was just that most times, he couldn't get to his jumper cleanly at all.

A massive part of the defense, the tip of the spear, was Jaylen Clark. Jaylen does it without fouling the foul merchant too. He had help, in the form of late doubles. And that was good. But without question, the best defender on SGA was Clark.

But nearly everybody kicked in. Jaden was next in line. We've all seen that before. Ant defended SGA well, especially late in the game. Even Shannon and Rob(!) had some nice possessions against SGA.

Yes, the late doubles helped, but that is what every team does to SGA.The Wolves just have a ton of really good defenders now.

The guy with the worst night on SGA? Surprised me, but it was cousin NAW. SGA kinda got what he wanted when NAW was on him. But that didn't happen often. Clearly, the game plan was Clark/Jaden/Ant, in that order.

The end result? SGA goes 6-21 from the field, and plain gave up on more possessions than I could count. Got off the ball, never got it back.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/sga-shot-chart-february-13-2025

This looks repeatable to an extent. Especially when Jaden can stay stuck to Jalen Williams for most of the game. In my opinion, this was more than “SHA had tired legs.” This was closer to Monk saying “glad that big guy is out of the game. He harassin’.”

shrink · Post #125 » by **shrink** » Fri Feb 14, 2025 11:33 pm

Klomp wrote:

Read on Twitter

This boy smart. Keep in mind, he will spend a lot of time in Iowa, wearing the No. 22 and Clark on his jersey. Business acumen.

I bet a lot people who bought this jersey three months ago to have a “Caitlyn Clark” Iowa Wolves jersey, are doubly happy now!

winforlose · Post #126 » by **winforlose** » Mon Feb 24, 2025 7:29 am

Saw on Canis Clark told people he is okay and gonna make the trip to OKC. This tells me no concussion (he could have just joined the team in LA,) and that he might be okay by tomorrow with treatment for a sore neck.

minimus · Post #127 » by **minimus** » Mon Feb 24, 2025 7:51 am

Read on Twitter

When TC sign Clark to multiyear deal? Just before playoffs?

Post #128 » by **Klomp** » Mon Feb 24, 2025 6:33 pm

minimus wrote:When TC sign Clark to multiyear deal? Just before playoffs?

Never. Minott still deserves a role over him, after all...

minimus · Post #129 » by **minimus** » Wed Feb 26, 2025 7:09 pm

Read on Twitter

Timeline explanation.

Read on Twitter

winforlose · Post #130 » by **winforlose** » Wed Feb 26, 2025 8:07 pm

minimus wrote:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Timeline explanation.

Read on Twitter

The situation is a bit unfortunate. We signed Clark to a 2 year fully guaranteed standard (presumably minimum deal.) Notice this is not a Hinkie meaning we don’t get the option years, we don’t get the extra two cheap years, but I believe we keep his RFA rights (3 years of service.) With this year already counting against the 2, we might end up paying Clark more than we need to, and that is tough. I don’t know if it is bad asset management or a bad job by the coach to not push TC to sign Clark to a Hinkie sooner, but something went wrong along the way.

BlacJacMac · Post #131 » by **BlacJacMac** » Wed Feb 26, 2025 8:10 pm

winforlose wrote: I don’t know if it is bad asset management or a bad job by the coach to not push TC to sign Clark to a Hinkie sooner, but something went wrong along the way.

Or is it possible we're limited to minimum contract signings as we're a 2nd apron team with no available exceptions?

That would be my guess. His agent was willing to do 2.3M next year, but probably didn't want to be locked in to 2-3 more years at the vet minimum.

winforlose · Post #132 » by **winforlose** » Wed Feb 26, 2025 8:45 pm

BlacJacMac wrote:
winforlose wrote: I don’t know if it is bad asset management or a bad job by the coach to not push TC to sign Clark to a Hinkie sooner, but something went wrong along the way.

Or is it possible we're limited to minimum contract signings as we're a 2nd apron team with no available exceptions?

That would be my guess. His agent was willing to do 2.3M next year, but probably didn't want to be locked in to 2-3 more years at the vet minimum.

That is an excellent question. Shrink can you please weigh in? Also Shrink can we use any trade exemptions in this context (I know there some quirks to the new CBA.)

Clark is a minimum player the same way Josh Okogie is a minimum player. Clark may have great games but players get paid for what they do consistently. It is possible that he truly shows out and gets more on his next deal, but I wouldn’t call it likely. The issue is whether we can keep him long term.

BlacJacMac · Post #133 » by **BlacJacMac** » Wed Feb 26, 2025 8:59 pm

Actually I think we gave him all we can in years as well. I believe were limited to 2 years for a vet min exception

BlacJacMac · Post #134 » by **BlacJacMac** » Wed Feb 26, 2025 9:00 pm

winforlose wrote:
BlacJacMac wrote:
winforlose wrote: I don’t know if it is bad asset management or a bad job by the coach to not push TC to sign Clark to a Hinkie sooner, but something went wrong along the way.

Or is it possible we're limited to minimum contract signings as we're a 2nd apron team with no available exceptions?

That would be my guess. His agent was willing to do 2.3M next year, but probably didn't want to be locked in to 2-3 more years at the vet minimum.

That is an excellent question. Shrink can you please weigh in? Also Shrink can we use any trade exemptions in this context (I know there some quirks to the new CBA.)

Clark is a minimum player the same way Josh Okogie is a minimum player. Clark may have great games but players get paid for what they do consistently. It is possible that he truly shows out and gets more on his next deal, but I wouldn’t call it likely. The issue is whether we can keep him long term.

I think he looks a lot more like NAW than Okogie. I don't expect he's going to stay a 42% 3pt shooter, but his shot looks a lot better than Josh's.

He's also already a much better defender than Okogie.

minimus · Post #135 » by **minimus** » Thu Feb 27, 2025 5:51 am

BlacJacMac wrote:He's also already a much better defender than Okogie.

Corrected. He is already smarter defender.

I believe is that his IQ that makes difference. Okogie has some excellent physical tools.

younggunsmn · Post #136 » by **younggunsmn** » Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:28 am

BlacJacMac wrote:
winforlose wrote: I don’t know if it is bad asset management or a bad job by the coach to not push TC to sign Clark to a Hinkie sooner, but something went wrong along the way.

Or is it possible we're limited to minimum contract signings as we're a 2nd apron team with no available exceptions?

That would be my guess. His agent was willing to do 2.3M next year, but probably didn't want to be locked in to 2-3 more years at the vet minimum.

When we signed him to the 2 way after we drafted him we lost the ability to use the new 2nd round pick exception to give him a Hinkie.
To do so at this point, and give him more than 2 years, we would have needed to use a piece of the MLE or Bi Annual exception, both of which I believe are unavailable due to 2nd apron restrictions.

Grats to Clark on the guaranteed 2 year deal.
Elevating him now versus waiting until the season is nearly over will add roughly another 3 mil in salary and luxury tax.

He should be a restricted free agent when that deal is up if i'm not mistaken.

Shaking my head at signing that chucker scrub Bones Hyland to a 2-way.
Down 2 big men and we signed another chucker shooting guard.

What is it with TC and his obsession with failed players from his time in Denver?
He's like a dude who keeps trying to date all his x-girlfriends.