Minnesota selected Jaylen Clark with pick No. 53 of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Clark’s draft value took a significant hit during the final regular season game of his junior year at UCLA, as he suffered an Achilles injury. While he may not be an elite scorer, the 6-foot-5 wing is one of the best defenders in this draft class. Clark has the athleticism and size needed to defend any of the three perimeter positions, and offensively he made strides as an overall scorer and shooter as a junior. The defensive end of the floor will be his calling card at the start, with the hope being that Clark can evolve into a true 3-and-D wing. He may end up spending the majority of his rookie season in the G-League, but he could end up being a valuable defender for Minnesota long term.