Minnesota Sports Forum

I've always been a Clark fan but I'm just not seeing it anymore. He doesn't look like an NBA player to me. Williams has a much higher ceiling and I hope he gets a good shot here.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 5:31 pm I've always been a Clark fan but I'm just not seeing it anymore. He doesn't look like an NBA player to me. Williams has a much higher ceiling and I hope he gets a good shot here.

Feeling the same at this point, Cool. Clarks progression has pretty much been a plateau since he got rotation minutes a couple years ago. Not being able to crack real rotation minutes in a preseason game is quite the indictment even if it's not necessarily his fault cause of some position redundancy.

I haven't been able to watch any of the two games so I'm sure that would color my opinion if I had, but I'm not too concerned about TJ and Ayo I think they'll figure it out and offer 2 solid if not very good bench players.

However, I'm fairly concerned about how dependent they are on Joan this season

They're just highlights and it's only preseason but I'm not getting high motor or smart defender vibes from the little I've seen from Ant so far.

I'm sure a lot of folks have given up on it, but I'm still pretty keen to see him be a zero caveats two way star

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 6:34 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 5:31 pm I've always been a Clark fan but I'm just not seeing it anymore. He doesn't look like an NBA player to me. Williams has a much higher ceiling and I hope he gets a good shot here.

Feeling the same at this point, Cool. Clarks progression has pretty much been a plateau since he got rotation minutes a couple years ago. Not being able to crack real rotation minutes in a preseason game is quite the indictment even if it's not necessarily his fault cause of some position redundancy.

I'm actually concerned/suspecting Cody will bypass TJ and JC. Hopefully it's due to Cody playing well and less about them not getting their own traction.

Phenom wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 7:34 pm

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 6:34 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 5:31 pm I've always been a Clark fan but I'm just not seeing it anymore. He doesn't look like an NBA player to me. Williams has a much higher ceiling and I hope he gets a good shot here.

Feeling the same at this point, Cool. Clarks progression has pretty much been a plateau since he got rotation minutes a couple years ago. Not being able to crack real rotation minutes in a preseason game is quite the indictment even if it's not necessarily his fault cause of some position redundancy.

I'm actually concerned/suspecting Cody will bypass TJ and JC. Hopefully it's due to Cody playing well and less about them not getting their own traction.

Has TJ really been this bad?

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 8:15 pm

Phenom wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 7:34 pm

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 6:34 pm

Feeling the same at this point, Cool. Clarks progression has pretty much been a plateau since he got rotation minutes a couple years ago. Not being able to crack real rotation minutes in a preseason game is quite the indictment even if it's not necessarily his fault cause of some position redundancy.

I'm actually concerned/suspecting Cody will bypass TJ and JC. Hopefully it's due to Cody playing well and less about them not getting their own traction.

Has TJ really been this bad?

He’s been out of control and noticed Finch get annoyed when he got back cut on defense

I could definitely see Cody overtaking Clark as a 10th/11th type man for spot POA defensive duties. Assuming neither can make 3's, Cody is probably the better all-around player. But if Clark can hit that open 3 at 35%+, then I give the edge to him. Cody's shot looks terrible - worse than Jaylen's - but all else being equal I'd favor Cody for now.

Shannon has been a mixed bag so far this pre-season. I'd may be give him a C or C- overall. But if he and Ayo continue to struggle together in the regular season, guess which of the two gets the hook? Not the one Connelly just signed to a huge contract! The Ayo/Lyles/Beringer group may ultimately be better served by a wing defender like Clark or Cody if Shannon isn't getting it done.

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 6:42 pm They're just highlights and it's only preseason but I'm not getting high motor or smart defender vibes from the little I've seen from Ant so far.

I'm sure a lot of folks have given up on it, but I'm still pretty keen to see him be a zero caveats two way star

Aussie, the combination of Ant and Lamelo looks lethal and may be even better than we hoped it would be. I have really liked Ant's energy level on defense, especially for preseason.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 9:23 pm

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 6:42 pm They're just highlights and it's only preseason but I'm not getting high motor or smart defender vibes from the little I've seen from Ant so far.

I'm sure a lot of folks have given up on it, but I'm still pretty keen to see him be a zero caveats two way star

Aussie, the combination of Ant and Lamelo looks lethal and may be even better than we hoped it would be. I have really liked Ant's energy level on defense, especially for preseason.

I'll also add that LaMelo has been very engaged and energetic on defense, too! He's trying!

The question was posed to Finch as to whether he'll stagger ANT and LaMelo to have one of them on the floor most of the time, or play them together for longer stints and rely on the Ayo/Shannon pairing to run the team. That pairing has not been great. I wonder if Finch might go back to Bones as Ayo's running mate?!?

If they Ayo/Shannon pairing continues its current pace, I suspect we'll see one of ANT, Melo or Bones on the floor with them.

Cody got some first half run with the starters towards the end of the 1st half against the Pacers. While not a threat to shoot the ball, he looks very competent out there, which includes being a plus defender.