G Jaylen Nowell – Minnesota Timberwolves*

*Note: Nowell has a non-guaranteed contract for the 2021-22 season

Jaylen Nowell’s situation is a little different than many at Summer League because he currently is under contract, but his contract for the 2021-22 season is non-guaranteed. This definitely needs to change because Nowell has been one of the more intriguing guys to watch in Las Vegas this summer. 

Not only has he been one of the best overall scorers in Summer League this year, but Nowell has found a lot of success being a “do-it-all” guy for the Timberwolves Summer League squad. He is making a difference rebounding and dishing out assists, which is why Jaylen Nowell has proven that he can be D’Angelo Russell’s backup next season. 

After trading away Ricky Rubio, Minnesota is looking to add another guard to their roster to be Russell’s backup and their “in-house” options are limited right now.

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The Timberwolves signed McKinley Wright IV to a two-way deal after he went undrafted and they could still look to bring back Jordan McLaughlin, who played the 2021-22 season on a two-way deal, but Nowell has looked too good in Summer League to not keep around. 

It seems like a matter of time before the Timberwolves guarantee Jaylen Nowell’s contract and they absolutely should, seeing as he and Jaden McDaniels have carried them to a great Summer League showing. Last season, Nowell played 42 games for Minnesota and averaged 9.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists. 

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He is not the best shooter from the perimeter and needs to get better defensively, but overall, Jaylen Nowell is only going to get better as a primary facilitator, which is why the Timberwolves should want to keep him and guarantee his contract for the upcoming season.