many of us here like JMac for his steady game mgmt, pro demeanor and what he brings to the PG table off the bench for us. another fair question, however - in light of his current long term calf strain hiatus - is: should we be offering him in trade packages that might be bubbling up now?
it's not a question of on court value vs contract. he's making just $2.1M this season and will finish his deal next year with another $2.3M. and that is probably another factor that would make him attractive to trade partners we'll be dealing with till mid-Feb. he could be a definite sweetener to help get a deal done.
it's more a question of durability and availability. we have to admit that another major part of his NBA story has been one of injuries. he gets nicked and loses time which helps the club in zero ways. kind of unfair to include his first year stats because he often was in Iowa (but i will just for the sake of simplicity), but he's been with the club now for 266 possible regular season games. and has missed 105 of them. didn't play in 34 games his rookie season, out for 21 games in 2021, for 20 games in 2022, and out (so far and counting) for 30 games in 2023.
thoughts?
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JMac
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somuchyummy
- Posts: 27221
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JMac
There is little difference between the memory of a real event and the memory of a dream.
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Silversword
- Posts: 265
- Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2017 8:26 pm
Re: JMac
I have no problem adding Jmac to any trade package, although I'll admit I don't like him as much as others on this site do. Rivers has done a great job as our backup/spot-starter PG.
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somuchyummy
- Posts: 27221
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:14 pm
Re: JMac
i guess the thing in Jmac's favor is that he's more a pure PG and game manager than Austin. i like Rivers too - hope he's here next year. but his thing is D, driving to the basket and the occasional three. he's more a SG in a PGs body. but, you know, you can't play a guy if he's always injured.
There is little difference between the memory of a real event and the memory of a dream.
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Mnwild1128
- Posts: 3425
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Re: JMac
Time to start consolidating guys out. Even if we make the playoffs i am 100% certain we dont go any further than a round 2 exit. So we might as well make some moves now, that bring in guys and contracts that can help us in 2023 summer trades and the trade deadline of 2024.
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UnFadeable21
- Posts: 12198
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Re: JMac
Just keep him. He’s a solid 3rd PG on a winning team and his salary is low.
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Mnwild1128
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Re: JMac
Sounds like Jmac is 2 weeks out from his injury slated return.
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shuttlesworth
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:12 am
Re: JMac
Calling J Mac a third PG is, in my view, seriously underrating him. He's an above-average backup PG who should be getting 18-20 minutes of playing time even on a good team.
Fun fact: J Mac, in limited minutes, has the highest net rating on the Wolves this year, and it's not close. The Wolves are 18.2 points per 100 possessions better when J Mac plays than when he sits. The next highest is Jaden McDaniels with 6.3.
That's obviously a pretty flukish result based on a small sample size, but what's not flukish is that J Mac was second in net rating on the Wolves last year in significant minutes, behind only Towns. There's a reason that McLaughlin was on the floor in the closing seconds of the Memphis series last year, and not D Lo.
He is basically a mini-Kyle Anderson. He consistently makes the right play, almost never turns the ball over (at one point he went like 10 games in a row without a turnover last year), and he's a decent shooter when left open (34% for his career, which just a few ticks below D Lo's average).
People assume he sucks on defense because he's like 5'10", but he looks like a plus defender to me. He has a 2.5% career steal rate -- in the 95% percentile among all point guards -- and very rarely commits fouls. McLaughlin was one of only five players last year who had more steals than fouls (the others are Jimmy Butler, Tyrese Haliburton, Tyus Jones, and Delon Right). More important than his steals, though, is that McLaughlin simply knows where to be on defense, how to rotate and communicate, and how to play different coverages. The one area where teams can expose him is on the block after a switch, but with Rudy in the mix, that shouldn't be a huge issue.
I would not trade McLaughlin. He's on a fantastic deal for the value he brings to the team. And I think the Wolves have really missed his playmaking. He should take all of Nowell's minutes (and a chunk of D Lo's) when he comes back.
Fun fact: J Mac, in limited minutes, has the highest net rating on the Wolves this year, and it's not close. The Wolves are 18.2 points per 100 possessions better when J Mac plays than when he sits. The next highest is Jaden McDaniels with 6.3.
That's obviously a pretty flukish result based on a small sample size, but what's not flukish is that J Mac was second in net rating on the Wolves last year in significant minutes, behind only Towns. There's a reason that McLaughlin was on the floor in the closing seconds of the Memphis series last year, and not D Lo.
He is basically a mini-Kyle Anderson. He consistently makes the right play, almost never turns the ball over (at one point he went like 10 games in a row without a turnover last year), and he's a decent shooter when left open (34% for his career, which just a few ticks below D Lo's average).
People assume he sucks on defense because he's like 5'10", but he looks like a plus defender to me. He has a 2.5% career steal rate -- in the 95% percentile among all point guards -- and very rarely commits fouls. McLaughlin was one of only five players last year who had more steals than fouls (the others are Jimmy Butler, Tyrese Haliburton, Tyus Jones, and Delon Right). More important than his steals, though, is that McLaughlin simply knows where to be on defense, how to rotate and communicate, and how to play different coverages. The one area where teams can expose him is on the block after a switch, but with Rudy in the mix, that shouldn't be a huge issue.
I would not trade McLaughlin. He's on a fantastic deal for the value he brings to the team. And I think the Wolves have really missed his playmaking. He should take all of Nowell's minutes (and a chunk of D Lo's) when he comes back.
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somuchyummy
- Posts: 27221
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:14 pm
Re: JMac
i'll agree with everything you say. however, he's constantly nicked and that serves no purpose for the team. what i'm saying is that he may also have value for the team as part of a trade bringing some great talent back. i've got no problems with him when he's dressed and playing.
There is little difference between the memory of a real event and the memory of a dream.
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Mnwild1128
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Re: JMac
Ideally DLO should be playing 27 minutes.
Ants been playing 37
That would leave 32 combined guard minutes available for McLaughlin, Rivers, Nowell.
Ants been playing 37
That would leave 32 combined guard minutes available for McLaughlin, Rivers, Nowell.
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Beef Supreme
- Posts: 71381
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Re: JMac
Calf strains are motherfuckers, apparently.
“When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent.”
- Isaac Asimov
- Isaac Asimov
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Mnwild1128
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Re: JMac
He should be back within 2 weeks from what i have heard.
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weimy froob
- Posts: 90383
- Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 11:10 am
Re: JMac
Timberwolves again benefitting from the ‘otherworldly’ play of Jordan McLaughlin
Jordan McLaughlin skied far higher than someone his size should be able to elevate for a rebound in the fourth quarter of Friday’s win over Cleveland to snag a defensive rebound. He quickly turned, looked up court and saw a wide-open Kyle Anderson streaking down the floor.
McLaughlin whipped the ball and hit Anderson in stride, and Anderson capitalized with an authoritative dunk to put Minnesota up 13 with seven minutes to play.
Those are the plays McLaughlin has always brought to Minnesota. The combination of effort, skill and smarts allow the point guard who’s small in stature to have a huge impact on the contest. He dictates pace and generates movement. McLaughlin is the definition of a spark plug.
In that way, he’s always been valuable in whatever minutes he’s received. He is an asset who Timberwolves coach Chris Finch knew he could plug in and play for a needed jolt.
Now, the need is to have McLaughlin on the floor every game, no matter the opponent or situation.
Because you can’t leave someone this good on the pine for all 48 minutes.
“J-Mac is playing otherworldly right now. He’s just come in and changed the game for us. Shooting with so much confidence,” Finch said. “Making all the normal J-Mac plays. Getting 50-50 balls. Competing for the ball in the air. Flying around. Getting his hands on stuff.”
The latter has always been there for McLaughlin. But it’s the shooting that’s been a clear separator this season. The perceived Achilles’ heel for the 27-year-old floor general has always been his outside shot. But he’s shooting 45 percent from deep this year.
Over his last 19 games, McLaughlin is a blistering 22 for 37 from beyond the arc. That includes his 4 for 4 showing from deep against the Cavaliers.
“J-Mac has been unbelievable. It’s great to see the ball go in the hole the way that it is, because he works harder than anybody. He’s always in the gym early, staying late, and he’s proving a lot of people wrong in the sense that he probably came in not being known as a shooter and he might be our best 3-point shooter at the moment,” Mike Conley said. “We trust him. He’s been out there doing his thing, and he’s earning his time on that court.”
Finch has had to be creative to find that time, but he’s making any possible effort to get McLaughlin minutes, even with Minnesota having strong, veteran point guards in Conley and Monte Morris. On Friday, that meant trotting out a three point guard lineup, which was also effective for the Wolves.
Good basketball players find a way to make any situation work. And McLaughlin is a good player. Over the last month, Minnesota is out-scoring opponents by 18 points per 100 possessions when McLaughlin is on the floor, easily giving him the team’s best net rating in that span.
Everything McLaughlin is doing at the moment closely resembles the basketball he played in the latter portion of the 2021-22 campaign, which culminated with the guard closing in Minnesota’s Game 6 defeat to Memphis in the first round of the playoffs.
That year, McLaughlin was a net rating king who shot 40 percent from three over the final two and a half months of the season. That performance led to increased expectations last year. Unfortunately for McLaughlin, a calf strain derailed his campaign. Even when he returned, he obviously wasn’t himself. There was no explosion or quickness. The jump shot fell off the map. He looked like a shell of himself.
But those memories are quickly fading. McLaughlin’s play this season suggests last year was an anomaly linked only to the injury. Because he again looks like a must-play point guard capable of igniting an offense.
“I feel good right now. Body feels good, developing a good rhythm right now,” he said. “Everybody on this team is playing well, so just happy to be able to help contribute to winning.”
Indeed, Minnesota’s offense is finally starting to generate a consistent flow in which everyone moves and thrives. That’s the type of basketball Finch desires. It’s the type of basketball McLaughlin’s mere presence on the floor breeds.
“He’s a guy that’s like a natural ball-mover. He’s a natural just with his high IQ, making plays and getting loose balls, just keeping plays alive. When you’re on the court with somebody like that, you can be live at any point,” Conley said. “So he definitely affects the game every time he comes in, for however long he plays. So it’s just been a blessing, obviously, to be on the same court with him at the same time and kind of get all of our games going.”
The past week-plus has signified some of Minnesota’s best offense of the entire season.
“It’s great. You know where guys are going to be, you know what they’re going to do,” McLaughlin said. “You start to find a rhythm. You know you’re going to be getting the ball on offense, you move freely when everybody is rotating and flying around, so we’re in a good spot right now.”
Consider it the Jordan McLaughlin effect.
“I think he’s an energy guy and that’s something that we need,” Naz Reid said. “So I mean, definitely, definitely need him on the floor.”
Jordan McLaughlin skied far higher than someone his size should be able to elevate for a rebound in the fourth quarter of Friday’s win over Cleveland to snag a defensive rebound. He quickly turned, looked up court and saw a wide-open Kyle Anderson streaking down the floor.
McLaughlin whipped the ball and hit Anderson in stride, and Anderson capitalized with an authoritative dunk to put Minnesota up 13 with seven minutes to play.
Those are the plays McLaughlin has always brought to Minnesota. The combination of effort, skill and smarts allow the point guard who’s small in stature to have a huge impact on the contest. He dictates pace and generates movement. McLaughlin is the definition of a spark plug.
In that way, he’s always been valuable in whatever minutes he’s received. He is an asset who Timberwolves coach Chris Finch knew he could plug in and play for a needed jolt.
Now, the need is to have McLaughlin on the floor every game, no matter the opponent or situation.
Because you can’t leave someone this good on the pine for all 48 minutes.
“J-Mac is playing otherworldly right now. He’s just come in and changed the game for us. Shooting with so much confidence,” Finch said. “Making all the normal J-Mac plays. Getting 50-50 balls. Competing for the ball in the air. Flying around. Getting his hands on stuff.”
The latter has always been there for McLaughlin. But it’s the shooting that’s been a clear separator this season. The perceived Achilles’ heel for the 27-year-old floor general has always been his outside shot. But he’s shooting 45 percent from deep this year.
Over his last 19 games, McLaughlin is a blistering 22 for 37 from beyond the arc. That includes his 4 for 4 showing from deep against the Cavaliers.
“J-Mac has been unbelievable. It’s great to see the ball go in the hole the way that it is, because he works harder than anybody. He’s always in the gym early, staying late, and he’s proving a lot of people wrong in the sense that he probably came in not being known as a shooter and he might be our best 3-point shooter at the moment,” Mike Conley said. “We trust him. He’s been out there doing his thing, and he’s earning his time on that court.”
Finch has had to be creative to find that time, but he’s making any possible effort to get McLaughlin minutes, even with Minnesota having strong, veteran point guards in Conley and Monte Morris. On Friday, that meant trotting out a three point guard lineup, which was also effective for the Wolves.
Good basketball players find a way to make any situation work. And McLaughlin is a good player. Over the last month, Minnesota is out-scoring opponents by 18 points per 100 possessions when McLaughlin is on the floor, easily giving him the team’s best net rating in that span.
Everything McLaughlin is doing at the moment closely resembles the basketball he played in the latter portion of the 2021-22 campaign, which culminated with the guard closing in Minnesota’s Game 6 defeat to Memphis in the first round of the playoffs.
That year, McLaughlin was a net rating king who shot 40 percent from three over the final two and a half months of the season. That performance led to increased expectations last year. Unfortunately for McLaughlin, a calf strain derailed his campaign. Even when he returned, he obviously wasn’t himself. There was no explosion or quickness. The jump shot fell off the map. He looked like a shell of himself.
But those memories are quickly fading. McLaughlin’s play this season suggests last year was an anomaly linked only to the injury. Because he again looks like a must-play point guard capable of igniting an offense.
“I feel good right now. Body feels good, developing a good rhythm right now,” he said. “Everybody on this team is playing well, so just happy to be able to help contribute to winning.”
Indeed, Minnesota’s offense is finally starting to generate a consistent flow in which everyone moves and thrives. That’s the type of basketball Finch desires. It’s the type of basketball McLaughlin’s mere presence on the floor breeds.
“He’s a guy that’s like a natural ball-mover. He’s a natural just with his high IQ, making plays and getting loose balls, just keeping plays alive. When you’re on the court with somebody like that, you can be live at any point,” Conley said. “So he definitely affects the game every time he comes in, for however long he plays. So it’s just been a blessing, obviously, to be on the same court with him at the same time and kind of get all of our games going.”
The past week-plus has signified some of Minnesota’s best offense of the entire season.
“It’s great. You know where guys are going to be, you know what they’re going to do,” McLaughlin said. “You start to find a rhythm. You know you’re going to be getting the ball on offense, you move freely when everybody is rotating and flying around, so we’re in a good spot right now.”
Consider it the Jordan McLaughlin effect.
“I think he’s an energy guy and that’s something that we need,” Naz Reid said. “So I mean, definitely, definitely need him on the floor.”
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somuchyummy
- Posts: 27221
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:14 pm
Re: JMac
JMac has been super valuable to the team this year in a lot of ways. His clutch deep shooting has pulled us thru on a lot of occasions - and it's these kinds of efforts from him and other role guys that have helped keep us at or near the top in the West.
But last year, for the most part, was awful - and there was good reason to wonder if we couldn't do better. For one thing, he missed nearly half the games (39). But then the other crucial part was his vanishing three point shot. We might forget how bad it was. But up until game 65 of the season, it was as bad as it gets. In that time, he had ONE very good game when he hit 4 of 5. Take that game out, and in the other 27 games he played - in the first 65 to start the year - he was 7 of 50. That's 14%, and that kind of horrible shooting almost completely undermines any value he can have. He really picked it up in his final 15 games of the year - going 13 of 28 (46%) - but by then there was such a bad taste in our mouths over his year, that it didn't do a lot to rinse it away. This year has been like night and day. Will the mid-40s continue - or will he revert to his career 36.6% average? 37% ain't bad - it's around league average, but it's not 45%.
But last year, for the most part, was awful - and there was good reason to wonder if we couldn't do better. For one thing, he missed nearly half the games (39). But then the other crucial part was his vanishing three point shot. We might forget how bad it was. But up until game 65 of the season, it was as bad as it gets. In that time, he had ONE very good game when he hit 4 of 5. Take that game out, and in the other 27 games he played - in the first 65 to start the year - he was 7 of 50. That's 14%, and that kind of horrible shooting almost completely undermines any value he can have. He really picked it up in his final 15 games of the year - going 13 of 28 (46%) - but by then there was such a bad taste in our mouths over his year, that it didn't do a lot to rinse it away. This year has been like night and day. Will the mid-40s continue - or will he revert to his career 36.6% average? 37% ain't bad - it's around league average, but it's not 45%.
There is little difference between the memory of a real event and the memory of a dream.
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twolves31
- Posts: 581
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2017 11:04 am
Re: JMac
If this 3pt shooting is something he is going to do every season, he may be a keeper. At the beginning of the season I figured this would be his last season here. Now watch him have a good playoffs and another team offers him more money than we are willing to give him.
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somuchyummy
- Posts: 27221
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:14 pm
Re: JMac
There are other things to consider as well. We just resigned Mike. We obviously I think are in agreement that resigning Morris is a biggie. Then, we've got Jaylen Clark's question mark. He'll be back - but doesn't necessarily have to fit into the PG picture - he could be a combo who is mostly used as a defensive stopper at the 2. But we have two picks in the draft too - with some really interesting PG and PG types - some sparkplug scorers among them - who might be what we opt for. what to do, what to do?
There is little difference between the memory of a real event and the memory of a dream.
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weimy froob
- Posts: 90383
- Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 11:10 am
Re: JMac
Dane Moore
@DaneMooreNBA
Jordan McLaughlin is up to 48% from 3 on the season
@DaneMooreNBA
Jordan McLaughlin is up to 48% from 3 on the season
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Jimi_Thing
- Posts: 15782
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2017 6:53 pm
Re: JMac
Did JMac go to the crossroads and sell his soul to the devil? The ball has just been splashing in.
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DonaldDouchebag
- Posts: 26349
- Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:37 am
Re: JMac
Holy shit!!!weimy froob wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:14 am Dane Moore
@DaneMooreNBA
Jordan McLaughlin is up to 48% from 3 on the season
Dude is balling out right now.
Like that, y'all, pop some more shit.
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Catalyst
- ***The First Lady of Wolves Chat***
- Posts: 662
- Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2019 2:07 pm
Re: JMac
Good to see a healthy JMac. He can bring it and add a new wrinkle to what the team usually brings. If he stays healthy we have a nice weapon in the playoffs teams have forgotten about.
My heart is family.
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weimy froob
- Posts: 90383
- Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 11:10 am
Re: JMac
anybody else appreciate the photo work? it's easier to get shots like that with the automatic focus--but still nice pic. you don't see them like that too often. the crowd reactions in the background really bring it to life.
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BBG
- Posts: 12866
- Joined: Sat Sep 16, 2017 1:24 pm
Re: JMac
It's a great pic. It captures the essence of Target Center and the supreme confidence of our sharp shooting 3rd string guard who will lead us to the promise landweimy froob wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:54 pm anybody else appreciate the photo work? it's easier to get shots like that with the automatic focus--but still nice pic. you don't see them like that too often. the crowd reactions in the background really bring it to life.
Mouse on keys
Spoiler:
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weimy froob
- Posts: 90383
- Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 11:10 am
Re: JMac
BBG wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:00 pmIt's a great pic. It captures the essence of Target Center and the supreme confidence of our sharp shooting 3rd string guard who will lead us to the promise landweimy froob wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:54 pm anybody else appreciate the photo work? it's easier to get shots like that with the automatic focus--but still nice pic. you don't see them like that too often. the crowd reactions in the background really bring it to life.
Jmac does have that never a doubt/assassin look as he watches it tickle the twine.
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Jimi_Thing
- Posts: 15782
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somuchyummy
- Posts: 27221
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:14 pm
Re: JMac
really nice.weimy froob wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:54 pm anybody else appreciate the photo work? it's easier to get shots like that with the automatic focus--but still nice pic. you don't see them like that too often. the crowd reactions in the background really bring it to life.
There is little difference between the memory of a real event and the memory of a dream.