While many big-name free agents have already come off the board, there are still some very serviceable role players available that teams can be interested in signing. One of those players is Jaylen Nowell, a young shooting guard previously tenured with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nowell is an unrestricted free agent after his 4-year $6.6 million rookie contract with the Wolves ended following this previous 2022-2023 season. With all the big free agency money having already been distributed for the most part, it is likely that Nowell will not get a big deal this free agency period. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Nowell won’t be a high-quality player. On the contrary, a team could very well find themselves landing a very promising and high-upside player in Nowell for a bargain. The question is, what team will Nowell have that opportunity with next?
Where Will Jaylen Nowell Land?
Jaylen Nowell’s Background
Nowell was selected with the 43rd overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Coming out of the University of Washington, Nowell was a high-volume scorer and capable ball handler. As a freshman at Washington back in 2017-2018, Nowell averaged an impressive 16 points per game. The following year at Washington, Nowell averaged 16.2 points and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field and 44% from three. His sophomore season performance earned him the Pac-12 Player of the Year Award while leading Washington to win the Pac-12 regular season championship.
Nowell did not get much of an opportunity to showcase his ability during his rookie year in the NBA, only averaging 10 minutes per game in 15 total games played with the Wolves. However, Nowell’s play took a noticeable jump in his 2nd season. Nowell averaged 18 minutes per game in 42 games with the Wolves. In those games, he averaged 9 points per game on decent shooting splits.
Nowell’s best season of his young career so far arguably came in his third year with the Wolves. In 62 games played, he averaged 8.5 points along with 2 rebounds and 2 assists per game. He also shot 48% from the field and 39% from three, marking his best shooting season averages thus far.
Last season with the Wolves, Nowell took a slight dip in his performance. While his points per game average went up to 10.8 points per game, his shooting averages worsened. He shot 45% from the field and 29% from three, and overall failed to really develop an offensive rhythm throughout the season. However, last season could have simply been a down year for Nowell, as he still displays a lot of upside and player progression overall.
What Teams Might Be Interested in Nowell?
The Minnesota Timberwolves
It seems like the Timberwolves let Nowell hit the open market in an attempt to see what his value was. However, since Nowell was not offered a large contract from another team, Minnesota may still be interested in retaining one of their key backcourt players from the last couple of seasons.
Some sources are predicting that Nowell should still be a free-agency target for the Wolves. While his disappointing season last year may have created some doubt, his ability to contribute offensively could still be a key attribute in Minnesota.
If the Timberwolves decide to re-sign Nowell, he could serve as a spark plug off the bench for a team that is hoping to improve its offensive prowess. Plus, Nowell would be able to stay in familiar territory and not have to undergo the adaptation process in another system by staying with the team that drafted him.
The Golden State Warriors
After losing Jordan Poole in the Chris Paul trade, and Donte DiVincenzo to the Knicks in free agency, the Warriors have taken a hit to their backcourt rotation.
With Chris Paul now in the fold, it is clear that the Warriors are in win-now mode. However, the Warriors know better than anyone the importance of having valuable depth in your roster to truly contend for a championship.
For this reason, adding a capable two-guard like Nowell to the roster could be a big move for Golden State this offseason. Nowell could add some much-needed backcourt depth to the Warriors’ roster, and be a consistent double-digit scorer for a contending team in the Western Conference.
The Denver Nuggets
It’s not uncommon for players like Nowell to use situations like this as an opportunity to sign with the best team out there. Many could say that the Denver Nuggets are still the best team in the league heading into next season. However, after losing a key piece to their championship roster from last season with Bruce Brown signing with the Pacers, Denver does have a small hole to fill on their team.
Nowell could be a noteworthy option for the reigning NBA champions to consider adding to their team. While the Nuggets have a solidified and high-quality starting five, their backcourt depth is a tad bit shaky. By adding Nowell on a vet minimum contract, they could add a solid player to bolster their secondary backcourt. For Nowell, this could be a great chance to showcase his ability on a potential championship-winning team come the end of next season.
Last Word on Nowell’s Next Landing Spot
While I would love to see Nowell go to a contending team like the Nuggets or the Warriors potentially, it would be wise for many other teams to make an offer to the still very young and developing two-guard.
If Nowell can bring back his three-point shooting percentage from 2 seasons ago, and continue to develop his game, he could be one of the more underrated pickups during this free-agency period. Nowell can be a key piece for a team’s second unit and is capable of having a big scoring night in any given game.
For now, it is just a matter of waiting to see what team will grant Nowell the opportunity to show what he is really capable of.
