The Minnesota Timberwolves have one of the most exciting collections of young players on an NBA roster. Every Thursday, FOX Sports North tracks the progress of those on the Timberwolves who are in their first or second season in the league.
This is the 20th edition of the 2015-16 Timberpups Tracker, covering March 31-April 7.
PER -- Player Efficiency Rating: A measure of per-minute production standardized such that the league average is 15.
TS% -- True Shooting Percentage: A measure of shooting efficiency that takes into account 2-point field goals, 3-point field goals, and free throws.
USG% -- Usage Percentage: An estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while he was on the floor.
ORtg -- Offensive Rating: An estimate of points produced per 100 possessions.
DRtg -- Defensive Rating: An estimate of points allowed per 100 possessions.
VORP -- Value over Replacement Player: A box score estimate of the points per 100 TEAM possessions that a player contributed above a replacement-level (-2.0) player, translated to an average team and prorated to an 82-game season.
ANDREW WIGGINS (age 20, second season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 20.8 points (28.7), 3.6 rebounds (3.7), 2.1 assists (2.3), 1.0 steals (3.00), 0.6 blocks (0.00), 35.3 minutes (40.0), .459 FG% (.557), .301 3PT% (.417)
Advanced stats, season: 16.7 PER, .543 TS%, 27.3 USG%, 106 ORtg, 113 DRtg, 0.0 VORP
Notable: Wiggins led the Wolves in scoring in losses to both Utah and Dallas, but the second-year guard truly shined in Minnesota's shocking win over Golden State. Wiggins unloaded that devastating spin move against Andre Iguodala to help get the Wolves to overtime, before rattling off Minnesota's first six points of the extra session. He'd finish with 32 on the night and the Wolves would finish with a win. How about that?
ZACH LAVINE (age 20, second season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 13.9 points (10.0), 2.8 rebounds (3.0), 3.1 assists (4.0), 0.8 steals (2.0), 0.2 blocks (0.0), 28.0 minutes (37.0), .448 FG% (.324), .388 3PT% (.368)
Advanced stats, season: 13.9 PER, .543 TS%, 23.5 USG%, 103 ORtg, 112 DRtg, 0.2 VORP
Notable: LaVine was a nonfactor against Utah, before putting up 11 points and little else against Dallas. The high-flying LaVine was solid against Golden State however, scoring 16 points and grabbing four steals.
ADREIAN PAYNE (age 24, second season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 2.5 points (2.0), 2.1 rebounds (1.5), 0.6 assists (0.0), 0.3 steals (0.0), 0.2 blocks (0.5), 9.4 minutes (8.0), .373 FG% (.500), .300 3PT% (N/A)
Advanced stats, season: 5.7 PER, .431 TS%, 17.1 USG%, 82 ORtg, 108 DRtg, -0.5 VORP
Notable: Payne's only significant action of the week came against Dallas, when he finished with just over 14 minutes, picking up four points and three rebounds.
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS (age 20, first season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 18.2 points (16.0), 10.5 rebounds (14.7), 1.9 assists (5.3), 0.7 steals (0.33), 1.7 blocks (2.0), 32.1 minutes (41.3), .542 FG% (.413), ,342 3PT% (.200)
Advanced stats, season: 22.5 PER, .591 TS%, 24.7 USG%, 112 ORtg, 106 DRtg, 3.0 VORP
Notable: From torching Andrew Bogut in overtime for a quick two points at the rim to faking out Klay Thompson for a score, Towns didn't look like one of the NBA's best rookies against Golden State, he looked like one of the league's best centers, period. He now has 49 double-doubles on the season, which would probably be more impressive if it were at all surprising.
NEMANJA BJELICA (age 27, first season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 4.6 points (6.7), 3.2 rebounds (3.7), 1.3 assists (2.0), 0.4 steals (0.33), 0.3 blocks (0.67), 17.3 minutes (23.3), .443 FG% (.571), .351 3PT% (.600)
Advanced stats, season: 9.8 PER, .559 TS%, 12.5 USG%, 109 ORtg, 111 DRtg, 0.3 VORP
Notable: Bjelica saw a ton of action against Utah, and he was fairly effective, scoring 15 points and going 3 for 4 from 3-point range. He was on the floor for 14 minutes and 20 minutes against Dallas and Golden State, leading to a quietly productive week for the Serbian guard.
TYUS JONES (age 19, first season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 4.2 points (2.7), 1.2 rebounds (0.7), 2.6 assists (2.0), 0.7 steals (0.67), 0.1 blocks (0.0), 14.5 minutes (13.0), .348 FG% (.500), .292 3PT% (.000)
Advanced stats, season: 10.3 PER, .439 TS%, 17.4 USG%, 95 ORtg, 111 DRtg, -0.3 VORP
Notable: A video of Jones changing speeds and weaving his way to the rim made the rounds on social media earlier this week, highlighting a standout performance against the Warriors that included seven points and five assists in more than 19 minutes.
