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 15th edition of the 2015-16 Timberpups Tracker, covering Feb. 25-March 2.
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 21, second season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 20.7 points (17.3), 3.6 rebounds (3.3), 1.9 assists (2), 0.6 blocks (0.3), 35.1 minutes (34.3), .445 FG% (.400), .257 3PT% (.000)
Advanced stats, season: 16.1 PER, .528 TS%, 27.8 USG%, 104 ORtg, 113 DRtg, -0.3 VORP
Notable: Wiggins has been the Timberwolves' most consistent scorer this season, win or loss, and that continued in the four games this past week. He scored a week-high 26 points in the loss to Toronto last Wednesday and a week-low 15 in the loss to Dallas. The 21-year-old has scored in double figures every game since Jan. 29.
ZACH LAVINE (age 20, second season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 13.2 points (18.7), 3.1 rebounds (5.3), 3.1 assists (2.3), 0.2 blocks (0), 25.5 minutes (38.7), .439 FG% (.438), .357 3PT% (.333)
Advanced stats, season: 14.5 PER, .528 TS%, 25.2 USG%, 102 ORtg, 112 DRtg, 0.2 VORP
Notable: LaVine is now the Timberwolves' top option at shooting guard with the team waiving Kevin Martin, and as such, took at least 10 field-goal attempts in every game this past week. He was great in the second half in the New Orleans win, finishing with 25 points on 11-17 shooting. He wasn't as good in the Toronto loss, shooting just 3-10 and scoring seven points. Expect more high-volume shots games from him going forward.
ADREIAN PAYNE (age 25, second season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 2.6 points (2.7), 2.2 rebounds (3.7), 0.5 assists (0.7), 0.3 blocks (0.0), 9.7 minutes (13.7), .383 FG% (.222), .333 3PT% (.000)
Advanced stats, season: 6.3 PER, .444 TS%, 16.7 USG%, 83 ORtg, 108 DRtg, -0.3 VORP
Notable: Payne played a season-high 21 minutes in Sunday's loss to Dallas, scoring seven points and grabbing eight rebounds. Otherwise the second-year big man play sparingly, making just one shot attempt.
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS (age 20, first season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 17.3 points (18.7), 10.3 rebounds (13.6), 1.7 assists (4), 1.8 blocks (1), 30.8 minutes (33.6), .536 FG% (.585), .345 3PT% (.000)
Advanced stats, season: 22.7PER, .587 TS%, 24.6 USG%, 112 ORtg, 105 DRtg, 2.2 VORP
Notable: Another week, another three double-doubles for the presumtive Rookie of the Year. Towns had another fantasitic game in the New Orleans win, scoring 30 points on 13-20 shooting and grabbing 15 rebounds. His other three games were relatively quiet for his standards. He scored 14, 12 and 16 points in the team's three losses.
NEMANJA BJELICA (age 27, first season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 4.5 points (N/A), 3.2 rebounds (N/A), 1.3 assists (N/A), 0.3 blocks (N/A), 17.9 minutes (N/A), .429 FG% (N/A), .354 3PT% (N/A)
Advanced stats, season: 9.4 PER, .549 TS%, 12.0 USG%, 107 ORtg, 109 DRtg, 0.4 VORP
Notable: Bjelica did not play this past week because injury. He has missed the last seven games.
TYUS JONES (age 19, first season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 4.1 points (5.7), 1.6 rebounds (2), 2.1 assists (3), 0.1 blocks (0), 12.3 minutes (15.3), .348 FG% (.294), .500 3PT% (.500)
Advanced stats, season: 12.1 PER, .453 TS%, 19.0 USG%, 98 ORtg, 111 DRtg, -0.1 VORP
Notable: Jones is officially the guy at backup point guard with the Timberwolves waiving Andre Miller. He continues to see a bump in playing time as a result, with varying results. The highlight had to be his buzzer-beating 3-pointer against New Orleans.
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