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 first edition of the 2015-16 Timberpups Tracker.
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: 19.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.5 blocks, 32.2 minutes, 40.2 FG%, 37.5 3PT%.
Advanced stats, season: 13.8 PER, 47.9 percent TS%, 31.6 percent USG%, 93 ORtg, 104 DRtg, -0.1 VORP.
Notable: Wiggins sat out Tuesday night's loss to Charlotte, due to a sore knee. Other than that, he has lit it up so far this season, with a pair of 30-plus-point games. The high point came in Atlanta on Monday, when the 6-foot-8 shooting guard went 15 for 22 from the field for 33 points in a 10-point win.
ZACH LAVINE (age 20, second season)
Statistical season averages: 10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 0.0 blocks, 20.7 minutes, 44.4 FG%, 30.8 3PT%.
Advanced stats, season: 14.9 PER, 52.4 percent TS%, 27.1 percent USG%, 93 ORtg, 100 DRtg, 0.1 VORP.
Notable: This 6-5 UCLA product has continued his trademark inconsistency so far this season, though he has had multiple positive stretches. LaVine's penchant for up-and-down play was never more apparent than in Tuesday's home loss to Charlotte, when he had 20 points in 37 minutes -- in addition to eight turnovers.
ADREIAN PAYNE (age 24, second season)
Statistical season averages: 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.25 blocks, 10.3 minutes, 66.7 FG%, 1.000 3PT%.
Advanced stats, season: 18.7 PER, 81.5 percent TS%, 18.0 percent USG%, 120 ORtg, 97 DRtg, 0.1 VORP.
Notable: Payne has gotten inconsistent minutes so far this season, but he has managed to play fairly efficiently. On Tuesday against the Hornets, the Michigan State product had 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting, with five rebounds and a pair of assists.
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS (age 19, first season)
Statistical season averages: 16.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 3.0 blocks, 29.0 minutes, 48.9 FG%, 25.0 3PT%.
Advanced stats, season: 22.3 PER, 54.8 percent TS%, 24.6 percent USG%, 107 ORtg, 93 DRtg, 0.3 VORP.
Notable: Towns, who turns 20 on Sunday, has made quite the first impression on the NBA. The No. 1 overall draft pick has shouldered a fairly heavy load since Day 1 this season (29.0 minutes per game), and has produced more than the Wolves had a right to expect. In his last outing, for example, Towns tormented the Hornets, registering 19 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. His all-around play has been fascinating to observe.
NEMANJA BJELICA (age 27, first season)
Statistical season averages: 8.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.43 blocks, 28.7 minutes, 50.0 FG%, 44.4 3PT%.
Advanced stats, season: 14.4 PER, 66.5 percent TS%, 12.3 percent USG%, 119 ORtg, 99 DRtg, 0.4 VORP.
Notable: Bjelica has stepped right in and looked every bit the Euroleague MVP he was last season. The 6-10 native of Yugoslavia's 3-point shooting has lived up to the hype, as he has connected on 44.4 percent from beyond the arc so far this season. He was especially lights-out in last Saturday's win in Chicago, when Bjelica buried 5 of 9 3-point attempts, ending with 17 points in 40 minutes.
TYUS JONES (age 19, first season)
Statistical season averages: 1.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.0 blocks, 13.0 minutes, 0.0 FG%, 0.0 3PT%.
Advanced stats, season: -4.0 PER, 10.2 percent TS%, 16.5 percent USG%, 35 ORtg, 98 DRtg, 0.0 VORP.
Notable: Jones, the 6-2 Apple Valley product, finally made his NBA debut Tuesday, scoring one point in 13 minutes against Charlotte. By all accounts, the recent Duke Blue Devil looked a bit nervous during his first pro minutes. He could see some time in the NBA D-League before long.
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