The Minnesota Timberwolves believe Joan Beringer is ready for a much larger role this season. The young center has impressed the coaching staff since arriving in Minnesota and earned more responsibility through steady progress.
The bigger question is whether the Timberwolves have placed too much weight on a player entering only his second season. With little proven frontcourt depth behind Rudy Gobert, Minnesota’s margin for error has become much smaller.
Why Joan Beringer Is the Timberwolves’ Biggest Wild Card
Joan Beringer Earned Trust
When the Timberwolves picked Beringer just outside the lottery last year, they expected him to need time to develop. He had only begun playing organized basketball four years earlier, making him one of the least experienced players in his draft class.
That expectation changed quickly. Instead of sitting on the bench for most of his rookie season, Beringer showed the coaching staff that he could help the team sooner than they thought. His athleticism impressed everyone, and so did his eagerness to learn.
Minnesota saw positive signs throughout the season. One of his best games was in January when he scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds against the Milwaukee Bucks. In the seven games where he played at least 10 minutes, Beringer averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks while shooting 74% from the field.
Those numbers came from a limited sample. They were enough to convince the Timberwolves that he deserved a larger opportunity.
Beringer Faces New Expectations
The challenge changes once a young player becomes part of the nightly rotation. Last season, every strong performance felt like a bonus. This season, Minnesota expects Beringer to produce those minutes consistently.
The Timberwolves traded Julius Randle and Naz Reid to acquire LaMelo Ball, leaving Beringer with a much larger role behind Gobert. He is no longer developing without pressure. He is expected to help a team that still believes it can compete near the top of the Western Conference.
His skill set explains that confidence.
Beringer runs the floor well for a 6-foot-11 center. He finishes around the rim, protects the basket and moves well enough to defend away from it. Those traits fit the defensive style coach Chris Finch wants to play, even as Minnesota continues searching for a more complete offensive identity. The Timberwolves also believe he can switch onto smaller players more comfortably than many young centers.
Questions Remain
Belief does not remove uncertainty. Young centers often struggle with foul trouble, and Beringer has shown that issue during his early NBA career. Picking up quick fouls can force a coach to change rotations long before the game reaches its most important moments.
That becomes a larger concern because Minnesota has fewer experienced options than it did a year ago.
If Beringer spends long stretches on the bench or misses time with an injury, the Timberwolves would have to rely on Trey Lyles, Rocco Zikarsky or Trey Kaufman-Renn behind Gobert.
Each player offers something different. None has proven capable of handling a major role on a team with championship expectations.
Minnesota is not asking Beringer to become an All-Star. It is asking him to become a dependable rotation player every night as the organization continues to try to define its identity. That is a difficult assignment for any second-year center.
Tim Connelly Has One Decision
The Timberwolves have one roster spot left, and filling it could be one of their most important decisions this offseason. Adding an experienced big man won’t automatically make Minnesota a championship team. However, it would give Finch another option if players get injured or foul out during the season.
Veterans such as Tony Bradley, Drew Eubanks and Kelly Olynyk could provide size and experience without demanding a major role. Minnesota would not need any of them to play heavy minutes. It would simply need someone capable of protecting the paint when necessary.
Beringer’s insurance becomes more important as he grows into a key player. The Timberwolves believe in Beringer because he has improved faster than expected and now has a big chance ahead of him.
The real risk lies in not believing in Beringer. The danger is thinking he is ready to take on a crucial role for Minnesota without a reliable backup plan. That’s a gamble that any serious championship contender hopes to avoid.
Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
