Minnesota Timberwolves fans are understandably excited about Joan Beringer. The French big man was selected No. 17 in June’s draft. Despite the positive buzz surrounding Beringer, most Wolves fans understand that Beringer won’t play much as a rookie.
Minnesota has a loaded frontcourt with Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Naz Reid. Furthermore, the 18-year-old is a raw big man who needs time to develop, and preseason has further highlighted this. For a Wolves team with title hopes, it is difficult to compete with developing a talented young player in Beringer. It makes sense for Beringer to start in the G League.
Just because Beringer starts in the G League doesn’t mean he’ll be there all season, and the rookie will get some NBA opportunities throughout the year. Either way, it would be helpful to get him some reps in the G League.
During the preseason, Beringer posted solid averages of 20.9 minutes, 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. However, it is worth noting that in the penultimate preseason game against the Chicago Bulls, Beringer did not take the floor until the fourth quarter. During this game, Reid was out, so the Wolves could have used another center, but Chris Finch opted to run a tight rotation without Beringer.
If Beringer can’t complete the preseason rotation without Reid, when could he do so in the regular season?
Beringer is scheduled to start the season in the G League
Beringer undoubtedly has incredible upside, especially as a defender. He has fantastic shot-blocking instincts and impressive mobility. Offensively, Beringer’s athleticism makes him a typical lob threat as well as a high-level screener.
Still, Beringer struggled with one-on-one defense, especially against physical centers in the preseason. And while Beringer has the tools to be an elite rimrunner, he currently offers very little outside of those skill sets on offense, shooting just 61.9 percent from the field in the preseason.
If Beringer stays with Minnesota to start the season, he will likely only get occasional minutes in bursts. Playing in the G League could give Beringer some much-needed reps and ultimately better prepare him for NBA minutes down the road. For someone who started playing basketball in 2021, this would be particularly valuable.
Beringer playing in the G League for the first two months could lead to him earning some situational minutes later in the season. Ultimately, starting Beringer in the G League is a logical decision that would be very beneficial for both him and the Wolves.
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