The Minnesota Timberwolves clearly feel like they have something in Joan Beringer. When asked about the second-year Frenchman's progress during the NBA Draft, general manager Matt Lloyd began by saying, “Oh boy. Here we go,” and Beringer’s impressive projections from his rookie season bring plenty of optimism going into next year.
Everyone in Timberwolves' nation was looking forward to seeing how Beringer progressed in summer league. Unfortunately, he's played in just one of four games due to a back injury, which will also likely keep him sidelined on Friday. Beringer flashed his upside in his lone game, though, scoring 18 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and recording four blocks in 25 minutes during a win over the New Orleans Pelicans on July 9.
Given the Wolves' roster construction, he was always going to play real minutes next season. However, the question was always: Would he be ready for an increased role? And despite the small sample size, Beringer showed that he's ready for this opportunity in summer league.
Joan Beringer’s improvement should mean great things for the Timberwolves
The first thing that fans may have noticed is Beringer’s size. Already standing at 6-foot-11, Beringer was listed at 245 pounds for the Summer League, up from the 234 pounds he was listed at during last year’s NBA combine.
The added bulk helped him become more of a physical presence near the basket and he also showed improved fundamentals that could help him create his shot.
Those features are why many believe Beringer is a center as he progresses into his career. But he also showed versatility, playing power forward with Rocco Zikarsky at center.
The experiment paid off as Beringer took to the perimeter at times, but he was able to put the ball on the floor and make his way to the basket. He also wasn’t a complete liability defensively, guarding smaller guards at times, and none of this took away from his ability as a rim protector on defense or an inside presence on the offensive end.
While the performance came against rookies, second-year players and veterans trying to latch onto a roster spot, it was still encouraging. The Wolves saw flashes of Beringer’s potential last season when he averaged 17.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per 36 minutes on the court.
The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski also mentioned that “whispers of his athletic feats in practices during the season and in workouts this summer have grown louder and louder,” and it was enough for Connelly to shoutout Beringer when talking to reporters during last month’s draft.
“I think he’s going to make a huge impact defensively,” Connelly said via Krawczynski. “He doesn’t make mistakes offensively. He’s exactly the type of work-ethic, self-motivated, tough player we’re looking for, and I think he has a physical profile that only a handful of the guys in the league have.”
That hype makes Beringer, who won’t turn 20 until November and has only been playing basketball for five years, a wild card in the Timberwolves plans this season. While the Wolves signed Trey Lyles in free agency and could add LeBron James, Beringer is primed to be a key reserve off the bench and a lock to average significantly more than the 7.9 minutes per game he had last season.
A player who has also studied Miami Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo, any progression in his game should help the Wolves sort out the front court and give him the possibility of playing with Rudy Gobert or spelling him as the full-time backup center.
Even though it was one game, Beringer showed that he is making progress and that could be a massive development for the Wolves' outlook next season.
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