With the dreaded second apron penalties, finding contributing players on cheap contracts has become even more valuable. This directly impacts players on rookie contracts. The value of such players is in large part why the Minnesota Timberwolves traded up to draft Rob Dillingham.
While that move didn't work out, the Timberwolves have another chance to get significant contributions from a player on their rookie contract with Joan Beringer. Yes, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Isaiah Evans are also on their rookie contracts, but I'm far more convinced that Beringer will make a sizable impact this season and in the future.
Currently, the Timberwolves are $4 million under the second apron, with two open roster spots (though only one is likely to be filled). Furthermore, nearly 80 percent of their payroll is taken up by five players.
Now that Julius Randle and Naz Reid are out of the picture, Beringer's runway to minutes is clear. Within all likelihood, he'll soak up all of the non-Rudy Gobert minutes and maybe even a few minutes alongside him (though I'm dubious of this idea).
Regardless, the point is that if Beringer can be a quality backup big man for the Timberwolves while he's making "just" $4.4 million, that would be a massive win for the team. Keep in mind, the going rate for a quality backup big man is between $10 and $15 million a year. Thankfully, there are plenty of reasons to believe that Beringer will give the Timberwolves some impactful minutes as soon as this season.
Beringer is poised to be a long-term contributor, starting this season
Look, there will always be some level of risk when you are depending this heavily on a young player. Still, Beringer checks all the possible boxes of being a quality big man. He can protect the rim, grab boards, switch onto the perimeter, catch lobs, and maybe more; he's only 19!
In Beringer's limited opportunities as a rookie, he made his impact felt as a rim protector while showing impressive fluidity on both sides of the floor. His jump-out-of-the-gym athleticism gave the Timberwolves' offense some extra juice, as they were an absurd 12 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor, according to Cleaning the Glass. Defensively, he shows special shot-blocking abilities, ranking in the 92nd percentile for block percentage.
Beringer projects to be a quintessential rim protector and lob threat. He has the potential to be even more than that, but for now that looks to be his role.
For the Timberwolves specifically, a lower-usage big man with defensive chops is the perfect backup to Gobert and complement to their established stars. As an aside, he and LaMelo Ball in particular will be an ideal fit.
Beringer still has work to do. Most notably, he needs to be more disciplined, as he averaged 5.4 fouls per 36 minutes. Continuing to put on muscle would be helpful as a one-on-one defender as well. All things considered, though, he looked great for his age and experience level. Likewise, there are no massive red flags with his game that I'm worried about him not being able to provide quality minutes.
Trading Randle and Reid was clearly a vote of confidence in Beringer. Whenever the Timberwolves' organization talks about him, they can't contain their excitement. And given his upside, it's hard to blame them.
The sky is the limit for Beringer. Toward the end of his rookie contract, there's a strong chance that he's the starting center. Even if he's simply a reliable rotational backup for the final three years of his rookie contract, that would be a massive win for the Timberwolves.
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