There's a ton of excitement about second-year big man Joan Beringer getting a bigger role with the Minnesota Timberwolves this season. However, it's not a certainty that he'll thrive in this backup center role from the jump. After all, Beringer doesn't turn 20 until November, and he only started playing basketball in 2021.
Without a doubt, Beringer's NBA readiness is a major swing factor in the Wolves' success this season.
Beringer's upside is through the roof. He is a freaky athlete who can block shots, switch onto the perimeter, run the floor, and catch lobs. If everything goes right, Beringer will be a boost to the Timberwolves' offense due to his rim-running chops and athleticism. Defensively, he has a chance to stabilize the non-Rudy Gobert minutes, which has long been a problem for the Wolves.
Unfortunately, there's a chance that Beringer isn't ready to be a consistent winning contributor. Firstly, he needs to work on his defensive discipline. He averaged 5.4 fouls per 36 minutes last season, and has continued these issues in the preseason. Plus, he has struggled with defensive positioning and quick decision-making at times. Currently listed at 230 pounds, Beringer is fairly light for a center, which could cause issues for him when guarding physical centers.
For a team that's only proven bench contributor is Ayo Dosunmu, and lacks frontcourt depth, Beringer's growth will be vital.
Beringer's season has a wide range of outcomes, despite his clear upside
The Wolves have no choice but to be patient with Beringer. He is their only true center outside of Gobert and has a ton of upside. Sure, there's Trey Lyles, but he's a natural four. If he's too green, the Wolves could constantly lose the non-Gobert minutes, which could swing several games.
Regardless, there's a real chance that Beringer is awesome this year. (I've been banging this drum for a lot of the offseason.) He flashed his upside last year, and by all accounts, is a super fast learner. Offensively, I feel super confident about the proposition of Beringer making an impact. As a screener and rim runner, his role is pretty simple, and there's no glaring red flag to suggest he can't thrive in it.
As noted, Beringer is a fantastic athlete. Whether it's rolling in the half-court or getting out in transition, he should be an effective rim-runner. And playing alongside LaMelo Ball should help him immensely. Still, there's always some volatility when projecting an unproven second-year player.
Defensively, that's where we could see even more volatility. I've covered these concerns, but the bright side is that Beringer's athletic gifts could make him a fantastic shot-blocker who is switchable enough to guard the perimeter. That's a tantalizing thought.
If Beringer becomes a quality backup big man, which is certainly in the cards, then the Wolves' uncertain bench will have at least two quality players. Furthermore, concerns about their thin frontcourt depth will be lessened.
Even if Beringer takes strides, though, it'll be worth wondering if he can be a playoff contributor.
For the Wolves to reach their ultimate ceiling, they'll need Beringer to make a jump, and parlay his growth into playoff success. As such, he is one of the team's biggest X-factors.
While I'm generally optimistic about this proposition, it's far from certain that Beringer is ready for a key bench role on a winning team.
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