Second-year Minnesota Timberwolves big man Joan Beringer is unproven. However, as the start of the season approaches, there is plenty of positive buzz about him, and he showcased his immense two-way upside in limited minutes last season. With the Timberwolves trading Julius Randle and Naz Reid this offseason, Beringer's path to minutes is clear, and it's easy to expect him to make a sizable jump.
The newly acquired LaMelo Ball is another clear reason to believe that Beringer will have a breakout season.
Honestly, Beringer looked much further along on offense than I anticipated last season. He showed great touch and the ability to be a rim runner. He is also a freaky athlete who gets easy buckets in transition or catches lobs in pick-and-rolls. This is exactly the type of big man that Ball thrives alongside, and he can help Beringer take a second-year leap.
While Beringer played just 314 minutes in his rookie season, he gave the Timberwolves some real offensive juice, averaging 17.9 points per 36 minutes. Furthermore, the Wolves' offense was also 12 points per 100 possessions better with Beringer on the court, according to Cleaning the Glass.
Even with a bigger role, it's unfair to expect numbers of this magnitude, but Beringer clearly has some offensive upside, and LaMelo can further unlock this part of his game. Keep in mind that Beringer produced impressive offensive numbers with a roster that was devoid of playmaking.
LaMelo Ball can help Joan Beringer unlock his offensive upside
As noted, Beringer's primary offensive role is a rim runner, which involves using his athleticism to run in transition and catch lobs off pick-and-rolls. Ball's ability to make daring passes in transition, paired with his pick-and-roll brilliance, can help elevate Beringer.
Charlotte Hornets' center Moussa Diabate shares some clear similarities with Beringer. Both players are high-motor bigs who clean the glass, catch lobs, and protect the rim. LaMelo helped Diabate ascend from a relatively unknown big man to a quality starter. The numbers don't lie on this one; Diabate benefited immensely from Ball's presence, as he shot 8.1 percent higher with LaMelo on the court, per Databallr.
It's more than fair to believe that Beringer can similarly benefit from Ball's elite playmaking.
The Timberwolves are counting on Beringer to be a quality backup big man for Rudy Gobert. They're hopeful he can stabilize the defense when he's off the court and provide some athletic rim scoring in the frontcourt. Beringer's strong hands, leaping ability, and general comfort with the ball can give the Timberwolves' offense a different element than Gobert, and LaMelo can help unlock his upside.
Ball should also make Gobert more involved in the Wolves' offense, and his defensive impact is unmatched. However, LaMelo's game meshes much better with Beringer's, given his fast-paced style of play and athleticism.
If everything falls into place, Beringer can be a nightly double-double threat this season and prove without a shadow of a doubt that he's the ideal successor to Gobert. That would qualify as a breakout season in my book. And if that happens, Ball will play a significant role in his growth. From a long-term standpoint, LaMelo and Beringer should be a dynamic duo.
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