It's been a wonky season for second-year wing Terrence Shannon Jr., saying this feels like I'm sugarcoating things. To be blunt, he's been a massive disappointment. TSJ was hyped up as the Minnesota Timberwolves' primary Nickeil Alexander-Walker replacement, but has largely looked unplayable.
Shannon has averaged just 4.2 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists on 41.8/39.6/77.3 shooting splits. His defense has looked poor, and he hasn't been able to finish at the rim, which should be his bankable NBA skill. This has led observers to (understandably) wonder if the Wolves may draft his replacement and permanently waive the white flag on him being a rotational piece.
The thought has certainly crossed my mind, but I also don't want to give up on a second-year player so quickly, even if he is 25. Keep in mind that the 2024 first-round pick was sidelined for nearly two months due to a foot injury.
During Thursday's game against the Detroit Pistons, Shannon was called upon to play minutes without Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. He put together one of the better games of his season, notching 10 points (on 4-of-7 shooting), three rebounds, and an assist. At this stage, TSJ won't crack the Wolves' playoff rotation, but this game is a promising sign for his chances of playing meaningful minutes next year.
Shannon's big night could be a sign of things to come
Thursday's game was everything you could possibly ask for from Shannon. Most notably, he attacked the rim with impressive force both in transition and in the half-court. Additionally, played respectable defense without having many lapses.
The Wolves team could still use a backup wing, especially one who can provide an infusion of pace and rim pressure. As such, I wouldn't rule out TSJ playing some real minutes next season. He will likely never be the player that fans had hoped he would be following the departure of NAW. Regardless, Shannon could still carve out a role as a solid rotation player as a sparkplug wing.
While this was Shannon's best game since returning from his foot injury, in general, when called upon recently, it looks like he's regained his burst. Decision-making and defensive consistency are still areas for improvement. Nonetheless, I think there's a real path for him to carve out a role with the Wolves.
Most of Shannon's minutes and games from his time as a rotational player earlier in the season were underwhelming. However, the first game of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers (10 points, five rebounds, and five assists) and a November game against the Oklahoma City Thunder (18 points) stand out as bright spots.
This, paired with Thursday's game against the Pistons, proves that Shannon can perform against top-end defenses, which gives me confidence in him for next season.
We still need to see how the offseason shakes out. Nevertheless, there's a strong possibility the Wolves' moves inadvertently open up minutes for Shannon, and he might be ready to take advantage of this opportunity.