It wouldn't be a shocker to anyone if the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Rudy Gobert this offseason. He will turn 34 years old, and his offensive limitations make him a tricky matchup against the best teams in the Western Conference.
Joan Beringer showed some solid potential during his limited minutes. However, he also showed some clear hiccups, which reminded everyone that he's still more of a project player.
It's fair to expect Beringer to earn a more consistent role in year two. Nevertheless, just how ready he is for a bigger role could help dictate the Wolves' plan for Gobert. Â
Trading for a high-end center or keeping Gobert would indicate that Beringer isn't ready for a major role
A Julius Randle trade feels inevitable, which opens up some natural minutes for Beringer. If the Wolves trade both Gobert and Randle, though, they must fill the void of Gobert's rim protection.Â
The cleanest path to me would be trading one of them for a big man, with my favorite targets being Nic Claxton and Jarrett Allen, though the latter would be a three-team deal.Â
Moving both Randle and Gobert as part of a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo is something that should at least be mentioned.
If these deals aren't on the table, though, the Wolves might have to look at someone like Daniel Gafford or settle for a cheap free agent target.
Alternatively, the Wolves might have enough belief in Beringer to feel comfortable not pursuing a high-end big man. Especially in the case of signing a budget-friendly free agent, the Wolves would have to be heavily reliant on Beringer.
Still, it's possible that Minnesota doesn't believe that Beringer is ready for such a crucial role. Meaning if they can't pull off a deal for a high-end starter like Claxton or Allen, they might rethink trading Gobert altogether.
Ultimately, how the Wolves handle Gobert's future and, more generally, the center position will tell fans everything they need to know about how the Wolves view Beringer's readiness.Â
Can Beringer play a major role next season?
As an athletic rim-running center who can catch lobs, set screens, protect the rim, and switch onto the perimeter if need be, Beringer is the ideal long-term center for Minnesota. While the Wolves are right to view Beringer as a part of their long-term core, it's still worth wondering how big a role he can handle next season.
Beringer's first rotational opportunity showcased his immense potential; he scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds while playing impressive interior defense. Still, Beringer had his low moments, including fouling out of a game that he played just under 17 minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers.Â
Defensive discipline is a major area of improvement for Beringer, as he averaged an absurd 5.4 fouls per 36 minutes. It's fair to expect him to improve in his second season, but can he improve enough to be a vital piece of a championship team? Frankly, I lean toward the idea that he needs more time to develop.
I have no concerns about Beringer playing 15 or so minutes in the regular season behind someone like Gobert or Allen. If things go sideways for Beringer in the playoffs, they have the option to play Naz Reid at the five, which is manageable in spurts.Â
The real question is what happens if the Wolves can only get a lower-tier starting center in the trade market or free agency. In this scenario, the Wolves would have to depend more on Beringer, meaning they might be better served keeping Rudy.Â
Now, maybe the Wolves are bullish on Beringer and feel comfortable in his ability to take on such a substantial role. Regardless, if the Wolves make this leap of faith, they must be confident in this assumption, or else it could backfire in a big way.Â
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