Minnesota Timberwolves fans are understandably excited about Joan Beringer. The French big man was selected with the No. 17 pick in June's draft. Despite the positive buzz around Beringer, most Wolves fans understand that Beringer won't play much as a rookie.
Minnesota has a loaded frontcourt with Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid. Additionally, the 18-year-old is a raw big man who needs time to develop, and the preseason further highlighted this. For a Wolves squad with title hopes, it's tough to manage competing with developing a talented young player in Beringer. Consequently, starting Beringer off in the G League is logical.
Now, just because Beringer starts off in the G League doesn't mean he'll stay there all season, and throughout the year, the rookie will get some NBA chances. Regardless, getting him some reps in the G League would be beneficial.
During the preseason, Beringer posted solid averages of 20.9 minutes, 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. However, it's worth noting that in the Wolves' penultimate preseason game against the Chicago Bulls, Beringer didn't see the floor until the fourth quarter. During this game, Reid was out, so the Wolves could have used another center, but Chris Finch opted to run a tight rotation without Beringer.
If Beringer can't crack the preseason rotation without Reid, when would he in the regular season?
Beringer needs to start the season in the G League
Beringer undoubtedly has incredible upside, especially as a defender. He has fantastic instincts as a shot blocker and impressive mobility. Offensively, Beringer's athleticism makes him a quintessential lob threat and a high-level screener as well.
Still, Beringer struggled with one-on-one defense, especially against physical centers in the preseason. And while Beringer has the tools to be an elite rim runner, he currently offers very little outside of this skill set on offense, and he only shot 61.9 percent from the field in the preseason.
If Beringer stays with Minnesota to start the season, he'll likely only get occasional minutes in blowouts. Playing in the G League would help Beringer get some much-needed reps and ultimately better prepare him for NBA minutes down the road. For someone who started playing basketball in 2021, this would be especially valuable.
Beringer playing the first month or two in the G League could lead to him earning some situational minutes later in the season. Ultimately, starting Beringer in the G League is a logical decision that would be highly beneficial to both him and the Wolves.