Selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Joan Beringer’s rookie season provided fleeting moments where he looked like he belonged on the court. That’s the problem, though; they were fleeting, and it wasn’t his fault.
Turning 19 years old early in his rookie year, Beringer never received regular minutes. Altogether, he saw action in 40 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the regular season and just 23 minutes in the postseason, with all his playoff minutes coming in garbage time.
It would be behoove the Wolves to allow the near 7-footer to receive more playing time in his second year. It’s just hard to see it happening as long as Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid are still on the club. Trading at least one of those three frontcourt players in the offseason would more than likely free up a rotation spot for Beringer in 2026-27.
Beringer should get a larger role next seasonÂ
Now, that would of course only occur if the return in a trade doesn’t involve another big man coming back that would play over Beringer. That wouldn't necessarily be the case if Minnesota found a way to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, because, for financial reasons, there’s a chance that two of those guys will need to be involved in a deal.
Outside of a Giannis trade, the one who may have the most value to other teams is Reid. That’s largely because he makes the least of the three, and he is also the youngest. Naz turns 27 in August and is signed for four more years for about $103.5 million (player option in last year). The contract seems to cover what should be much of the remainder of Reid’s prime.
Meanwhile, Randle and Gobert are both in their 30s, and they’re not 30. Gobert can be the anchor of any team’s defense, but he turns 34 next month. He is signed for $36.5 million next season and has a player option for $38 million in 2027-28. The Stifle Tower went scoreless in Game 6 against the San Antonio Spurs when they were eliminated.
Randle (turns 32 in November) is coming off a miserable series against the Spurs. He skipped speaking with the media after the game and the day after. It would be surprising if he is still on the roster next season. Randle is signed for $33.33 million in 2026-27 with a player option worth $35.8 million in 2027-28.
The way Minnesota wasn’t even competitive in three of their losses to San Antonio, you would think sweeping changes are coming this offseason. The hope is that once they all go through, it will allow Beringer to receive regular playing time in 2026-27.
During the regular season, the neophyte saw only 314 minutes. The last game of the regular season saw Beringer have his most productive game and first career double-double as he finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 blocks (albeit against a New Orleans Pelicans team that sat many of their key players). In the 5 games he played more than 20 minutes, Beringer averaged 14 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks.
There may be some growing pains along the way for Beringer, but that’s okay. It’s time to at least give him a meaningful role off the bench next season. That likely wouldn’t happen if all of Gobert, Randle, and Reid remain with the team, but I don’t foresee that happening (especially with Randle).
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