We all know that Tim Connelly isn’t afraid to make a move if he believes it raises the Minnesota Timberwolves’ ceiling. He traded away a lottery pick in his second year and the ultimate fan favorite within the last half-year. When he first joined the club, he made an all-in move for Rudy Gobert, a trade that was panned by many because of the amount of draft capital given up.
All of that is to say that this feels like a rather important season for Terrence Shannon Jr. The 27th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft is preparing for his third NBA season. If he doesn’t show major signs of growth, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Shannon is included in a deal for a more established player.
The Timberwolves need to see more from Shannon
When the Timberwolves traded Rob Dillingham at the trade deadline in February, he had turned 21 only a month earlier. In four days, Shannon will already be 26 years old.
The 6-foot-6 wing entered the NBA as an older prospect after playing five seasons of college basketball. That means it’s harder to project Shannon to continue making substantial improvements in his game, especially compared with many of the other first-round picks in his draft class who went to school for just one year and are a few years younger.
Through two years, Shannon hasn’t really been seen in a set role. As a rookie, he often wasn’t in the rotation. Last season, two separate left-foot injuries cost him about two and a half months of action. It’s hard to develop when you aren’t seeing regular time on the floor.
If a breakout from Shannon doesn’t come this season, it’s hard to say whether it ever will because of his age. Now, there’s a possibility that he could be in the starting lineup, at least to begin the year. Chris Finch has stated that he doesn’t see Jaden McDaniels beginning the year as the starting power forward, and Tim Connelly has said that the options at the four could be players whom fans wouldn’t expect to play that position.
Some believe Shannon is one of those players and point to him as someone who can be plugged into the starting five.
Shannon showcased the ability in college to draw fouls and get to the line frequently. He hasn’t done it as much in the NBA. Drawing fouls is an important skill, and it can help Shannon earn more playing time. He’s an accurate outside shooter, so he can’t afford to pass up open opportunities and should attempt 3-pointers at a higher rate.
Being 26 years old isn’t exactly young anymore in today’s NBA. It’s a pivotal third year for Shannon if he hopes to remain a member of the Timberwolves for a while longer.
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