The Minnesota Timberwolves may have stumbled into a tempting summer-league wrinkle with Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky on the floor together, but the real conversation started when Chris Finch floated something much more serious: Beringer at the four.
On the Amazon Prime broadcast, Finch said, “We feel, at times this year, there are going to be opportunities for Joan to play the four. Confident that he can guard in switch situations," Finch said.
That idea sounds workable on paper until you look at the roster and the fit. Minnesota currently has just two forwards in Jaden McDaniels and Trey Lyles, and while the Wolves are almost certain to add another, the exact shape of that addition could leave them needing to improvise at power forward.
But improvising with Beringer there would be a mistake.
This isn’t about Beringer’s talent. He has real upside, and there’s plenty to like about what he could become with a larger role. The issue is that the only realistic way to use him at the four is to put him next to Rudy Gobert, and that pairing creates a brutal spacing problem.
Minnesota already lived through this kind of frontcourt imbalance with Julius Randle and Gobert. There were multiple reasons Randle needed to be moved on, but the lack of floor spacing in that setup was a major one. A Beringer-Gobert combination would recreate the same problem - and then some.
Randle at least gave defenses something to think about from deep, even if they didn’t fully buy it. He took 3s, averaging 4.4 per game.
Beringer hasn’t shown an outside shot, and Gobert hasn’t either. Put them together, and the lane gets crowded fast.
That’s a nightmare for Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.
Even if Minnesota doesn’t land a major frontcourt upgrade, the better answer is to go smaller rather than force Beringer into a role that doesn’t fit. Defensively, he has the movement to survive against fours, and there’s some intrigue in seeing him beside Gobert.
Still, Beringer’s best position is center. He’s a rim protector, a mobile five, and a switchable one at that.
That doesn’t mean he should be stationed at power forward on a regular basis.
The defensive upside isn’t enough to outweigh the spacing damage. Beringer should absolutely be part of the rotation, but his minutes should come as the backup to Gobert, not as his partner.
If Minnesota starts treating a Beringer-Gobert frontcourt as a real solution, the Wolves are going to find out quickly that it isn’t one.
In Other News...
Joan Beringer Must Prove One Thing Before Wolves Can Trust Him
Joan Beringer is heading into a bigger opportunity with the Timberwolves after roster changes have opened up a path to a much larger role in the 2026-27 rotation. For a second-year player, that kind of shift can come quickly in Minnesota, and it puts a spotlight on the parts of his game that will determine whether he can handle more consistent minutes when the pressure rises.
Chris Finch has made the assignment clear: Beringer has to stay disciplined defensively and avoid getting bogged down by fouls. His summer league showing suggested he is already taking a step in that direction, with strong production at both ends and a cleaner approach on the defensive side, but the Wolves still need to know that the aggression can be controlled when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Joan Beringer Just Gave Wolves Fans Real Hope For Next Season
A promising summer league outing gave Joan Beringer a little more buzz around his second-year outlook, as the Timberwolves big man flashed the kind of two-way impact Minnesota has been hoping to see. Against the Pelicans, he filled the box score with 18 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, while also looking more composed on the defensive end than he did at times as a rookie.
What stood out just as much was the way Beringer handled the details. He stayed on the floor with better discipline, committed only two fouls, and showed a more comfortable touch when putting the ball on the deck and attacking the rim. It was only one summer league game, but for a player whose path to a larger role is still being sorted out, it was the sort of performance that can make a team and its fans start imagining what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Suddenly Have A Summer League Guard They Can't Ignore
Zyon Pullin wasted no time making himself part of the conversation in the Timberwolves Las Vegas Summer League opener, logging 31 minutes and filling up the box score in a way that naturally turns heads. The two-way guard, who has also spent time with the Heat and Grizzlies, looked like a player comfortable running an offense and impacting the game in more than one way, which matters for a Minnesota team always hunting for useful backcourt depth.
For Pullin, the performance only sharpens the stakes of a summer that could change his career path. He is still working from a two-way deal and trying to turn strong flashes into something more permanent, and nights like this are the kind that force a front office to take a closer look. Even with the Wolves roster picture still taking shape, he has made it harder to treat him like just another camp body. [Read more 🡒]