The Timberwolves got a strong first look at Joan Beringer in Thursday’s summer league opener, but the player many fans are waiting to see next is rookie Isaiah Evans.
Beringer delivered across the board in Minnesota’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. That set the stage for Saturday’s matchup with the Denver Nuggets, where attention will again be split between Beringer and Evans, who did not play Thursday.
Evans should be available once the Timberwolves’ trade with the Brooklyn Nets is officially in place, and that matters for more than just summer league optics. A strong run now would give the rookie a better shot at carving out a role in 2026-27, even if that path is a tough one.
The wait to get Evans into a Minnesota uniform has been longer than expected. He was taken 33rd overall in June’s draft, but that pick originally belonged to Brooklyn and came to the Wolves in the Julius Randle trade. The trade finally became official on Friday, clearing the way for Evans to potentially suit up Saturday.
He was already on the floor with Minnesota’s summer league group on Friday and is wearing No. 33. If he plays against Denver, it will be his first appearance for the Timberwolves.
Evans arrives in Minnesota at 20 years old after two seasons at Duke, and he was widely viewed as a player who could have gone much earlier. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo had him going 28th to the Cleveland Cavaliers in his final mock draft, while Sam Vecenie of The Athletic projected him at No. 25 to the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead, Minnesota got him early in the second round.
The appeal is obvious. Evans is a 6-foot-6 guard with real shooting range, and he showed more than just perimeter touch as a sophomore. He got to the rim more often, drew more free throws and also showed an ability to bother opposing shots.
That’s the kind of profile that can matter for a rookie trying to break through under Chris Finch, where minutes are rarely handed out easily. Summer league gives Evans his first chance to show he can force the issue.
It could also have ripple effects elsewhere on the roster. Evans may even make Josh Green, acquired along with LaMelo Ball in the trade with the Charlotte Hornets, more expendable.
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From Charlottes side, general manager Jeff Peterson framed the move as one that checked multiple boxes, pointing to Reids caliber and the value of draft flexibility as part of the rationale. Still, the reaction around the league has been less about the Hornets explanation and more about what Minnesota may have gotten back at a discount, especially with the long view of the pick package hanging over the deal and leaving the true cost of the trade open to debate. [Read more 🡒]