The Timberwolves are moving ahead with the rookie scale options for Terrence Shannon Jr. and Joan Beringer, but they’re passing on Cody Williams, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
That split fits where Minnesota seems to be with the three youngsters right now. Shannon and Beringer have quickly become part of the early rotation, and the Wolves are banking on both as regular bench pieces this season.
Through five games, Shannon has given Minnesota a spark: 14.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23.2 minutes per night, plus a 44.0% mark from beyond the arc. Beringer has done his part too, averaging 6.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in 15.6 minutes while shooting 68.2% from the field.
Shannon, taken 27th in the 2024 draft, is making $2.8MM this season, and his $5.05MM salary for 2027/28 is now locked in. He’ll be eligible for a rookie scale extension next July.
Beringer, the 17th pick in the 2025 draft, is earning $4.4MM this season and $4.62MM next season. Minnesota will have until November 1, 2027 to decide on his $7.1M option for 2028/29.
Williams is the one left out of the plan. The 6’8″ wing spent his first two seasons with Utah before being traded from the Jazz to the Timberwolves in August. Selected 10th overall in the 2024 draft and the younger brother of Thunder star Jalen Williams, he has yet to find much traction in Minnesota, going scoreless in 11 total minutes over three appearances this fall.
Even so, Krawczynski reported that the Wolves have liked what they’ve seen from Williams so far. The sticking point is the price tag: his 2027/28 option was worth $7.67MM, a number Minnesota wasn’t comfortable committing to given its cap situation and what Williams has produced at the NBA level to date.
Because of the decision, Williams is now on track to become an unrestricted free agent next summer if he finishes out his current contract. If that happens, the Wolves - or another team if he’s moved during the season - would not be allowed to offer a starting salary above the value of the declined option. Other teams, though, would not face that restriction and could go higher if they choose.
In Other News...
Rudy Gobert Just Added To A Growing Wolves Concern
With Anthony Edwards sidelined for at least two months and the Timberwolves already sitting through a two-game losing streak, the pressure on the offense has only sharpened. Rudy Gobert has become part of that conversation after a recent stretch in which coach Chris Finch took aim at the centers finesse finishes around the rim, a reminder that Minnesota needs cleaner, more forceful scoring in the paint while one of its top creators is out.
Gobert did not push back on the critique. He agreed with Finchs assessment and said he wants to be more decisive around the basket, which leaves the Wolves with another layer to sort through as they try to steady themselves without Edwards. For a team already searching for answers, the details around Goberts interior play suddenly feel more important than they might have a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves' Hot Start Comes With One Problem They Can't Ignore
The Timberwolves early-season surge has come with a noticeable shift in pace, and LaMelo Ball has helped speed up an offense that looks far more dynamic than it did a year ago. Before the next challenge arrived, Anthony Edwards was carrying plenty of that load, averaging 33.3 points per game and giving Minnesota the kind of top-end shot creation it can build around.
Rudy Gobert still gives the Wolves a defensive foundation they can trust, but the offensive side has become harder to ignore. He has struggled to finish efficiently and has not found much rhythm around the rim, leaving Minnesota with a frontcourt issue that feels more pressing now that Edwards is out after knee surgery and the scoring burden has shifted even more sharply onto the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kuminga Is Giving Timberwolves Fans A New Reason To Watch
Jonathan Kuminga has started giving Timberwolves fans a little extra reason to keep an eye on the bench and the box score, especially with Anthony Edwards sidelined and more minutes opening up around the lineup. In Minnesotas 119-114 loss to the Warriors, Kuminga put together one of his most productive outings yet, reaching a season-high while continuing to carve out a larger role as a scorer and disruptor for this group.
There was also some edge to the matchup beyond the numbers, with Kumingas night carrying a little more charge against his former team. He has been flashing the kind of all-around impact Minnesota hoped for when the playing time increased, averaging 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals this season, and the bigger question now is how much of this surge can stick once the Wolves get back to full strength. [Read more 🡒]