Joan Beringer hasn’t seen much floor time in his rookie season, but when the Minnesota Timberwolves have given him a real shot, he’s made the most of it - and then some. In the three games where Beringer logged double-digit minutes, he averaged 10.6 points on a staggering 82.3% shooting, along with 5.6 rebounds and a block per game. That’s not just efficient - that’s eye-opening.
Naturally, fans are starting to ask the question: why isn’t this guy playing more?
The short answer? Minnesota’s frontcourt is crowded - and talented.
Rudy Gobert is anchoring the defense, Julius Randle brings a scoring punch and veteran presence, and Naz Reid has carved out a valuable role with his versatility. Add in the recent emergence of Ayo Dosunmu, who’s now commanding 25-plus minutes a night, and it’s easy to see how Beringer has gotten squeezed out of the rotation.
But here’s the thing: if the Wolves want to tap into Beringer’s potential without sacrificing their core rotation, there’s really only one way to do it - lean into a triple-big lineup. It’s unconventional, sure.
And head coach Chris Finch has been hesitant to go that route consistently. But the potential upside makes it worth a closer look.
The Case for Beringer
The Timberwolves have been one of the league’s best defensive units when Rudy Gobert is on the floor. According to Cleaning the Glass, Minnesota boasts a 108.7 defensive rating with Gobert in the game.
Without him? That number balloons to 121.2 - a drop-off that takes them from elite to near the bottom of the league.
Ayo Dosunmu helps on the perimeter, but he’s not a rim protector. That’s where Beringer could come in.
His size, timing, and instincts around the basket give Minnesota a chance to maintain a defensive presence inside when Gobert sits. And while it’s a big ask for a rookie to step into that kind of role, Beringer has shown enough flashes to at least warrant the opportunity.
The Triple-Big Conundrum
Let’s be real - playing three bigs at once isn’t without its challenges. In particular, sliding Naz Reid to the three spot creates defensive mismatches. Reid doesn’t have the lateral quickness to stay in front of most wings, and quicker teams are going to exploit that.
In fact, the early returns haven’t been pretty. In the 21 possessions where Beringer, Reid, and Randle have shared the floor, the Wolves have posted a defensive rating of 161 - a number that’s hard to ignore, even in a small sample size.
But it’s not all bad news. When Gobert is part of the triple-big look instead of Beringer, the defense has held up much better - an impressive 102.7 defensive rating. That suggests the scheme itself can work; it just needs time and reps to gel, especially with a rookie like Beringer still learning the ropes.
Offense Tells a Different Story
While the defense is still a work in progress, the offensive side of the triple-big experiment has been electric. That same lineup with Beringer has posted a 142.9 offensive rating. Again, small sample size, but it’s a glimpse of what’s possible when you have three skilled bigs who can finish, pass, and stretch the floor.
Reid and Randle both bring perimeter shooting and ball-handling, and Beringer has shown he can finish efficiently around the rim. That combination can create mismatches, open up driving lanes, and punish smaller lineups that try to go small-ball against Minnesota.
The Bigger Picture
There’s a long-term angle here, too. If the Wolves want to keep this four-man frontcourt intact - Gobert, Randle, Reid, and Beringer - they’re going to have to find ways to play them together. That means experimenting with lineups that might not be conventional but could pay off down the road.
Finch has a balancing act on his hands. He’s trying to win games now, but he’s also got to think about the future.
Beringer was a first-round pick for a reason. He’s shown flashes of real promise, and it would be a missed opportunity not to give him a longer runway to develop - even if it means leaning into some funky lineup combinations along the way.
With the regular season entering its final stretch, now’s the time to see what Beringer can do with a bigger role. The Wolves have the depth.
They have the talent. And with a little creativity, they might just find that the key to unlocking a new level lies in giving their rookie big man a longer leash.