In this final part of my season season preview series, we take a look at the big men of the Minnesota Timberwolves and how huge they could be for the progression of this team in the ‘26-’27 season.
If you’re interested in reading the first two parts of this series, check them out below:
Rudy Gobert
The Rudy Gobert trade can only be categorized as a success at this point, no two ways about it. What’s different this season is the structure of his supporting cast. Gone is the true big man next to him in the starting
lineup. Even though he is the defensive engine already, he’ll have even more responsibility to make sure this team’s defensive identity doesn’t slip too far.
This defense will look less like the ‘23-‘24 season Timberwolves and a lot more like the Utah Jazz defenses of old, just with better perimeter defensive players. We do know he takes care of his body very well, so I don’t worry about durability at his age. His most valuable trait could arguably be his age. He’s not the longest tenured Timberwolf, but he is the oldest player on the team and has all the experience needed to be this team’s respected veteran. He even looks the part of a seasoned veteran, sporting a brand new goatee.
I’ve always thought that anything you can get out of Rudy offensively is a plus, so his hopeful synergy with LaMelo Ball should be a huge additive. He has brick hands from time to time, but has largely been successful with Mike Conley throwing him lobs. Since LaMelo has probably been throwing lobs since he was a toddler, my belief is that he will be great for Rudy’s offense as well.
Joan Beringer
Boy, could we have a “passing of the baguette” situation on our hands if Joan Beringer pans out.
He’s just such a good athlete it’s hard not to see the potential there. To me, how a big man runs can be an indicator of future success and I can just see it in Joan. He has the second jump ability, makes multiple efforts, and offensively has touch around the basket that will only help him. I have a vision almost like a prophecy that Joan makes a huge defensive play from a rotation, runs the floor, then catches a lob off a LaMelo transition push as Target Center goes nuclear.
Fouls can be a problem, but the beauty of his situation is that he can learn how to lead an NBA defense and keep himself on the floor from fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert. If he was still a super raw prospect, the Timberwolves wouldn’t have pulled him from Summer League as early as they did.
Trey Lyles
I have pretty much zero idea as to what Trey Lyles could be for the Timberwolves this season. I do think that his archetype as a bench guy who can be a replacement-level defender with size and someone who could make the occasional swing pass three is something that can be helpful.
I just don’t see where his minutes ultimately come from.
One would think that one of Rudy or Joan are on the floor at all times. With Jonathan Kuminga starting and Jaden McDaniels, TJ Shannon, and even Jaylen Clark playing some small ball four (where I think Jaden could really succeed if he’s not guarding at the point of attack.) I just don’t see where Trey slots in. The NBA game is really fast, and there isn’t a good facsimile overseas, so I think the time it will take to adjust back to the NBA game is time that the Timberwolves do not have.
They will think, and probably rightfully so, that they have more effective options in house in order to slot those “4-man” minutes.
Rocco Zikarsky
If Joan Beringer was a guy that didn’t need Summer League minutes, Rocco Zikarsky is a guy that definitely did need those Summer League minutes. I do not see the same fluidity in Rocco that I see in Joan. He has less touch, does not have the defensive talent, just is not as good a prospect that Beringer is.
He’ll spend time in Iowa with the G-League squad, but at what point does that not do him any favors? He needs to get reps against actual NBA players and even then I’m not sure he’s going to get to a place where he can be a rotation guy in the future. He’s huge, so in an absolute pinch he has six fouls to use but I don’t see a path to the floor for him this year, let alone in future years.
