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Timberwolves Make Call on Two Young Rotation Pieces
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- Timberwolves Make Call on Two Young Rotation Pieces
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
The Minnesota Timberwolves are 3-2 after a 119-114 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night at Target Center. Tonight, they're at home again , with another California team in town, this time the LA Clippers.
Of course, Anthony Edwards remains out , after undergoing an arthroscopic knee surgery that will keep him on the sideline until January. On Wednesday, head coach Chris Finch leaned harder on his bench, with underwhelming success.
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He has no choice but to keep trying, though. And two recent first-round picks will have to be among those to step up if the Wolves are going to make it through the next couple of months without their superstar.
Minnesota Timberwolves lock in Terrence Shannon Jr and Joan Beringer
And Friday, both Joan Beringer and Terrence Shannon Jr. had their rookie-scale contract options picked up by the Timberwolves. They had until Nov. 2 to get it done, so they pulled the trigger a couple days early.
Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reported the moves earlier Friday before the team made it official. Both players are now under team control through at least the 2027-28 season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has exercised the team options on center Joan Beringer and guard Terrence Shannon Jr.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 30, 2026
Related: Timberwolves Exercise Rookie Options; Convert New Sharpshooter Contract
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Shannon was the 27th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft out of Illinois. This was his fourth-year option, and it guarantees him $5,054,159 for the 2027-28 season , up from $2,801,640 this year.
That keeps him under contract through the end of his rookie deal, with restricted free agency coming in the summer of 2028. Last season, Shannon averaged 5.6 points in 12.5 minutes over 43 games and shot 40.8% from three. He then averaged 11.8 points across nine playoff games.
Terrence Shannon Jr. with back to back buckets! https://t.co/TQMULlztOJ
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) October 23, 2026
TSJ has carried his success late last year into this season. Through five games, he is averaging 14.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23.2 minutes, all off the bench, and he is shooting 44.0% from three (11-of-25). He scored 19 against Golden State on Wednesday, going 8-of-10 at the free throw line.
Big step in Beringer's development incoming?
Beringer was the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Cedevita Olimpija in Slovenia. His option was the third-year one, which locks in $4,621,200 for 2027-28 , up from $4,411,200 this season. Minnesota will face one more option decision on him next fall, for 2028-29 at $7,098,163.
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As a rookie, Beringer played 40 games, averaging 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 7.9 minutes while shooting 66.3% from the field. His minutes have doubled to start this season as Rudy Gobert's backup.
Through five games, Beringer is averaging 6.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in 15.6 minutes and shooting 68.2% from the field. He went 6-of-6 for 12 points at Cleveland on Oct. 26, then had seven points and 10 rebounds against Golden State.
Les images du match de Joan Beringer avec les @Timberwolves !! 12 POINTS, 7 REBONDS et 2 CONTRES 🔥 https://t.co/PeSv27Sf2P
— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) October 27, 2026
Finch told Sarah Todd of the Star Tribune that the backup center minutes are there for Beringer to take, and that the number will depend on how he plays.
"The platform is there and we need him to play. It could be 14 minutes a night, it could be 24 minutes a night, and that'll be determined on how he's playing."
Chris Finch, via Star Tribune
