The Minnesota Timberwolves continued to be a force in the loaded Western Conference last season, but again fell flat in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. As is evident, their core of Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden Daniels is impressive, and the Timberwolves were expected to continue with it for the 2025-26 season.
That strategy didn’t change much in the 2025 NBA Draft, but their selection raised quite a few concerns. At a time when Minnesota needed immediate impact players, they chose to bet on a project-type prospect, and one analyst felt that it was the worst selection of the entire first round of the draft.
Is the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Selection of Joan Beringer Worth Criticizing?
Joan Beringer is a center with the quickness of a guard, giving him immense defensive versatility to build on for years to come. However, he hasn’t played basketball for more than four years yet, and was averaging just 5.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game last season.
Apparently Joan Beringer is a 7 Footer with 7-4 wingspan & 9-3 standing reach. While also very fluid and can “catch everything” (that’s new). If true, tons of potential for an 18 year old who just started playing basketball 4 year ago. pic.twitter.com/6k2adTskGn
— MNMuse (@_MNMuse) June 26, 2025
It was pretty clear that he can’t make an immediate impact, and with the Timberwolves’ salary books already loaded with big contracts, PFSN’s Brandon Austin argued the team needed to prioritize “cheap rookie production” over long-term upside.
He gave them a D for the selection, making them the only team from the first round to receive such a grade. The Portland Trail Blazers also received a higher grade than the Wolves for reaching for projected second-round pick Yang Hansen with the No. 16 pick.
“Joan Beringer’s developmental process figures to be more dramatic than most, considering that he didn’t pick up a basketball until he was 14 years old. Fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert is signed through the 2028 season, with nine figures coming his way over that stretch, giving Minnesota time to refine this very raw prospect.
“From a macro standpoint, taking a long-term approach is always justifiable, especially if you don’t value any other players as instant impact types. When drilling down to the micro view, it’s a bit of a tough sell as this team has made the playoffs in four straight seasons (one playoff appearance in the 17 years prior).”
Measuring at just under 6’10”, Beringer is a highly athletic rim-running center who, at this point in his career, is best defensively as a switchable big man with versatility to defend on the perimeter. But that’s it, and Austin believes it’s unlikely he can replace the 33-year-old Gobert in the short term. As for the long term, “Only time will tell, but from a process standpoint, this is a move that can be criticized,” he concluded.
