Joan Beringer

[kekgeek]

The Wolves were so impressed with Joan Beringer when they met him. “He’s very serious, he’s dedicated, and he’s very focused. He learned English in the last 7 months.”

-Daily Wolves

[Lipoli390]

Here is Matt Lloyd talking about the pick last night. He mentions several times the importance of basket protection, which is why I am sour on a Randle/NAZ tandem. I read this comment as the Randle/NAZ tandem is not a long term fit for the Wolves. Hmm...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy1PvfpQAgE

It's clear that the Wolves front office does NOT view Beringer as another Rudy. Matt L stressed Beringer's "switchability." Matt used that word a number of times in reference to Joan, referring at one point to Joan's "mobility, flexibility, speed and defensive versatility" as the things they love about him. As if that doesn't make it clear they're not viewing Joan as anything like another Rudy, Matt said in reference to Joan that "defensive versatility is the order of the day for a five in the NBA unless you're an elite hall-of-fame drop defender like Rudy Gobert."

I didn't hear anything in Matt's comments that suggested anything we didn't already know about the Randle/Naz tandem. I don't think anyone inside or outside the Wolves organization has ever viewed those two as a tandem; it's always been largely one or the other playing with Rudy with the the two playing together only out of necessity. To be fair, Naz is actually a pretty good shot blocker whereas Randle isn't. So you can get some value out of Naz defensively at center in that sense. I see a core of versatile, quick switchable bigs forming in Naz, Beringer and hopefully Fleming going forward. Meanwhile, we have the best drop defender in the League in Rudy who I would argue is still near his peak and not yet declining. That means we have time to develop Beringer over the remainder of Rudy's contract with Naz on board as our starting PF. I think Fleming could help us as both a backup PF and Center sooner rather than later. I'd like to bring in a veteran defensive backup to Rudy for next season but I don't think it's essential.

[Lipoli390]

The following comment from Matt L is the best shorthand on what the Wolves front office thinks of Beringer: "His combination of basket protection on defense and activity on offense is really something to be excited about. He's kind of a longer-term play, but we're ready to enjoy the process of getting him up to speed," Lloyd said.

Other things Matt emphasized:

1. Joan's character -- "his seriousness'" maturity and initiative (learned English on his own in 7 months). Matt said meeting him for the one-on-one with him in Chicago "cemented" their interest in drafting him. Matt said he's the type of person who fits what they're doing. I recall TC talking last summer about wanting self-starters who take initiative and don't need to be pushed.

2. Joan's mobility and versatility -- Matt repeatedly emphasized Joan's speed, agility and switchability as distinct from the the traditional drop-coverage big like Rudy.

[Wolvesfan21]

Watched another few vids on him. He's much more athletic then Rudy, more fluid, smooth and quicker. I think his soccer background really shows in his ability to cut on a dime and recover to make a defensive play. It really pops in the highlight reels.

He's probably gifted enough physically right now to play on defense. Going to need to see how his shot develops over these next few years.

I didn't focus on his boards either, unsure how good or even great he is as a rebounder right now. But given his attributes, should be a positive over time. You can't teach height and quickness. Though there is really a "want to" and maybe a natural gift to simply judging where the ball bounces. Some guys seem to have it, while other don't. For instance I was pretty good all around in sports growing up, but man I sucked balls judging a baseball in the outfield. I was just bad at it. Like abnormally atrocious. I kind of think basketball boards could be like that, some people have the gift and it's easy for others it's tough.

[Monster]

Watched another few vids on him. He's much more athletic then Rudy, more fluid, smooth and quicker. I think his soccer background really shows in his ability to cut on a dime and recover to make a defensive play. It really pops in the highlight reels.

He's probably gifted enough physically right now to play on defense. Going to need to see how his shot develops over these next few years.

I didn't focus on his boards either, unsure how good or even great he is as a rebounder right now. But given his attributes, should be a positive over time. You can't teach height and quickness. Though there is really a "want to" and maybe a natural gift to simply judging where the ball bounces. Some guys seem to have it, while other don't. For instance I was pretty good all around in sports growing up, but man I sucked balls judging a baseball in the outfield. I was just bad at it. Like abnormally atrocious. I kind of think basketball boards could be like that, some people have the gift and it's easy for others it's tough.

I was always an above average rebounder especially for my height. It may have been all those hours playing outside by myself running after my own misses. Having a quick jump didn't hurt either plus a pretty high motor. There definitely was a few years where I had the skill of going to where the ball was going to ne although I was also looking to box someone out as well.

It's simply easy to forget that people have various talent at various things in a sport. Like you I was not good in the outfield either and had a terrible arm. One summer I spent a lot of time camping around lakes and spent quite a bit of time throwing small rocks into the water. Somehow that process my arm strength and probably more the movement of the process got significantly better. Later that fall playing softball I was in the deep OF almost at the fence retrieving a ball and threw the ball in on a line deep into the infield and was looking around like WTF just happened. Lol Playing defense is a skill. Passing is a skill shooting etc. People can get better but just because someone works at it doesn't meant they will even be decent at it. This is why sometimes I think players that are kinda good at almost everything can have value.

[Wolvesfan21]

Watched another few vids on him. He's much more athletic then Rudy, more fluid, smooth and quicker. I think his soccer background really shows in his ability to cut on a dime and recover to make a defensive play. It really pops in the highlight reels.

He's probably gifted enough physically right now to play on defense. Going to need to see how his shot develops over these next few years.

I didn't focus on his boards either, unsure how good or even great he is as a rebounder right now. But given his attributes, should be a positive over time. You can't teach height and quickness. Though there is really a "want to" and maybe a natural gift to simply judging where the ball bounces. Some guys seem to have it, while other don't. For instance I was pretty good all around in sports growing up, but man I sucked balls judging a baseball in the outfield. I was just bad at it. Like abnormally atrocious. I kind of think basketball boards could be like that, some people have the gift and it's easy for others it's tough.

I was always an above average rebounder especially for my height. It may have been all those hours playing outside by myself running after my own misses. Having a quick jump didn't hurt either plus a pretty high motor. There definitely was a few years where I had the skill of going to where the ball was going to ne although I was also looking to box someone out as well.

It's simply easy to forget that people have various talent at various things in a sport. Like you I was not good in the outfield either and had a terrible arm. One summer I spent a lot of time camping around lakes and spent quite a bit of time throwing small rocks into the water. Somehow that process my arm strength and probably more the movement of the process got significantly better. Later that fall playing softball I was in the deep OF almost at the fence retrieving a ball and threw the ball in on a line deep into the infield and was looking around like WTF just happened. Lol Playing defense is a skill. Passing is a skill shooting etc. People can get better but just because someone works at it doesn't meant they will even be decent at it. This is why sometimes I think players that are kinda good at almost everything can have value.

I kind of wonder how good he can get at certain things because he simply has only played for 4 years! Most all these other kids drafted have been playing for ten plus, maybe twenty plus, at least shooting around as kids, etc. I guess on the other hand, if he's already good after 4 years maybe his trajectory and ceiling is super high also! I mean who can pick up a sport and be on the top level in 4 years??? It's just unheard of.

[kekgeek]

Camden hates the pick. So I like the pick even more. (He hates defensive first players)

[Monster]

Camden hates the pick. So I like the pick even more. (He hates defensive first players)

From what I remember he is not a believer in international players in general. They kinda have to really wow him and or be 2nd rounders or something. He probably had some other guy he really wanted that they could have taken.

[Monster]

So I spent a little time looking at Joan's international stats and comparing what he did to what Gobert did. They both played at the lower level of Europe basketball the Eurocup instead of the Euroleague.

When the current season started in September Joan was 17. A few weeks later he was getting some starts although still playing limited minutes. As the season went on he definitely got more minutes and was playing 20+ minutes quite a few games and his team was winning games. The level of competition is lower as I have witnessed first hand in Spain but still the guy was just 18. It might be kinda like comparing someone that played in the big 10 or another top conference to one of those lesser conferences where the talent and athletic ability is generally lesser. Obviously in both of those international leagues you have guys that are adults and stuff but I'm just saying that to give an idea of the talent level. The lower level of Eurocup typically doesn't have those fringe NBA guys or didn't quite make it types and much as the team that are at the higher levels. Of course there are still some talented players that end up moving up to the next level and sometimes get drafted into the NBA and succeed.

Anyway what he did last year compares to what Gobert did during his time in a similar level and Joan did it at an even younger age. Joan is a true center size in terms of length and is pretty athletic but is listed at 237 so he isn't some total skinny gangly guy and he clearly could get stronger.

Im not saying he a sure thing to be awesome or whatever because he is still clearly a project but there is sole substance to being reasonably excited about him as a prospect. It will be interesting to see him in summer league this year. Could he be a bit of a surprise there?

[Crazysauce]

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