MINNEAPOLIS — Joan Beringer can impact a game in so many ways. How long he can remain on the court to do so is the problem.

The second-year player is in position for an increase from the 7.9 minutes a game he averaged over 40 games last season because of his immense yet unbridled talent.

In those 7.9 minutes, he unleashed dunks, blocked shots, explosive leaping ability and used a 7-foot-4 wingspan that make him as unique as any post player in Timberwolves history. Beringer is definitely closer to the Kevin Garnett end of the frontcourt player scale than the plodding Stanley Roberts.

The 6-11 Beringer also brings something else to the table, something that he needs to clear from the table: fouls.

He gets too aggressive. He reaches. He gets beat and overreacts. Take Wednesday’s exhibition game against Detroit as an example. He entered with 4 minutes, 11 seconds remaining in the first quarter. He went to the bench with 57.9 seconds left with six points, three rebounds — and two fouls. Starter Rudy Gobert had to re-enter the game finish out the quarter.

Then there have been games like the preseason opener against Milwaukee, when he scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds over 15 minutes, that show how he can be prominent in games. He had four fouls in those 15 minutes, though.

It’s hard to develop when stuck on the bench in foul trouble. And the Wolves enter the season with high expectations.

But the Wolves really have no choice here. The way this roster is constructed, they have to let the 19-year-old Beringer play through this precocious stage of his career.

Because of Beringer’s upside, they need to let him play through this stage of this career.

With Naz Reid now in Charlotte, the Wolves lost a player who could easily toggle between power forward and center to give them scoring and rebounding. Forward Julius Randle, who like Reid was dealt as part of the trade that brought LaMelo Ball to the Wolves, is now in Brooklyn. There are backup minutes available when Gobert and free agent Jonathan Kuminga need a break.

“Right now, he’s strictly at the 5 [center],” Wolves coach Chris Finch said of Beringer’s best fit. “In the laboratory, I can play around with playing him and Rudy out there together, but there are things we have to sort out first.”

Gobert averaged 31.3 minutes a game last season, which provides some idea of how much time Beringer could see as the backup center this season.

Beringer has a chance to become a high-level rim-protecting force in the league and Finch should consider giving him minutes at power forward as well. Veteran Trey Lyles looks to be the primary backup at power forward, unless there are times Finch wants to go small and uses Jaden McDaniels or Terrance Shannon Jr. there.

Prioritizing winning while developing is tricky. But Beringer is talented enough to come off the bench, alter a few shots, get a couple tip slams and contribute. He should easily get double-digit minutes a night. Pairing Beringer and Gobert as a French connection? I like it.

Beringer averaged 3.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in limited action a year ago. Over 36 minutes, that production plays out to 17.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. The kid can be a factor if he can stay on the court. The Wolves selected him 17th overall in 2025 for a reason.

Beringer has showed signs of slowing the game down, not overpursuing and taking himself out of plays. While his timing on blocked shots is exquisite, there still moments where he is beat playing one-on-one defense. And he has got to learn how to defend beefier players.

“Last season, I had some games where I did so many fouls,” Beringer said at Wolves media day in September. “I just [need to] learn to manage my effort on the court and be smarter in defense. Showing that I learn and that I’m ready to play.”

There’s no one better suited to mentor Beringer on developing as a big man than Gobert, who broke out in his fourth year in the league at age 24. That’s when he was named to the first of his eight NBA first-team all-defensive teams.

Gobert believes in two things that young big men have to focus on. One is making sure the body is in the right condition to perform. The other is knowing what your superpower is and how that can impact winning. Beringer credits Gobert for helping him with his eating and sleeping habits.

“I’ll be there for him, on and off the court,” Gobert said. “Sometimes it’s not about if you have advice. Just about being there for him. Someone that can speak the language and of course, try to set the best example I can set.”

The next lesson: avoiding foul trouble.

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