Terrence Shannon Jr. Is Poised To Be A Crucial Player For The Timberwolves

The Timberwolves are under pressure to perform, considering they reached the Western Conference Finals in two consecutive years. They want the third time to be the charm by aiming for the NBA Finals and have a shot at competing for a championship.

In the 2025 offseason, they re-signed Julius Randle and Naz Reid to long-term contracts. They also picked two big men in the 2025 NBA Draft to help future-proof the frontcourt. Now, replacing Alexander-Walker in the rotation can be tough, but it looks like the team believes in Shannon to take over.

Shannon Has All The Tools To Become A Big-Time Player For Minnesota

Shannon has been a talented player since he was in college. After a full college career, Shannon is in the NBA, and he wants to make a difference. For the Timberwolves, he is versatile enough to be a player who can contribute in almost any lineup.

He could be the athletic wing alongside Mike Conley Jr. and Rob Dillingham, but he could also be a ball-handler when needed. That is huge for the Timberwolves, as Alexander-Walker usually handled that role alongside Donte DiVincenzo in the 2024-25 season.

With Shannon's athleticism and upside as a shooter, he could be the steal they are waiting for. He shot 35.5% from long distance in the 2024-25 season as a rookie, and he could vastly improve with more reps.

They will want to play at a fast pace to take advantage of all the athletic players. Coach Chris Finch has detailed that he wants more energy from the team, so inserting Shannon into the lineup is like a shot of adrenaline. With him and Edwards on the court, you can expect fast breaks galore for the Timberwolves.

Shannon Is Ready For More Responsibilities

Even if he is only an incoming sophomore, Shannon has all the tools to become an important player. At the same time, Shannon is also hungry to prove himself, which is huge for the Timberwolves. Getting players like Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Shannon is important because they will fight to the very end for the team.

With Dillingham also showing massive signs of improvement, he and Shannon will be important moving forward. Shannon will play more minutes, considering he is an older player who is more mature physically, which will be crucial in the postseason.